Rundāle Palace

Rundāles pils

A magnificent Baroque and Rococo palace designed by Rastrelli, often called the Versailles of Latvia. Its lavishly restored state rooms and formal French gardens make it one of the country's grandest attractions.

Things to do

• Tour the Golden Hall — Admire the palace's opulent throne room with its gilded stucco, ceiling frescoes, and restored Rococo decor used for royal audiences.
• Explore the state rooms — Walk through the lavishly restored Duke's apartments, the White Hall ballroom, and the Grand Gallery to see period furnishings and porcelain.
• Stroll the French garden — Wander the geometric formal gardens with ornamental parterres, fountains, and thousands of roses inspired by Versailles.
• Visit the Rose Garden — See the extensive collection of over 2,000 rose varieties, especially spectacular in bloom during June and July.
• See the palace museum collections — Browse exhibits of decorative arts, silver, and the history of the Dukes of Courland within the palace's east wing.
• Climb for garden views — Take in panoramic views of the symmetrical garden layout and the Baroque facade from the palace's vantage points.

Food to try

• Rundāle Palace café dishes — The on-site café serves Latvian light meals and pastries in a setting overlooking the gardens.
• Sklandrausis — A traditional Latvian carrot-and-potato tart of Courland origin, sweet and rustic, worth trying in the region.
• Kartupeļu pankūkas — Crispy Latvian potato pancakes typically served with sour cream, a hearty regional staple.
• Rye bread and honey — Dense dark Latvian rupjmaize paired with local honey reflects the countryside's culinary traditions.
• Kvass — A lightly fermented rye bread drink popular across Latvia and refreshing on a summer garden visit.

Local customs & good to know

• Buy the combined ticket — A single ticket covering the palace interiors and gardens offers the best value for seeing everything.
• Visit in rose season — Plan for June or July when the famous rose gardens are in full bloom for the most spectacular experience.
• Allow half a day — The palace and gardens are extensive, so budget three to four hours to fully appreciate the site.
• Photography rules — Interior photography may require an extra permit, so check at the ticket desk before shooting inside the state rooms.

Nearby

• Mežotne Palace (Zemgale) — 6 km
• Bauska (Zemgale) — 10 km
• Jelgava (Zemgale) — 32 km
• Tērvete Nature Park (Zemgale) — 40 km