Rundāles pils muzejs

About the museum

The Rundāle manor was bought in 1735 by Ernsts Johans Bīrons, and the following year, to a design by Frančesko Rastrelli, architect of the Russian court, construction of the new palace began. Building work was repeatedly interrupted, because the duke was more concerned with Jelgava Palace. After the Duchy of Courland was annexed to the Russian Empire in 1795, the estate was acquired by the Zubov family, later the Šuvalovs, and it belonged to that family until the agrarian reform of 1920.

In the 20th century the palace housed a school and a grain store; an independent museum was established in 1972. The first restored rooms were opened to visitors in 1981, and the restoration of the palace was completed in 2014. Today the museum also looks after the French garden and the rose garden, and manages Mežotne Palace and the Kurzemes hercogu kapenes (crypt of the Dukes of Courland) in Jelgava.

Highlights

• Gold Hall and White Hall
• Apartments of the duke and duchess with 18th-century interiors
• French garden and rose garden
• Exhibition “18. gadsimta mode” (Fashion) in the duchess's apartments
• Decorative arts exhibition “No gotikas līdz jūgendstilam” (From Gothic to Art Nouveau)

Permanent exhibitions

• Parādes zāles un hercoga apartamenti – Restored state rooms – including the Gold Hall and White Hall – and the duke's state and private apartments in their late 18th-century condition.
• Hercogienes apartamenti – The duchess's rooms with four thematic exhibitions: “18. gadsimta mode” (Fashion), “Fon Bēru dzimta Kurzemē” (The von Behr Family in Courland), “Kurzemnieki 18. gadsimta portretos” (Courlanders in Portraits) and “Kurzemes hercogiene Doroteja un grāfu Mēdemu dzimta” (Duchess Doroteja and the Counts Mēdemi Family).
• No gotikas līdz jūgendstilam – Decorative arts exhibition with artisan objects from the Gothic period to Art Nouveau.
• Rundāles pils būvvēsture – Exhibition on the building history of the palace, using archaeological finds, archive documents and historic photographs.

Founded

1972

Director

Laura Lūse

Admission & discounts

The prices for the main museum exhibition are the same all year; tickets for the French garden are valid from April to October. Tickets can be bought online on the e-ticket website. A wedding or other professional photo shoot in the palace for non-commercial purposes costs €105; a waltz in the White Hall costs €60.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The palace is accessible to people with mobility impairments: there is a wheelchair lift, and comfortable toilets are on the palace plinth floor (all year), in the chestnut avenue and in the garden (in summer). Two wheelchairs are available for the interior and one for visiting the French garden. People with disabilities can drive closer and park in the car park next to the palace (call +371 2837 3418). The museum may be visited with trained assistance dogs. A free visitor ticket must be collected before the visit at the ticket office or on the e-ticket website.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities

Prams may not be taken into the exhibition rooms; they can be left on the plinth floor or in the ground-floor vestibule, and a child carrier sling can be borrowed free of charge in the palace. Changing surfaces are in the plinth floor and park toilets. One teacher accompanying at least 10 pupils enters free of charge.

Getting there & parking

From Riga about 67 km via the A7 to Bauska, then 12 km via the P103; or 47 km via the A8 to Jelgava, then 43 km via the A8 to Eleja and via the P103 to Pilsrundāle.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Coat check
• Lockers

On the site there are the cafés “Ozollāde”, “Pils krogs” (Palace Inn) and “Zem zelta vāzes” (Under the Golden Vase; this one is in the French garden and requires a garden ticket). The palace plinth floor has lockable storage for belongings.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Hire of rooms and grounds for concerts, performances, conferences, civil marriage registrations and corporate events; marriage registration and a waltz in the White Hall are possible by prior application.

Plan your visit