Bauska

Bauska's main sight is the town's castle. The imposing building was constructed between 1443 and 1456 to serve as a stronghold for the Livonian knights. In the 16th and 17th centuries the castle was destroyed in several battles, but it was rebuilt every time. In 1706, during the Great Northern War, it was blown up and restoration was only started in 1976. Nowadays the castle houses a museum where artifacts, found when archaeological excavations were made during the restoration, are on display. There is also a small collection of 16th and 17th century art. During the summer months, several music festivals are held on the castle grounds.

The 18th-century Rundale Palace is one of the most interesting architectural features of provincial Latvia. The baroque building was designed and built Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the Italian architect who created many of Saint Petersburg's (Russia) finest buildings.

There are several hotels and restaurants in Bauska. The city is in the south of Latvia, 65 km south of Riga on the main road between that city and Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Bauska is not far from the Lithuanian border and has good bus connections with Riga.