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Rundale Palace Excursion, Latvia

Available in English Hotel Pick up included

Activity Schedule

  • When does it run?

    Daily

  • Duration

    6 hours

  • Start time

    Any time of the day

  • Meeting Point
    Pick up from your hotel. (Please mention your hotel name and address at the time of booking. If you do not have this information now, our customer service executives will get in touch and confirm the details)
  • Ending Point

    Your hotel in Riga

Key Highlights

  • Visit the magnificent Rundale Palace which was built in 18th century as the summer residence of the Duke of Courland
  • On this tour you can see 40 rooms on the 1st and 2nd floor that are open to the public with original interior and furniture
  • You can also see the impressive Throne Hall, the White Hall and the Small and Grand Gallery in the eastern wing that was intended only for court representations

Overview

Visit the magnificent Rundale Palace, built in the 18th century as the summer residence of the Duke of Courland, Ernest Johann von Biron. The palace was designed by Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the main architect of the winter place in St Petersburg.

Having recently undergone extensive renovation, 40 rooms on the first and second floors with original interiors and furniture are open to the public. The second floor houses the Duke's apartments. The Duchess and the other members of the family lived in the western wing, where restoration work is still under progress. Also see the Throne Hall, the White Hall and the Small and Grand Galleries.

Itinerary

For this tour you will travel in an air conditioned vehicle with a guide.

Leave Riga for the day and travel to the grandiose Rundale Palace, built in the 18th century as the summer residence of the Duke of Courland, Ernest Johann von Biron.

The construction was inaugurated in 1736 and as von Biron was favored by the Russian Czarina, Anna Ivanovna, he succeeded in engaging the Italian architect, Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the main architect of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.

Having recently undergone extensive renovation, 40 rooms on the first and second floors with original interior and furniture are open to the public. You will have plenty of time to explore these rooms at your leisure.

According to history, the construction was interrupted in 1738 when von Biron and Rastrelli inaugurated the construction of an even larger residence in the Courland capital of Jelgava. When Czarina Anna Ivanova died in 1740 von Biron was exiled and could return accompanied by Rastrelli only in 1763 when he was reinstated by the Russian empress Catherina the 2nd. The palace and the interior was therefore only completed in 1763-1768 and it was fairly devastated in the course of time and in 1972 a comprehensive restoration of the palace was started.

The tour ends at your hotel.

Inclusions

  • Hotel pick up & drop off
  • Transportation by Western made cars or minivan
  • Guide
  • Entrance to Rundale Palace

Exclusions

  • Food & drinks

Additional info

The confirmation voucher includes the local activity operator’s contact details and local telephone numbers at the destination. They will happily answer any logistical questions you may have.

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