Rundale Palace. Front entrance

Latvia
Rundale Palace, known far beyond the borders of Latvia itself, is located in the very center of the country, in Zemgale. This outstanding monument of Baroque architecture and Rococo decorative arts was built by the famous architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli as the summer residence of the Duke of Courland Ernst Johann Biron, the favorite of the Russian Empress Anna Ioannovna.

The entire palace ensemble occupies more than 60 hectares, the main part of which is occupied by a hunting park and a French park stretching to the south of the palace. The surroundings are very picturesque, and the Bauska Nature Park is very close. The Rundale Palace Museum acts as a research center for ancient art in Latvia - it collects collections, organizes exhibitions and prepares publications.

In the exhibition halls you can see exhibitions of applied art, fine arts and cultural and historical exhibitions, the palace hosts the Festival of Early Music and concerts of classical music.