Project Description
Wonderful palaces and chateaus of Latvia – 3 days
During the trip we will visit two major baroque palaces in Latvia, built for the Dukes of Courland – Rundāle and Jelgava Palace.
Program
We will visit the most beautiful baroque palaces in Latvia. The Rundāle Palace built during the 16th century was located on the northern side of the pond. It can be seen in the design of F. B. Rastrelli as a small square field with towers in the corners. Most of the interior decorations were created between 1765 and 1768 when a sculptor from Berlin Johann Michael Graff, and Italian painters from St. Petersburg Francesco Martini and Carlo Zucchi worked at the palace. Also is beautiful The French Garden.
Jelgava Palace is the largest Baroque style palace in the Baltic states, the greatest work of famous Russian court architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli and one of the few cultural monuments remained in Jelgava. Today it is the house of Latvia University of Agriculture. We will also have a excursion in the Family Vault of the Dukes of Courland in the Jelgava Palace. Mežotne Palace is one of the brightest examples of classicism architecture in Latvia. Landscape is carefully planned and harmonious. It’s expressive auxiliary buildings, the beautiful park, Lielupe River, and the picturesque landscape over the river in a unified ensemble.
The Birini Castle , built in 1860 on the hill next to Lake Birini, is admired for its elegant and expressive outline. The building’s overall architectural style can be classified as Neo-Gothic but its interior design is in the Neo-Renaissance style and features a staircase adorned with wood carvings, historical tile stoves and extravagant rooms. Bauska Castle is situated on a picturesque spit of land where the Mūsa and Mēmele rivers converge into the Lielupe. The Bauska Castle ensemble consists of two sections. Livonian Order Castle, built in the middle of the 15th century, is the oldest one – with only ruins remaining. A more recent part of the ensemble, built in the late 16th century, is the residence of the Kettlers, the Dukes of Courland. We will also have excursion in the St.Trinity Church tower, in the Eleja manor park and restored Tea house, in Lielplatone manor house and restored manor laundry.
Other tours
Keila-Joa Schloss Fall Castle, Arvo Pärt Centre, Kumna Manor
We start our tour with visiting historic Neo-Gothic Estonian knight-castle Keila-Joa Schloss Fall Castle. After extensive renovation 2013 yhe Castle reopened its doors to guests.
Exploring Nemunas Delta – 4 days tour in Lithuania nature (from Tallinn)
We will have a boat trip around Nemunas delta, see channels, birds, lighthouses, Curonian Lagoon, visit lighthouse, the border section, churches. We will learn to smoke fish, walk on the Aukštumalė cognitive trail, get culinary heritage education. Visit the ornithological station, the former Šilutė Prison and the Macikai Concentration Camp.
2 days trip to Ligatne – beautiful nature and interesting history.
We will visit Āraiši Lake Castle - the only reconstruction of a 8/9 – 10th century fortified settlement in Europe, Ungurmuiža manor - the unique Latvian baroque style wooden building with its one-off wall-paintings heartily. Līgatnes paper mill and the historical center of the paper mill village, secret bunker of soviet tyime, sandstone caves. Have a beer tasting in Raiskums beer factory.
Discover the mysterious island – Osmussaar 1 or 2 days trip.
Osmussaar is known for its fascinating nature and settlement history. For centuries, the island was home to coastal Swedes. After the Second World War, Osmussaar was a closed border zone and home to a Soviet military unit.
Discover beautiful islet Kessulaid
Kessulaid is the oldest and highest islet in Estonia. The nature of istet is versatile - Kesse Bank with its height up to 8.5 m offers gorgeous views, on the western side of the islet there is a sandy beach. Kesselaid is a part of the biospheric protection area. On the islet 16 species of orchids are counted.
Discover the northeastern part of Estonia 1 day.
We will admire the view from Estonia’s highest limestone cliff Ontika and the highest waterfall in Estonia – Valaste waterfall. We will visit magnificent Oru Park and examine the buildings from the post-war period of Stalin, classical avenues, baeutiful Sillamäe Cultural Centre and Museum with exhibition of the soviet time.
Cultural Trips in Lahemaa 1 or more days.
During the cultural trip we visit beautifully restored manor houses in magnificent parks, walk in our traditional fisherman villages where inhabitants are still living, visit a romantic captains' village of Käsmu with Maritime Museum or Museum of Art in Viinistu.
Wonderful palaces and chateaus of Latvia – 3 days
During the trip we will visit two major baroque palaces in Latvia, built for the Dukes of Courland - Rundāle and Jelgava Palace. We will also visit Mežotne Palace - one of the brightest examples of classicism architecture, Eleja manor park and restored Tea house, excursion in Lielplatone manor house and restored manor laundry. And lot of more interesting places.