Brocēni

{{Infobox settlement | name = Brocēni | other_name = | settlement_type = Town | image_shield = Coat_of_Arms_of_Brocēni.svg | shield_size = | image_flag = Brocēnu pilsētas karogs.png | flag_size = 150px | image_skyline = | imagesize = | imag_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Latvia}} | subdivision_type1 = [[Municipalities of Latvia|Municipality]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Saldus Municipality (2021–present)|Saldus Municipality]] | established_title = [[Town rights]] | established_date = 1992 | pushpin_map = Latvia | pushpin_label_position = above | pushpin_mapsize = 300 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Latvia | coordinates = {{coord|56|40|N|22|34|E|region:LV_type:city|display=inline,title}} | nickname = | leader_title = [[Mayor]] | leader_name = Solvita Dūklava | blank_name_sec1 = Number of city council members | blank_info_sec1 = 11 | area_total_km2 = {{#invoke:wd|properties|raw|qualifiers|best|raw||P2046|P518=Q16868672}} | area_footnotes = {{wikidata|reference|best||P2046|P518=Q16868672}} | area_land_km2 = {{#invoke:wd|properties|raw|qualifiers|best|raw||P2046|P518=Q11081619}} | area_water_km2 = {{#expr:{{#invoke:wd|properties|raw|qualifiers|best|raw||P2046|P518=Q16868672}}-{{#invoke:wd|properties|raw|qualifiers|best|raw||P2046|P518=Q11081619}}}} | area_metro_km2 = | area_blank1_title = [[Subdivisions of Latvia|Rural territory]] | area_blank1_km2 = 100.349 | elevation_m = | population_total = {{wikidata|property|qualifier|best||P1082}} | population_footnotes = {{wikidata|references|best||P1082}} | population_as_of = {{#invoke:WikidataIB|formatDate|{{wikidata|qualifier|best|raw||P1082|P585}}|df=y}} | population_metro = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_density_metro_km2 = | postal_code_type = [[Postal code]] | postal_code = LV-3851; LV-3801 | area_code_type = [[Telephone numbering plan|Calling code]] | area_code = +371 638 | timezone1 = [[Eastern European Time|EET]] | utc_offset1 = +2 | timezone1_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]] | utc_offset1_DST = +3 | website = {{URL|http://www.broceni.lv}} }} '''Brocēni''' ({{audio|Lv-Brocēni.ogg|pronunciation}}; {{langx|de|Brotzen}}) is a [[town]] in [[Saldus Municipality (2021–present)|Saldus Municipality]] in the [[Courland]] region of [[Latvia]]. The town is situated along the river Ciecere, near [[lake Cieceres]], which contains a large deposit of [[limestone]] that is used in the manufacturing of [[cement]]. From 2009 to 2021, the town was the center of [[Brocēni Municipality]].

A [[Portland cement]] and [[slate]] factory, currently the only one in Latvia, was built from 1936 to 1938 by the [[Riga]]-based ''A/S Ch. Schmit'' cement factory of H. H. Šmits. The initial capacity was 60 thousand tons of cement per year. In 1948, during the [[Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic|Soviet occupation of Latvia]], operations were expanded with the start of the nationalized Brocēni Cement and Roofing Slate Plant, Brocēni Lime Plant and [[Saldus]] Brick Plant. After the restoration of the independence of Latvia, the factory continued work and in 2005 was acquired by [[Cemex]]. In 2019, Cemex sold its assets in the Baltic States and the Nordic countries to the German {{Ill|Schwenk Zement|lt=SCHWENK Zement GmbH & Co. KG|de|Schwenk Zement}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=KG |first=SCHWENK Zement |title=Cement production history in Brocēni |url=https://schwenk.lv/en/about-schwenk/schwenk-latvija/cement-production-history-in-broceni/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=SCHWENK Latvija |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-20 |title="Cemex" Baltijas un Ziemeļvalstu aktīvus pārdod Vācijas "Schwenk" |trans-title=Cemex sells its Baltic and Nordic assets to the German Schwenk |url=https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/cemex-baltijas-un-ziemelvalstu-aktivus-par-340-miljoniem-eiro-pardod-vacijas-schwenk.a310231/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=[[Lsm.lv]] |language=lv}}</ref>

Brocēni is also home to the [[Starts Brocēni]] [[football (soccer)|football]] club and one of its successors, ''Brocēni NBJSS'' (Brocēni Municipality Children and Youth Sports School).

[[File:Broceni station.JPG|thumb|none|[[Brocēni Station|Brocēni train station]]]]

==Notable residents==  *[[Vadims Žuļevs]] (born 1988), footballer *[[Dons (singer)]] (born 1984), Latvia's representative for the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2024]].

==See also== *[[List of cities in Latvia]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Broceni}} [[Category:Cities and towns in Courland]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1992]] [[Category:Populated places in Saldus Municipality]]