Rundal Palace - "Kurland Versailles"

Rundal Palace is located about 80 km from Riga.

Russian court architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli built the palace by order of the favorite of the Russian Empress Anna Ioannovna, Duke of Courland Ernst Johann Biron, as a summer residence. The construction project is based on the idea of Versailles.

Ernst Biron’s career was exceptional even in the rife 18th century favorites and favorites. E. I. Biron, like other great and small rulers of Europe at that time, considered the construction of palaces to be the most successful way of expressing his power. His dizzying career, the ups and downs, the complex political situation associated with the change of rulers of the Russian Empire, affected the construction of the Rundal Palace. The architect F.B. Rastrelli built the palace in Rundal in two stages.

The field of death of E. I. Biron, the palace belonged to his son Duke Peter Biron, then the brothers Zubov, the family of Count A. Shuvalov. Despite the change of owners of the palace, it was and remains the most outstanding monument of Baroque and Rococo architecture in Latvia.

During the tour you will learn about the history of the palace, its owners, about the close historical connection with the rulers of Russia and Europe.

You will be amazed by the appearance of the palace, its luxurious interiors and fantastically beautiful "French garden" of the Baroque era.