Rundāle Palace Museum

Rundale (Ruhenthal) Palace is considered as the ''Versailles'' of Latvia and was the summer residence of the Dukes of Courland. The palace was constructed in the 1730s by the famous architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who was also the architect of the Winter Palace in Sint Petersburg. Today, the palace is a museum.

The Duchy existed from 1561 until 1795, when it was absorbed by Russia, whereas the palace was given to Prince Platon Alexandrovich Zubov, the last favourite of Catherine the Great and the most powerful man in the Russian Empire during the last years of her reign.

Thereafter the palace came into the hands of the Counts Schuwalow, until 1920 when it became state property.

Although few of the furnishings are palace originals, they are authentic pieces from 18th and 19th centuries, and fit in wonderfully.

The ceilings were created by the painters Francesco Martini and Carlo Zucchi, while the beautiful stuccoes were the work of Johann Michael Graff.

The palace is surrounded by sumptuous gardens.

For more detailed informations, see website

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