Rundale, the Baltic Pearl
Description:
Excursions in Latvia Rundale (bus)
The exact time of construction of the Rundal Palace is unknown, but in the list of castles of Livonia, compiled in 1555, it is mentioned as already existing and served as the summer residence of the Order. It was a Convention-type palace with a small courtyard, two round and two square towers at the corners, it was located at the edge of the forest park of the present palace. In 1505 it belonged to the Grothus family, who sold the palace in 1681. In 1735, the castle was bought by E. J. Biron.The castle of Grothusov was destroyed and the construction of the summer residence of Biron begins next to the project of the famous architect Bartalameo Rastrelli. In 1795 Kurzeme became the Russian province, and Catherine II transferred the palace to V. Zubov. During the War of 1812, the artillery of Napoleon’s army was located in the palace. Since 1822, the owner is Count Shuvalov. During the First World War, the German army was located here, and after the agrarian reform, the palace was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, and a museum was located here. In 1972, the Rundal Palace Museum was established. The summer residence of the Duke of Kurzeme, E. J. Biron, was built in two stages - from 1736 to 1740 and from 1764 to 1766 by the Italian architect F. B. Rastrelli. The interiors in 1765-1768 were created by the sculptor J. M. Graf, artists F. Martini and K. Tsuki. At the same time, a French garden of regular planning began to be created. Each new owner repaired the premises. This occurred in 1813, 1865 and most thoroughly in the second half of the 80s of the 19th century. The greatest destruction of the palace was caused immediately after the First World War, and restoration work began in 1933. Only in 1972 began systematic and purposeful restoration of the palace. Now you can see the ducal apartments and state halls with decoration of the 18th century. Partially restored French regular garden and gardener's house, forest park. Exhibitions "Jewels of the Rundal Palace", "Time of Devastation", in the gardener's house "Restoring the Regular French Garden".
The guide will introduce you to the museum exposition of the palace, tell the history and numerous legends associated with its owners, answer all your questions.
