Ten hectares of French garden, a castle bearing traces of several centuries, and mills that bring history to life: Bauska Municipality brings together different ways of experiencing culture. Sometimes the focus is on the design of a site, sometimes on a collection or the chance to see seasonal work in action. You can shape your discoveries around whether you are especially interested in architecture, everyday history, or experiences involving water and crafts.
Baroque grounds and an expansive garden
The French garden at Rundāle Palace covers ten hectares. Its Baroque features include parterres and fountains, as well as a green theatre, bosquets, pergolas, pavilions and a maze. The variety of these features makes the garden an important part of the palace ensemble, which is considered a monument of Baroque and Rococo architecture and art.
The ensemble covers a total of 85 hectares. In addition to the palace and stables, it includes a former hunting park, orchards, a pond and canals. The foundations of an old castle dating from the 16th century are also part of the grounds. Garden art, traces of earlier fortifications and the ensemble’s buildings give the site several historical layers that can be distinguished as you explore.
Castles, collections and history in Bauska
Bauska Castle represents 15th- to 17th-century military architecture in Latvia. It is also the only partially preserved residence of the Dukes of Courland and Semigallia from the Kettler dynasty. The fortress ruins, an observation platform and a nature trail add different spatial impressions to the historical aspects. If you are interested in the history of the site, military architecture and the history of a ducal residence come together here.
The Bauska Museum offers a broader view of the past, with a collection of more than 61,000 historical objects. These include antiquities, photographs, documents and books, as well as furniture, tools and household items. Guided tours are available at the museum or around the city; there are also educational programs for children. The exhibition “Laiks spēlēties” focuses on dolls and toys and covers the period from the late 19th to the early 21st century.
Those more interested in technology will find collections of passenger cars and heavy vehicles, military equipment, and experimental vehicles from the Riga Autobus Factory (RAF) at the Bauska Motor Museum. Technically creative workshops such as “Atlecošā bumbiņa” and “Vēja enerģija” are also available. Museum collections, guided tours and hands-on topics therefore offer different areas of focus, without limiting history to a single era or type of object.
Mežotne: hillfort, landscape and interpretation
Mežotne Hillfort is one of the largest fortified sites of ancient Semigallia and dates from the 9th to the 13th century. The hillfort has a trail called “Spožās skudras,” with various activities and information about notable living creatures found there. The site thus combines archaeological history with nature topics and offers a way to explore both along the trail.
A pedestrian bridge over the Lielupe connects the hillfort with Mežotne Palace; it is located 350 metres from the hillfort. The bridge is available seasonally, so it is advisable to check current access before your visit. The “Mežotnes baznīca” cultural space houses an exhibition about historical events at the hillfort. From its tower, you can look out over the Zemgale Plain, the Lielupe and the hillfort—a perspective that brings landscape and history into view together.
Mills, festivals and experiences on the water
The Ausekļu Dzirnavas Open-Air Museum showcases a Latvian farmstead with historical tools and exhibitions. It traditionally hosts the spring festival “Sējas svētki” on the second Saturday in May and the autumn festival “Pļaujas svētki” on the first Saturday in September. Visitors can see and take part in seasonal work during the festivals. There are also pancake tastings and opportunities to bake pīrāgi or bread—an introduction to rural culture that involves practical activities as well as looking around.
Another mill story leads to Pilsrundāle: at the centre of the village stands the Rundāle Estate watermill, built at the end of the 18th century. Visitors are shown the beer-making process there, and tastings are also available. For outings on the water, boat trips are offered on the Mēmele, Mūsa and Lielupe in Bauska Municipality. Printable themed route guides provide information about attractions, dining, accommodation and active recreation. As individual offerings may change, it is worth checking the latest information before making plans.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Jauncode, Bauska, Mežotne, Grenctāle, Ceraukste, Likverteni, Code, Pāce.
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