Rundale Palace

Last weekend I visited the garden at the Rundale palace.

Rundale Palace is one of the most outstanding monuments of Baroque and Rococo art in Latvia. It was built between 1736 and 1740 as a summer residence of Duke Ernst Johann of Courland. Rundale Palace is an architectural pearl of Latvia created by an outstanding the italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli.



Rundale Palace is situated on the Zemgale lowland, preserving the original idea of the architect - the palace in the centre, symbolizing the power of the king, and alleys stretching out into infinity. The south side features a 10 hectare Baroque park, the so-called French garden, which starts with alleys and changes into a forest garden - a former hunting garden containing a gardener's house. The total area encompasses 72 hectares, including a part of the former manor's territory with a public house building and pond. Since 1972 the palace has been home to a museum, which has also been carrying out restoration works on the building and park. Out of the total of 43 rooms, 12 are now open in the eastern wing, among them the White dance hall and the Golden throne room; 15 in the central block - the duke's private and official rooms; and 7 in the western block - the duchess' apartments, as well as 4 staircases and 2 kitchens. The palace offers thematic exhibitions and a few permanent expositions. Some rooms are being arranged for an exposition on European applied art on the 1st floor of the palace's western wing. Exhibitions are also presented in the gardener's house. The French garden features an ornamental parterre, three pools with fountains, a green theatre, and Dutch and Blue boskets. Since 2005 a Rose garden is being created.

http://www.rundale.net/index.php?l=2