It’s our last day in this beautiful Baltic country. We rent a car to take us east to the tourist spot of Sigulda. It is an easy one hour drive along motorway and we are in forested hilly countryside. Our first stop is the 13th century Turaida Castle.
A short 5 minute drive takes us to the Sigulda cable car. When I researched this I had my doubts. There are no significant mountains here and all that I read about it suggested it was just treetop views over a valley. That is exactly how it transpired. While pleasant, nothing spectacular.
The finale for Latvia is a 2 hour drive west along the way to Lithuania our next destination. The 18th century Rundale Palace is spectacular. Framed by an extensive French garden reminiscent of Versailles this is a classic European Palace. Commissioned by the Duke of Corland in 1736 it was not completed until 1762. The Russians took over and in 1795 Catherine the Great gave this palace to the youngest brother of her lover. The Germans occupied it in WW1 and used it as a hospital.After WW1 it was used as a school. Restoration started in 1972 and was not finished until 2015. The result is magnificent, see for yourself.
One reply on “Farewell Latvia”
Brilliant