take bricks from the castle as building material. The walls and one of the towers remained intact over the years, but the remaining four towers have been rebuilt. The castle is located in a romantic and picturesque landscape where are the two rivers, The Musa and Memele flow together forming the river Lielupe. The visitors can view the fortifications around the castle, the Order s castle ruins and the BBaauusskkaa CCaasst tlee was built in the powerful 15 th century (1443) and was one of the last castles of the Livonian Order. The Livonian Order built a fortress in this well protected spot, which is documented in writing as early as 1443. At the end of the 16th century the first Duke of Curland, Gothard Kettler, rebuilt the fortress as the fortified residence. After the Great Northern War, the castle became deserted and local inhabitants secretly began to sightseeing platform in the tower, and the spaces of the Duke s residence, which are still under reconstruction. From the central tower opens a view to the plain of Zemgale region, ancient fortresses of the castle and to the island of Kirbaksala where the Rivers Memele and Musa meet each other. The exhibition "Bauska New Castle - History, Architecture, Investigations" has been open since September 1999. When applied in advance, groups may enjoy romantic evenings in the castle- medieval games, decorations, meals, pipes.
Mezzoot tnne e PPaal laacce e is one of the most significant classicism buildings in Lativa. It is located on the bank of the river Lielupe, 1o km from the town of Bauska. The palace started to build from 1797 when the Russian Empress Catherine II gave Mezotne manor for ever in charge of Charlotte fon Lieven who was the tutor of her grandchildren. Designed by the architect of the Russian court G. Quarengi and realized by the architect J.G. Berlitz, the building was completed in 1802. Its interior is designed in Neoclassicism. The palace is surrounded by a wide picturesque EEnng glisshh laannddssccaappe l e ppaarrkk which is one of most cultivated landscape parks in Latvia, creates an inimitable environment. Everyone can enjoy beautiful views to the park and the bank of the Lielupe River where on the opposite bank raises the Mezzoot tnne e ccaasst tlee moouunndd of the ancient Zemgals. Here is one of the biggest Zemigallian fortresses from the 9 th to 13 th centuries, it covers area of 3,500 m2, and it is 16 m high. On the both banks of the River Lielupe flat burial fields have been discovered which belonged to the castle mound and ancient town. Beside the castle mound lie the ruins of the Mezzoot tnne e CChhuurrcchh and the cemetery of the owner of the Mezotne estate, Prince von Lieven.
RRuunnddaal lee PPaal laacce e was built between 1736 and 1740 as a summer residence for the Duke of Courland, Ernst Johann Biron, by Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Between 1765 and 1768 the major part of the interior was constructed. The Italian masters from St Petersburg, Francesco Martini and Carlo Zucchi, created the paintings on the ceilings and walls, while the Berlin sculptor Johann Michael Graff led his team in creating stucco decorations on the background of artificial marble. It is one of the most outstanding monuments of Baroque and Rococo art in Latvia. The palace consists of 138 different rooms, from which the central part used to be the apartments for the duke, eastern part consisted of representation rooms: Golden hall, White hall and the large gallery and in the western part lived the other members of the duke s family. Guides dressed in the elegant period costumes of the eighteenth century present the richly decorated rococo apartments of the Duke of Kurzeme, Ernest Johan Biron. The castle restaurant offers a special Duke s Time menu with roasts cooked in the original ovens and served by liveried waiters. Food is still cooked in the original ovens used to cater for royalty, aristocrats and statesmen through the ages.
The museum was formed in January, 1947. It is established in the building that once was one of the most exquisite hotels. It is the only museum in our district that collects, completes and popularizes materials of history of country and town concerning archaeology, art, and ethnography. Since 1989 the scientific workers of museum are busy preparing monographs and publications relating to the history of civilization concerning Latvia, Courland dukedom, Bauska town and region. There you can find 56 thousands of various funds units: printed matter, documents, textile, photos and negatives, furniture, craftsmen tools and product, lighting fixtures, pieces of art, earthenware, numismatics, orders, badges etc. The museum is teaching the visitors to appreciate their neighborhood, its population, local customs and traditions, thus contributing to local patriotism and pride of country and joining in forming positive character of the town. Thhe T ee Toowwnn T HHaal lll was built in the beginning of the 17 th century. Until 1740 the Bauska Town Hall was the largest one in the Dukedom of Kurzeme and Zemgale and one of the largest town halls in Latvia. In the cellar of the Town Council Building there was stored wine, on the ground floor there was a flat of the servant of the Town Council and the pair of scales of the Town, but on the first floor the room of sittings of the Town Council and the work premises of the Municipality. The sounds of the bell informed the town dwellers about the important events. In the middle of the 19 th century the building was reconstructed and simplified. Today there is located Bauska DDi istrictt Toouur T rism IInnf I ffoor rmaat tioonn CCe eennt tre ee offering wide range of postcards, souvenirs and information for tourists.
The pedestal was erected in 1929. The granite base in which the words of the poet Pludones are engraved How great is he, who for others can die. Who has ears to hear, may he hear!. The completion of the monument was delayed for several decades, because of the Soviet occupation. The monument was only in 1992 completed by the sculptor A. Jansons who created a bronze figure of Lacplesis from his father K. Jansons drafts. The cities largest enterprises established themselves along the shores of the Memele in the second half of the 19 th century. Between the Upper and Lower mills, in the very centre of the town, sprung up T. Lodings brewery buildings and tall chimney. The following beer sorts: Bauskas gaisais (light), Bauskas tumsais ( dark), malt drinks Veseliba and Porteris. In St. Petersburg both sorts of the beer got the golden award and Veseliba got the silver award. No chemical substances are used in the production process. Lodina brewery offers to the groups an excursion through the factory and degustations. In the second half of the 17 th century the owner of the Skaistkalne mansion, the son of V.F Karlem de Berg the instigator to the construction of the first Skaistklane catholic church, donated a piece of land to the Catholics of Bauska.. The small catholic congregation within the largely Lutheran Bauska was only able to afford a prayer hall up until the second half of the 19 th century. It was built in 1864. The interior was set up in the latter half of the 19 th century. Near the small chapel in 1891 there was built a bell-tower.
The oldest building in the old part of Bauska is the Hool llyy SSppi irri itt LLuut thhe erraann cchhuurrcchh, built by the German congregation in 1591-1594. The church has carefully guarded records of the city s history and of its inhabitant s lives, as well as amassed an impressive collection of donated artistic monuments and commemorative symbols. Massive medieval building is with attached tower, rococo style interior, and brass chandeliers with filigree details, a wide collection of brasses and other art objects. There you can see some unique items of art of the 16-19 th centuries: tomb plates, benches, pulpits, organ, and chandeliers. At the end of benches there remained one of the most ancient wood carved coats of arms of the town. Thhe T e SSaai innt t Grre egoorryy Orrt thhooddooxx CChhuurrcchh was built in 1881 according to the design of the architect J.F. Blaumanis. He was the first academically educated Latvian architect. The small Bauska orthodox congregation s church maintained in the Russian cultural spirit, found its home in the undeveloped clay chill in the town s rural territory. JJuumpprraavvmuui izzaa ppaarrkk was established at the end of the 18 th century an in the 19 th century on the bank of the River Lielupe. The landscape of the park consists of the artificial castle ruins, cliffs, dells and streams.
The manor- house of the DDe errppe elee esst e taat tee was build around 1840, the park was established in the 19 th century, and today is houses and old peoples home. Here you can view the renewed façade, a beautiful garden of roses, and the park. KKaauuccmi inndde e esst e taat tee is the remarkable manor-house was built in the 80ties of the 18 th century, embraces the yard in semicircle by the two side blocks. In the 20ties and 30ties of the 20 th century here was the most popular household school in Latvia. Close to the castle there was a popular place for walking- a park which was established in the 19 th century. From the end of the 16 th century to the 20 th century the BBoorrnnssmi inndde e esst e taat tee and the park belonged to the Shepingi Family. You can find remnants of the former manor-house as well as the castle which was built in the Eclectical style. The park of the estate was established in the 19 th century, and from here a wonderful view opens to the rocky bank and artificial castle ruins of the Jumpravmuiza Park. The Winne e hhi illl ccaasst tlee moouunndd lies around 500 m to the south from the Mezotne Castle Mound. During the times of the Duchy of Courland this was the area of winegrowing. A legend tells that at times a vision of Lord s Supper appears here.
The Early Music Festival organized by Latvijas Koncertdirekcija takes place under the stars in in a restored Middle Age castle in Bauska. During the three-day festival, several concerts are performed also in the nearby baroque castle in Rundāle. To lend even more authenticity to the event, period costumes and musical instruments are used. The best known early music ensembles are Canto, Schola Cantorum Riga, Ludus, Sansara, Sacrum and Collegium Musicum Riga. Along with our most dedicated interpreters of baroque classics, Conductors Māris Kupčs and Andris Veismanis, the audiences have an opportunity to enjoy performances by well known guest musicians. The culmination of the festival is a night time performance in the courtyard of the Rundāle castle:the audience has been treated to operas, like Henry Purcell s Dido and Aeneas and Georg Friedrich Hendel s Acis and Galatea,and a staged re-enaction of the Koenigsberg wedding of the Duke of Courland and the Princess of Brandenburg Luise Charlotte.. In addition to concerts, workshops of early music and dance are held. Traditionally, the festival is held in the second weekend of July, and it aims to gather the best country music artists of Latvia. The performances are judged and awards presented to the best musicians in three categories best song, best band and best solo performer. The Bauska country music festival has developed into a great family entertainment event, as only this festival in Latvia offers a campsite to pitch tents and stay at during the festival, enjoying the summer in the picturesque landscape at the confluence of Mūsa and Mēmele rivers to river Lielupe, seeing the scenic Bauska castle ruins and exploring the entertainment opportunities available for young and the very youngest visitors.
Every year since 1786, when Pope Pious VI confirmed absolvents for 3 days into the Skaistkalne Church, the Kanapene Fair has taken place in Skaistkalne on the first Sunday in August. The fair includes religious ceremonies inside the church, which is dedicated to the Ascension of the Virgin Mary, performances and amateur group concerts.