Jelgava lies at the edge of Zemgale lowland on the both banks of the Lielupe River. Jelgava is an industrial centre and transport junction, but it can also boast of the most spectacular baroque palace in the Baltics. It is the Jelgava Palace, built in 1738-1772 under the supervision of B. F. Rastrelli for the capital of the Duchy of Courland. Now the Palace is the home of the Latvian Agriculture University {LAU) -with more than 10 thousand students. In the Palace you can visit the vaults of the Duke of Courland (exhibition from the Runadale Palace Museum). At the LAU museum there are two exhibitions that show the history of the Palace the construction and history of the LAU. Close by is the Academia Petrina, a rare example of late baroque architecture from the 18th century and it is housing the Gederta Eliasa Jelgava History and Art Museum. Jelgava is famous for its churches where prayers from various denominations are heard. In the district of Jelgava, Valgunde community - a branch of the Riga Holy Trinity Sergija Women's Nunnery is located. The building of the convent began in 1897 and it is still active today. There are also many old, noteworthy manor houses and palaces Stajgene, Vircava, Zaja, Eleja, Lielplatone, Vilce, Blankefelde and churches Lielvircava (built in 1595), Sesava, Zafenieki, Salgale Lutheran churches, as well as Livberze Catholic church, which is the only wooden church in the region. Through Jelgava and region the broad river Lielupe with its many tributaries winds its way. In spring the banks resound with birds' songs.

Getting to Jelgava

By train:
Riga - Jelgava, Every hour
Info:+371 5832134
By bus:
Riga - Jelgava, Riga - Liepaja, Riga - Saldus, Riga-Auce,
Riga-Alsunga, Riga-Aizpute, Riga-Nigrande,
Riga-Siauliai, Riga-Kaunas, Riga-Kaliningrad, Riga- Grodna
Every hour
Info: +371 3022639
By minibus:
Riga- Jelgava, Riga- Dobele
Every 15-20 minutes
Info: +371 3022639
By car:
40-50 minutes from Riga centre
Taxi:
Tel: + 371 8008044 (free of charge), +371 8008066 (free of charge)

Tourist information
Pasta iela 37, Jelgava, LV-3001
Tel: +371 3022751, Fax: +371 3022235,
ric@jrp.iv, www.jrp.lv; www.jelgava.lv
Open: Mon: 8:00-18:00,
Tue-Thu: 8:00-17:00,
Fri: 8:00-15:30, Closed: Sat, Sun