Jelgava

Located in Latvia, about 40 km far away from Riga, the city of Jelgava was founded in 10th century. In the 13th century it used to be an important base of the Order of the Teutonic horsemen who gave him the German name of Mitau. After their defeat, the city became the capital of the Great Duchy of Curlandia-Semigalia until 1919, historical Baltic region governed by the Biron dynasty. In spite of its calm and provincial atmosphere, Jelgava – through its street, avenues and patrician mansions of German nobility – has testimony of the rich past of the city.

Panoramic tour of Jelgava. Historical buildings on the streets of Jelgava emphasize the unique atmosphere of the old town. We will appreciate the baroque Сhurch of St. Ann, the oldest building of the city; the Petrina Academy, an old spiritual centre of the Great Duchy, which building appeared in the late 18th century and became an architectural monument of the late Baroque and early Classical; the Tower of the Trinity Church, the church itself was destroyed during the Second World War, but the tower survived and was recently restored.

Visit of the Castle in Jelgava. This beautiful castle of baroque style was ordered in 1738 by the Great Duke to the brilliant Bartolomeo Rastrelli, main architect of Saint-Petersburg, on the ruins of the old castle of the Kettler dynasty. Its imposing facade borders of the rivers Lielupe and Driksa gives an idea of the court and the interiors in Rococo style. The castle serves as funeral pantheon to Dukes de Curlandia. Today the castle is a state ownership, and Latvian University of Agriculture is situated in its building.