We will be celebrating the popular Garden Festival in the French garden of Rundāle Palace on 29 June of this year which, as usual, coincides with the beautiful time of roses being in full bloom. The theme “Horses and Horsing around the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia” was chosen on purpose. The Rundāle Palace Museum became a member of the Network of European Royal Residences – an organisation joining the most prominent residences of European sovereigns – in July 2023. Since one of the members, namely the Palace of Versailles, will be hosting the equestrian competition of the Olympic Games this year, the members of the organisation decided to develop a joint project focusing on a uniting and simultaneously extensive and diverse theme “Horses and Horsing around European Courts”. Over the course of the project, several European royal residences will be hosting different events throughout the year.
The Garden Festival will include the presence of horses and ponies not only in the French garden of Rundāle Palace but also elsewhere in the territory of the museum, and visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to go for short rides (both in the form of horseback riding and a ride in a horse-drawn cart). The order in the garden will be kept by the mounted police. There will also be an exhibition corresponding to the theme and providing an insight into the horse breeding, care, and use in the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia.
We invite you to become acquainted with the programme of the Festival and mark 29 June on your calendar for a visit to the Festival!
PROGRAMME OF THE GARDEN FESTIVAL OF RUNDĀLE PALACE*
| Time | Venue | Activity |
| 10.30 and 12.00 | French Garden | Guided tours of the garden |
| 11.00 and 15.00 | Green Theatre | Riga Circus performance “Clown” |
| 12.45 | South staircase | Hobby horsing demonstrations |
| 13.00–14.30 | South staircase | Welcome speech by Laura Lūse, the Director of the Rundāle Palace Museum, horse parade |
| 14.30 | South staircase | Hobby horsing demonstrations |
| 11.30 and 16.00 | Green Theatre | Riga Circus performance “Juggling” |
| 12.00 and 15.30 | Green Theatre | Riga Circus performance “Rubber Man” |
| 17.00 | South staircase | Concert of the music group “Auļi” |
| All day | ||
| 10.00–18.00 | Museum | Visit of the exhibitions of the Rundāle Palace Museum |
| 10.00–17.00 | South staircase | Performances of brass bands |
| 10.00–20.30 | Stables | Exhibition dedicated to the theme of the Garden Festival |
| 10.00–17.00 | Playground Bosquet | Creative workshops and garden games |
| 10.00–17.00 | South staircase | Orienteering (draws at 12.30, 14.45, 16.45) |
| 10.00–16.00 | Central square | Funfair |
| 10.00–17.00 | Alley by the Playground Bosquet | Hobby horsing amusements |
| 10.00–17.00 | Central alleys | Street organ player Gatis Grīnbergs |
| 12.00–17.00 | Central alleys | Riga Circus “Strolls of Stilt Walkers” |
| 11.30–16.30 | Green Theatre | Riga Circus master classes |
| 10.00–19.00 | French garden | Market of artisans and domestic producers |
| 10.00-16.30 | French garden | Horse mounted patrol |
| French garden | Pony rides ** | |
| Eastern-side lawn | Horseback rides ** | |
| Rides in horse-drawn carts ** | ||
| 10.00-19.00 | The Picnic Area, Golden Vase Bosquet, Dutch Bosquet | Cafés and caterers |
*The programme of events is subject to change.