Treasures of Lielupe Valley: Rundal Palace and Castle in Bauska
Description:
We are following the footsteps of the Dukes of Courland!
Where two fast rivers, Musa and Memele, merge, flowing, forming the Great River Lielupe, stands the ancient castle of Bausk. It consists of two parts: the new (the time of the Dukes of Courland) and the old (the era of the Livonian Order).
During the tour you will see the unusual walls of this castle, admire the views of the city of Bauska and the surrounding landscapes.
10 kilometers from this castle, in the middle of the Zemgali plain, stands the luxurious palace of the architect Rastrelli, miraculously survived in the whirlwind of time and never really rebuilt.
Rastrelli "Russian heart, native Italian"
Weaving your garlands and crowns
I saw roses in the frost,
He grew palaces in the snow.
On the tour you will learn about why the palace has been furnished for more than 30 years, the role played by Duke Biron, a favorite of Anna Ioannovna, what is "Prussian Rococo" and "Courland graces" and why the restored gilding does not blind visitors to the museum.
You will be given a great opportunity to plunge into the world of the gallant age, remember mythological stories and the history of the Russian state, see a real baroque park of the Versailles type.
With what taste and care the rooms of the Duke and Duchess are decorated!
You will learn how the French chandelier differs from the lamps made in Kurzeme, what is the "butter chest of drawers" and "broken Duchess", what painting Duke Peter Biron adored, and what the "first beauties" and smart women of the 18th century looked like.
The highlight of our park is the rich collection of roses.
At the end of June, July, majestic roses bloom in the park. Here you can see roses of different historical epochs - the Duke's garden, the Zubov and Shuvalov garden, collections of wild, grooved and English roses. And, of course, the Garden of the Mysterious Blue Rose.
What to do in the park when the roses are still in bloom?
In spring - enjoy the fabulous carpets of multi-colored tulips and inhale the smell of lilac.
In late summer and autumn, pick grapes, hiding in playful pergolas, or apples in Zubov’s garden.
In winter – to feel the grandeur of the plan of the great Rastrelli, who built a “palace in the snow”.