On This Day, 20 June 1767

Location of Remmler (Luzern) on
Karte der deutschen Siedlungen im Wolgagebiet
(Map of German settlements in the Volga region, AHSGR map #6)

The Volga colony of Remmler, also known as Luzern, was founded on 20 June 1767 as a Roman Catholic colony by Baron Ferdinand de Canneau de Beauregard, a settlement agent hired by Catherine the Great.

Some sources state that the colony may have been settled as early as 1764-66.  The first population count wasn't until 1769 when 44 households were enumerated with 140 colonists total, 76 male and 64 female.

Location of the Volga colony Remmer (Luzern). 
Today it is known as Mikhaylovka, Saratov, Russia.

Learn More: 
Center for Volga German Studies - Luzern
Geschichte der Russlanddeutschen (History of Russian Germans) - Baron Canneau de Beauregard
Volga German Institute - Luzern
Wolgadeutsche (History of the Volga Germans) - Remmler



2017 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Mother colonies along the Volga River. There are many events throughout the year to commemorate the anniversary, and the Germans from 

Russia Settlement Locations project joins in the celebration of this rich Volga German heritage.  

The German immigrants that came to the Volga region were among first colonists to take up Catherine the Great on her manifesto. They came from Hesse, the Rhineland, the Palatinate and Württemberg.  They are also among the most well researched and documented groups of German colonists in Russia. Thus far, the Volga Mother colonies settled between 1764 and 1767 are the only colonies that have precise dates they were settled.  

For more historical and current events related to Germans from Russia, see our calendar page or link to our public Google calendar.

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