Photogallery of Bauska, Latvia

Bauska has prepared many interesting attractions for its guests. This is a charming town situated approximately 70 kilometers from Riga and not far from the border with Lithuania. The peaceful settlement never ceases to attract tourists with its exceptional natural beauty. Bauska is also famous for its interesting history that is intertwined with important personalities from the Russian Empire. There are still many mansions of former aristocratic families not far from the town, and gorgeous landscapes still remember great wars of the 16th-19th centuries. According to historical data, first settlements in the territory of modern Bauska existed long before the 15th century. However, there are not many records left, and the information that we have now is very incomplete. Local settlements started developing actively in the mid-15th century. This is the time when a castle of the Livonian Order was built near the town. According to historic records, a settlement named Schildburg grew in this area. However, Gotthard von Kettler ordered to destroy the settlement and build a new town on its site. The period of prosperity in Bauska fell to the end of the 16th – the start of the 17th century. At that time, many recognized it as an important center of trade and manufacturing. No one clearly knows when the settlement got a status of the town. Officially, this event took place in 1609 when Duke Gotthard Kettler gave a seal with the king of animals to the town’s authorities. … Read further