• Andrew's TravelsHistoric Baltic RepublicsTraveler
    Rundale Palace
    East Wing state rooms; Gold Hall, used as a throne roomEast Wing state rooms; Antechamber to Gold Hall / White Hall, the oval porcelain cabinetEast wing state rooms; The White Hall, used as a ballroom / detail of panel on the wallState apartments; corridor / library / room heatingState apartments; room / portrait of the DukeState apartments; the Duke's bedroom / the magnificent view down to the gardensState apartments; tea room / dining roomWest Wing Duchess's rooms; boudoir / toilet roomWest Wing Duchess's rooms; porcelain set

    Rundale Palace

    June 10, 2024 in Latvia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Today, we visit Rundale Palace; this Baroque Palace is the most important in the Baltic region and a monument to the ostentatiousness of the 18th century aristocracy here. It was built as a summer residence for the Duke of Courland (Courland was a duchy of Latvia then); an old castle was dismantled by the architect (Rastrelli, who also built the St Petersburg Winter Palace) using a Russian Labour force. The Palace was damaged in WWI, when it was used as a school and later as a granary; the Russians "let it go" because of its decadence, but is has now been restored (1972-2015).

    The East Wing was state rooms for formal occasions, the central part was the Duke's state apartments, and the West Wing was the Duchess's private residence; see captions on photos for details.    Read more