Tour Options. Full-day Tours

Transcription

1 Tour Options Full-day Tours Tour guides are available in the following languages: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish 1

2 Tour 1 Rundale Palace The tour to Rundale Palace, which was built in the 18th century as the summer residence of the Duke of Courland, Ernest Johann von Biron, starts in Riga at your hotel and it takes 1,5 hour. The construction of the palace was inaugurated in 1736 and as von Biron was favored by the Russian Czarina, Anna Ivanovna, he succeeded in engaging the Italian star architect, Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the main architect of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. The tour of the palace features 40 rooms on the first and second floors with original interior and furniture, the central part of the palace with the Duke's Apartments. The Duchess and the other members of the family were living in the western wing, where restoration works are still being continued. The entire eastern wing was intended only for court representation; there you will find the impressive Throne Hall, the White Hall and the Small and Grand Gallery. The palace and the interior were completed only in It was fairly devastated in the course of time and in 1972 a comprehensive restoration of the palace was started. Transportation Entrance Fee 6 hours 145,- /group 395,- / group (45person coach) 290,- /group (14person coach) 10,- / person 2

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4 Tour 2 Gauja National Park, Sigulda & Medieval Turaida Castle The tour to the Gauja National Park, which was established in 1973 and consists of more than 900 sq.km, begins in Riga at your hotel and it takes one hour to drive to Sigulda, the gateway to the park, which is located in the area known as "Vidzemes Sveice" the Livonian Switzerland. The national park offers a unique combination of picturesque hilly landscapes, the Gauja River, medieval castles, sculpture parks and fauna and flora that are already extinct in many countries in Europe. First the sightseeing of Sigulda a small idyllic town with inhabitants, the foundation of which dates back in history to the beginning of the 12th century, when German Order built a large castle here. The castle was destroyed during the Great Nordic War - but the ruins of the main building and the 2 towers are left and a new castle was built in From the castle ruins there is a fabulous view of the Gauja Valley. The tour continues to the other side of the river and with a visit to the Gutman Cave, a huge red sandstone cave, and then up to the hill to the ruins of Turaida Castle, which was inaugurated by Bishop Albert of Riga and completed in 1214 and remained untouched until 1776 when it was seriously damaged by a fire. Now a part of the castle has been rebuilt, and it is again possible to enter the tower and the main building. Close to the castle you will find a little wooden church from 1750, the Daina Hill Sculpture Park of Latvian folksongs, and not to forget - the Tomb of the "Rose of Turaida" Transportation Entrance Fee 6 hours 145,- /group 400,- / group (45person coach) 290,- /group (14person coach) 7,- / person 4

5 Tour 3 Jurmala Sea Resort The tour to Jurmala starts in Riga from your hotel and it takes minutes to drive to the Baltic Sea Coast and the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its numerous fantasy-like wooden summer houses, its over 40 km of great sandy beaches and the SPA`s and health temples which are facing the white beach. This is the place where historically the rich and the aristocracy have come for more than a century, enjoyed the calm tranquility of this place and took a walk next to the beach with chance of finding amber. Transportation (max. 45 persons/coach) 8 hours (also available as half day tour) 190,- / group 510,- / group (45person coach) 370,- /group (14person coach) 5