The Rundāle castle is one of Latvia’s most outstanding monuments of Baroque and Rococo art. It was built in 1736-40 as the summer residence of Ernst Johann Biron, the Duke of Courland, by the Russian court architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli. His creations can also be viewed in Jelgava and outside Latvia, in St. Petersburg. The two-storey castle contains 138 rooms.
The central section is occupied by the Duke’s quarters, the east wing served representative purposes: it includes the Gold Hall, the White Hall and the Great Gallery. The west wing was the residence of the Duchess and other members of the reigning family.
The Rundāle castle Museum does not merely run and maintain the castle: it owns an extensive collection and paintings and objects of applied art, as well as considerable holdings of Latvian ecclesiastical art, viewable in various exhibitions. A Baroque-era castle is unthinkable without a “French garden”. The park extends towards the south of the castle, and it was designed in conjunction with the castle building.
The museum houses the permanent exhibitions "Latvian ecclesiastical art, 16th to 18th centuries" and "From the Gothic to Art Nouveau". In 2007, Rundāle castle was included on the European heritage register.
The castle garden features a Green Theatre, an ornamental parterre, landscaped ponds and a fountain. In 2005, the development of the Rose Garden was begun, presently it is ongoing. The Rose Garden spans 9,000 square metres and represents the largest rose collection in Latvia, 12,000 plants.
Visitors can spend a day touring the rooms, viewing the exhibitions and discovering the history of the castle and the park.
Package includes:
• English speaking guide
• Transfers Riga (hotel) - Rundale palace - Riga (hotel)
(one way - 1,2 hour driving distance / 65 km)
• Excursion at the palace (1,5 - 2 hours)
• 1,5 hour lunch at restaurant (restaurant located 15 km from the palace)
Duration 6 hours