Bauska - the town between rivers

Bauska town aerial view with Bauska castle in forefront

Bauska is a small and quite a charming town in southern Latvia, just 60 km from capital city Riga (and 20 km from Lithuania's border). Close to the town there is also one of the most impressive palaces of Latvia (Rundale palace), as well as Mezotne manor house, thus the visit of the town can be a part of a larger day trip from Riga.

OVERALL DESCRIPTION

Bauska is easily accesible from Riga by international road Via Baltica which connects Tallinn, Riga and Kaunas and goes further to Poland. It has it's downside though - this important road goes right through the town

MAIN FACTS
POPULATION	9348 (01.01.2016)
AREA	6,3 sq. km
FOUNDED (TOWN RIGHTS)	1609
ARCHITECTURE	Eclecticism, Art Nouveau, Stalinist, Soviet modernism
TOURISTS	~200 000
RATING (6,9/10)

and the incoming traffic (Bauska has heaviest transit traffic in Latvia, except Riga) means that Bauska is not as calm, silent and clean as it could and should be. There has been plans about building the ringroad but they have been postponed again and again because of the lack of funding for road infrastructure and the attitude of central government which doesn't consider Bauska ringroad a prioritary project (now it's said the ringroad could be expected only around 2028-2034).

Bauska, surrounded by the fertile agriculture fields of Zemgale, has an excellent natural setting - it's located on the shores of two rivers. Thus part of the city is situated on a valleys of river banks, part - on a hill between them. Bauska has quite large historical district with the buildings from 16th-19th Century, as well as beautiful nature park around Bauska castle and hillfort, where both rivers flows into each other, making the third.

URBAN LAYOUT AND ARCHITECTURE

When arriving in Bauska from Riga direction on Via Baltica, right after crossing the bridge over one of the rivers (Mēmele), the historical centre of the town reveals itself. To the left side from road (Kalna street), you can see Bauska Townhall square. The Townhall building itself is a nice historical landmark, although it's not authentic, but similarly as House of Blackheads in Riga, built as a replica. The original Townhall building didn't suffered in a war but it was started to gradually demolish and neglect already in the middle of 19th Century. Townhall building reconstruction was finished in 2011.

Townhall square in Christmas

Historical district or Old Town of Bauska is layed out alongside Mēmele river, on the "valley" part of the town. They're basically two streets - Rīgas street and Plūdoņa street - which stretches around 1 km in lenght and offers both masonry and wooden buildings from 16th to 19th Century.

On Krasta street, some examples of architecture from 20th Century beginning can be observed - there are also several ascetic Art Nouveau buildings.

The oldest landmark building is Bauska Holy Spirit Evangelic Lutheran church which was built in 1594 in Late Gothic style. It was used by town's Baltic German population. The original building didn't have a tower which was built a bit later. The tower which initially was a high steelpe tower was two times strucked by lightning (1799 and 1815) and thus it got it's current look with 4-sloped roof.

The greatest tourism asset of Bauska is Bauska castle and Bauska nature park around it. Bauska castle was originally started to built in 15th Century and construction continued till the end of the 16th century. The old section of the castle featured a great watch tower, 3.5 meter thick walls, a prison under the tower, a garrison and a drawbridge at the gates. Nowadays the castle consists of two parts - the ruins of an earlier castle and a later palace. The castle have gone through decades long renovation works which are finished now.

Bauska castle museum is one of the most visited museums in Latvia - some 170 000 people visits it every year. It's just 1/3 less than seemingly much more popular Rundāle palace museum (10 km from Bauska) which is the most visited one in Latvia with around 240 000 visitors per year. Bauska castle offers also an observation tower where one can get nice views over surrounding nature park area.

Bauska nature park is a beautiful nature area which starts around Bauska castle. There two rivers - Mēmele and Mūsa - flows together, creating Lielupe river which later flows through Zemgale fields, Jelgava and Jūrmala towns, before entering Riga Sea Gulf. The park offers several beautiful panorama viewpoints and many paths to walk around. Bauska nature park could be the most romantic place in Latvia - there are even songs about it: "We'll flow farther like a two rivers in one...".

MAIN SIGHTSEEING PLACES

Landmark buildings

BAUSKA CASTLE. Bauska castle was originally started to built in 15th Century and construction continued till the end of the 16th century. Nowadays the castle consists of two parts - the ruins of an earlier castle and a later palace. The castle have gone through decades long renovation works which have been finished recently.

BAUSKA TOWNHALL BUILDING. The historical landmark of Bauska, Townhall building is a rebuilt as a replica (finished in 2011). The original Townhall building in 17th Century was the largest townhall in whole Kurzeme. In 19th Century it was started to gradually demolish and neglect already in the middle of 19th Century.

BAUSKA LUTHERAN CHURCH. The oldest landmark building in Bauska is the Holy Spirit Evangelic Lutheran church which was built in 1594 in Late Gothic style. It was used by town's Baltic German population back then. The original building didn't have a tower which was built a bit later.

BAUSKA ST. GEORGE ORTHODOX CHURCH. Colorful and unusual looking Orthodox church, built already in 1881, designed by one of the first Latvian architects Janis Fridrihs Baumanis. Church cupolas has got golden plates in just recent years, and only in 2016 the church got state protection status as an architectural monument of local importance.

Squares

TOWNHALL SQUARE. Historical market square has been the main place of the town for public gatherings. Official celebrations, fairs and other kind of events are still organized here.

Streets

RIGA STREET. The main historical street in Bauska which is around 1 km long and offers both masonry and wooden buildings from 16th to 19th Century.

Parks and nature

BAUSKA NATURE PARK. Bauska nature park is a beautiful nature area which starts around Bauska castle. There two rivers - Mēmele and Mūsa - flows together, creating Lielupe river. The park offers several beautiful panorama viewpoints and many paths to walk around.

Observation points

VIEW FROM BAUSKA CASTLE TOWER. The tower of Bauska castle offers panoramas over surrounding nature park, to rivers Musa and Memele, as well as some rooftops of highest town buildings.

VIEW TO MEMELE RIVER FROM BAUSKA HILLFORT. There are several nice view points but probably the best one is located right next to the castle, offering great sight to Mēmele river bend.

VIEW TO MUSA RIVER FROM BAUSKA HILLFORT. On the other side of narrow peninsula, again right next to Bauska castle, there is a great vantage point to Mūsa river.

INTERACTIVE MAP OF THE MOST INTERESTING PLACES IN BAUSKA

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

How to get there?

Bauska can be reached from Riga by bus. Buses goes often - every 20 minutes on average. The trip takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. The ticket costs 3,50 EUR. Drive with a car from Riga takes about 50 minutes on A7 road.

Where to eat?

Bauska has several options to eat a tasty meal for non-expensive prices. One of it is located right next to Townhall square - "Taverna" (Rīgas street 27). I could recommend also "Mīklas paradīze" at Dārza street 16a.

Shopping

Main shopping complex in Bauska is located on the hill - when driving in from Riga side, "Rimi" sign is noticeable already from the distance. There are supermarkets from both largest chains in Latvia - "Rimi" and "Maxima", as well as household and electronics supermarkets "SuperAction" and "Mājai un Dārzam", and many more smaller shops.

Parking

In Bauska car parking is for free and there are many parking places in the town, also at the Townhall square. Usually there are no problems to find an empty parking spot, unless there is some festival happening in the town (in summer, there are several music festivals happening - Bauska Country festival, Early music festival, etc.).