On 29 June 2024, we will celebrate the annual Garden Festival “Horses and Horsing around the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia”.
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 is subject to change
** Activities for an additional fee
Tickets for admission to the Garden Festival
| For adults | 10,00 |
| For seniors | 5,00 |
| For students | 1,00 |
| For family with 3 or more children | 10,00 |
On the day of the event, tickets will be available for purchase at several points of sale in the palace grounds.
To save your time and avoid lengthy queuing, please, make use of the possibility to purchase e-ticket!
Guests of the Festival will be allowed to re-enter the territory of the French garden, however it will be mandatory to obtain a stamp in the Information tent or at the exit from the garden which will confirm that a ticket has been purchased.
GPS: 56.414819 24.026048
From Rīga through Bauska
From Rīga – 67 km along the road A7 to Bauska, from Bauska to Pilsrundāle – 12 km along the road P103.
From Rīga through Jelgava
From Rīga – 47 km along the road A8 to Jelgava, from Jelgava to Pilsrundāle – 43 km along the road A8 to Eleja and from Eleja by road P103 to Pilsrundāle.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: bus services “Riga–Rundāle Palace”, “Riga–Bauska”, “Bauska–Rundāle–Svitene”, “Bauska–Jelgava” (via Eleja or Jaunsvirlauka), “Bauska–Dobele”, “Bauska–Bērstele”.
Public transport timetables can be found here.
Before visiting the Garden Festival, please, examine the programme of the event.
Public mobile WCs shall be available during the festivities. Placement of the lavatories is shown on a diagram, on site in the garden there shall be direction signs erected.
Smoking shall be permitted at specially indicated locations only (please, follow the direction signs and see the locus indicated on the diagram).
Please, take into account the forecast weather! In the event, the rain has been forecast raincoats might become handy (use of umbrellas is not advisable to prevent disturbing others), whereas in case of hot sun – drinking water and head-dress. We also recommend to chose footwear appropriate for gravel paths and lawn.
There shall be a medical doctor available at the festival venue and necessary medical assistance shall be provided (follow the direction signs).
We encourage everybody to be tolerant and kind towards others – including when queuing for snacks or other merchandise.
20.05.2024