The history of Bauska dates back more than 500 years. Different historical stages of the life of the city are imprinted in monuments of architecture and art, in the landscape of the city and museum expositions.
Architectural monuments
1. Bausky Castle. The oldest attraction of Bauska - a fortress in the form of an irregular quadrangle with five towers, built in the middle of the XV century. knights of the Livonian Order. The castle was built primarily in order to be able to repulse the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The construction was completed in 1451. There lived a local village and a garrison was located.
In 1625 the castle was taken by the Swedes. In 1705, during the Northern War, the fortifications of the castle were destroyed by the order of Peter I, and it became an uninhabited ruin.
In the XVI century. on the territory of the castle began to build the palace residence of Gotthard Kettler - the first Duke of Courland and Semigallia. Its construction was completed in 1596.
Now the castle and the palace constitute a single museum complex. From the castle there were only fortress walls and a tower with an observation platform. In the restored palace, several expositions are presented to the public court, of which tourists particularly like the exhibition of the historical costume of the Courland Duchy of the 16th-17th centuries. Here they teach lessons of Renaissance dance; study the fashion and culture of dressing in the Courland Duchy, as well as the life of the court: games, habits, dances; try dishes prepared according to recipes, preserved from the XVI-XVII centuries.
2. Rundale Palace . The palace, built by the famous Russian architect Rastrelli, commissioned by the favorite of the Russian Empress Biron. It is executed in baroque style. The palace, located 12 km north-west of Bauska, served as the country residence of the Dukes of Courland.
The construction of the palace began in 1736, but after the arrest of Biron in 1740 was terminated. Works were resumed only in 1764, when Biron returned from exile, and continued until 1768. Decorative decoration of the premises of the palace in the style of rococo was occupied by the Berlin sculptor I.M. Graff. Italians Martini and Tsukki also worked on the interiors.
138 rooms of a two-story palace are located enfilade. In the central building are the apartments of the duke, in the western - the duchess. In the eastern building, the Grand Gallery connects the Golden and White Halls. Near the palace is a French garden.
In the 70's. the restoration of the palace premises began. The last renovated premises were opened in 2014.
Now the palace and the garden are open for visitors. For € 5, you can rent a historic boat and ride for half an hour on the pond.
3. Bauska Town Hall. The reconstructed building of a brick two-storeyed building of the XVII century. with a turret and a bell is on the square in the center of the city. During the visit to the exposition of measures and weights, you can find out your height and weight in units that were used in Courland and Semigallia in the XVII century. The Town Hall has a tourist information center, the staff speaks Russian and English. A visit to the Town Hall is free of charge.
Museums
- Bausky local lore and art museum . The museum in the Old Town, which features a number of exhibitions devoted to the history of Bauska, as well as to national minorities (Germans and Jews) living in Bauska. Here you can see a collection of dolls and toys by Tamara Chudnovskaya, visit art exhibitions and the exhibition of the Bauska folk art studio.
- Bausky Motor Museum . Branch of the Riga Motor Museum. It is located near the road E67 at the entrance to the city. In the museum there is a collection of retro cars: "light cars" of the 30s. and post-war time, SUVs, trucks, Soviet agricultural machinery.
- House-museum of Vilis Pludonis "Leienieki" . The museum is located near the city along the banks of the Memele River. Here the Latvian poet was born, grew up, and later spent the summer months. The exposition devoted to his life and work is located in the residential building. In the courtyard there is a hare bath and a hare bench carved from a tree of hare figurines ("Hare Banya" is a well-known children's poem by Pludonis). Immediately there is a pantry, a stable and a house for servants. "Path of Pludonis" leads to a place near the Merry Creek, where the poet loved to work. The family cemetery where Pludonis is buried is nearby. The museum is open from May to October.
Churches
- Bauska Church of the Holy Spirit . The ancient building of the Lutheran church, built in 1591-1594. In 1614, a tower was added to it, after another 7 years the tower was crowned with a dome and a spire. In 1813, the spire was damaged by lightning and it had to be demolished. Here, every object, even the benches for the parishioners, are real monuments of art.
- Bauska Catholic Church . It was built in 1864. In 1891 a bell tower was added nearby.
- Bautsky Orthodox Church of St. George . It was built in 1881. The original decoration was partially preserved. The iconostasis was rebuilt in the 90s. XX century.
Monuments
- Monument to Vilis Pludonis . Monument to the Latvian poet of the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. Established in 2014, the author - sculptor Girts Burvis. The monument is made in the form of a sheet, from which appears the figure of the poet and fly swans. On it you can read fragments of the verses of Pludonis. It is made of different metal alloys, which gives an original visual effect.
- Monument of Freedom . Monument to the fallen in the battles for freedom of Latvia. It is located in the natural park "Bauska", on the bank of the river Memele. The pedestal was installed in 1929. In 1992 A. Janson produced and installed a bronze sculpture of the Zemgale warrior, whose original sketch was created by K. Janson, his father.
Natural attractions
- The Stone of Peter I. According to legend, during the Northern War, Peter I dined behind this stone with the Polish King Augustus. After the meal, the monarchs put their silver spoons under the stone. The stone of Peter I can be found at the end of Kalei Street.
- Nature trail . The nature trail in Bauska Park leads from the city along the Memele River to the Bauska Castle and further to the island of Kirbaksala. At this point you can observe how the rivers Memele and Musa merge into one wide Lielupe .