A striking way to approach Mežotne is to consider the contrast between the palace and the castle mound on the Lielupe: the Neoclassical Mežotne Palace stands on the riverbank, while the castle mound is on the opposite side, on the left bank. The palace is a structural unit of Rundāle Palace Museum. In Mežotne, architecture, river scenery and archaeological history come together.

Palace, park and the Lielupe

Mežotne Palace is a Neoclassical landmark on the banks of the Lielupe. A ten-hectare park lies beside the palace; its design began at the same time as construction of the palace. This also allows the palace to be viewed in its historical setting: the park is spatially part of the palace grounds, and its creation began with construction of the palace.

Another river crossing is provided by the pontoon bridge over the Lielupe near Mežotne Palace. It is dismantled in winter. If you plan to use this crossing, take its seasonal removal into account and check the bridge’s status in advance.

The castle mound and archaeological history

The archaeological complex of the castle mound includes the ancient town, Vīnakalns Hill, two burial sites and a harbour site. An ancient town once extended across 13 hectares between the castle mound and Vīnakalns; it was the largest in historic Zemgale. The area gives a concrete sense of the extent of this former settlement and makes the castle mound more than just a single historical site.

If you are interested in the area’s history, the different components offer distinct points of interest: the ancient town, burial sites and harbour site are all part of the complex, as is Vīnakalns. Together, these names give an overview of the archaeological sites grouped here without reducing them to a single structure.

Church, cultural space and views

The “Mežotne Church” cultural space presents history, everyday life, customs and figures associated with the Mežotne castle mound. The church exhibition features reconstructions of ancient Semigallian clothing and jewellery. Alongside archaeological history, you can explore traditional everyday life and culture.

The tower gallery of Mežotne Church is 27 metres high and offers views of the Zemgale plain and the calmly flowing Lielupe. Alongside the exhibits and history, you can take in the surrounding landscape from a different perspective. Those interested in both culture and scenery will find two distinct ways to experience the place here.

Klein-Mežotne Palace and concert hall

The building of the Klein-Mežotne Palace complex is a distinctive architectural feature: a 19th-century masterpiece of Neoclassicism. During the palace’s concert seasons, the concert hall welcomes classical music lovers. If you are planning to attend a concert as part of your trip, check the dates for the relevant season in advance; the hall is used in connection with these concert seasons.

Mežotne on a themed route

The Semigallian Route section of the Balts’ Road passes through Mežotne. If you are planning a cultural trip along a themed route, you can include this stretch in your itinerary. The palace, castle mound, church and concert hall each offer a different focus on architecture, history, landscape and music.

Discover more destinations: Bauska, Pāce, Ceraukste, Code, Grenctāle, Jauncode, Likverteni.

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