What to See in Bauska, Latvia: Free Audio Guide

The best things to do in Bauska include visiting a medieval castle, seeing where two rivers join to form the Lielupe, and exploring historic churches in the town centre. Set in Latvia’s Semigallia region, Bauska brings together fortress history, distinctive religious architecture and a compact townscape. Neywo has a free audio guide for Bauska with six narrated places, available in 11 languages.

What to See in Bauska

Bauska Castle

Bauska Castle combines the ruins of a 15th-century fortress built by the Livonian Order with a 16th-century Renaissance palace commissioned by the Dukes of Courland and Semigallia. The original stronghold guarded against raids from the south and protected the route towards Riga. The later palace reflects a different period, when military needs had given way to more refined architecture.

The palace is considered one of Latvia’s finest examples of Mannerist architecture. Its reconstructed details include decorative window surrounds, ornate gables and elaborate stonework. Restoration began in the 19th century, while the palace section seen today was largely reconstructed in 2008.

The setting is part of the experience: Bauska Castle stands between the Mūša and Mēmele rivers, at the point where they become the Lielupe. Bauska Castle and Park is also a designated Latvian cultural monument.

The Mūša and the Birth of the Lielupe

The Mūša meets the Mēmele in Bauska, and the two rivers join to form the Lielupe, which flows towards the Gulf of Riga. The Mūša rises in northern Lithuania and runs for 164 kilometres. Most of its course—146 kilometres—is in Lithuania, while its final 18 kilometres pass through Latvia’s Zemgale region.

The river shares its name with the small village of Mūša on its right bank. Its story also highlights the connection between the river and the surrounding countryside: agricultural runoff carries phosphorus and nitrogen compounds into the water, affecting its condition.

Bauska Church of the Holy Spirit

The Church of the Holy Spirit is the oldest surviving building in Bauska. Construction began in 1591 and ended in 1594, when the church served the Baltic German community. It stands in a quiet park in the heart of the old town.

The church originally had no tower. Construction of the tower began in 1614 and was completed in 1623 by Michael Ulrich from Arnstadt, who added a cupola and tall steeple. Lightning damaged the steeple in 1799, and another strike in 1815 led to the four-sloped roof that remains part of the church’s appearance today.

Inside, the furnishings represent several centuries of local history. The wooden altar was carved in 1699 and restored in 1861 by Julius Döring. The pulpit dates from 1762, while the organ prospect dates from 1766. Both were gifts from the Russian senator Nikolaus Friedrich von Korff.

St. George’s Church

St. George’s Church stands in central Bauska, opposite the gymnasium and children’s library. It is an Orthodox church built in the Russian-Byzantine style, with a central cupola, four smaller corner cupolas and a tent-shaped bell tower.

Bauska’s Orthodox community was established in 1856. The congregation initially worshipped in rented spaces, but received a plot of land from the czarist authorities in 1876. The project was approved two years later, and construction was completed in 1881.

The architect was Jānis Frīdrihs Baumanis, one of Latvia’s most prominent architects. During the period of russification, he designed more than twenty Orthodox churches across the region. The church’s history continued through the 20th century: after the death of its first priest, Father Josifs Sokolovs, in 1922, the congregation grew to nearly five hundred members before the Soviet years brought changes.

The Roman Catholic Church in Bauska

The Roman Catholic Church of the Most Holy Sacrament is located on Katoļu Street. It forms part of Bauska’s collection of historic places of worship, alongside the town’s Lutheran and Orthodox churches.

Taken together, these buildings show the different religious communities that shaped Bauska. They also make the town centre especially rewarding for a walk focused on architecture and local history.

A Bauska Self-Guided Walking Tour

Neywo’s walking tour, “Where Two Rivers Become One: Bauska’s Castle and Faiths”, covers 2.83 kilometres in 68 minutes and includes five narrated stops. Its route connects the Mūša, Bauska Castle, St. George’s Church, the Roman Catholic church and the Church of the Holy Spirit.

The tour is a practical way to experience the main things to do in Bauska in one continuous walk. It links the river landscape and castle with the town’s religious heritage, without requiring a group or a fixed departure time.

Bauska is part of Semigallia, one of the regions that make up Latvia. If you are continuing through the region, Jelgava and Jēkabpils are other destinations to consider.

Explore Bauska with Neywo

Download Neywo for a free Bauska audio guide and explore the town at your own pace. Bauska has one walking tour: a 2.83-kilometre route lasting 68 minutes, with five narrated stops. The app has six narrated places in total, with narration available in 11 languages.

Each story plays as you reach the place, so the app explains Bauska Castle, the rivers and the town’s churches at the moment you arrive. There is no group and no schedule: simply follow the route, pause when you like and discover Bauska independently.