The Royal Palaces of the Baltic Republics

Europe is home to numerous splendid palaces that either are or have been inhabited by royalty. But not all are as well known as Versailles in France or Buckingham Palace in Britain. In this video we’ll explore the royal past of the Baltics through the residences of the region's former rulers. From the Baroque summer palace of Peter the Great in Estonia, to the splendid residences of the Curonian Duke Ernst Johann von Biron in Latvia, and finally the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius.

→ MUSIC

Autumnal, Op.8 - Complete Performance - Sergei Prokofiev

Symphony No.4, F Minor, Op.36 - II. Andantino - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Enigma variations, Op. 36 - Theme (Andante) - Edward Elgar

Enigma variations, Op. 36 - Variation I (L'istesso tempo) - Edward Elgar

Concerto in E-flat Major for Oboe & Strings - Robert Woodcock

Swan Lake Op.20 - Act III Pt.1 - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Suite No.2 in D Major - Georg Friedrich Händel

Clarinet Concerto in F minor - II. Andante - Ludwig Spohr

String Quartet no. 2 in D Major - III. Nocturne Andante - Alexander Borodin

Amicus Meus - Tomás Luis de Victoria

The Art of Fugue, BWV. 1080 - Contrapunctus V - Johann Sebastian Bach

Hipocondrie à 7 Concertanti, ZWV 187 - Jan Dismas Zelenka

Concerto in G Major - Unico Wilhelm Wassenaer

→ SOURCES

[GrSctsman]

It brought me joy to hear that the Palace of the Grand Duchy was not left to be forgotten to time. It is truly brilliant that many countries that were downtrodden and persecuted in the past centuries have been able to reclaim their heritage and their history, and that they now have the opportunity to reconstruct such brilliant monuments as the Palace. Thank you for such an informative video about an area of Europe too often overlooked!

[kingsandthings]

I’ve been wanting to make a video about Mindaugas II for a long time, but I realized that his story could work as an intro here instead. It did get kind of long though 😅 … But it’s fascinating how many crowns he almost got!

[kabazinga]

i’m from estonia, i was surprised to see this video, i have been to the kadriorg palace at least twice, one as a school trip and once into the rose garden where the best graduates are invited to a party by the president

[sez]

European countries looking for a monarch: Ah yes, Germany…

[jefferyhanderson]

The rich cultural heritage of Eastern Europe is often overshadowed by the authoritarian gloom and concrete buildings of the Cold War Era.
It was interesting to know the cultural treasures of the Baltic states and their dynamic history.

[silveryuno]

That was quite a happy ending for The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.

[CarlosPriiProductions]

Greetings from the south of Estonia! I've been a big fan of your content and have binge watched your videos for a while now. My heart literally dropped, I got chills and I almosted fainted when I saw this title, as my two little worlds collided. Still can't believe that one of my favourite creators has noticed our tiny, but historically important country! Thank you so much for this video and helping to put the Baltics on the map again! Love from Estonia!

[reneeh]

What an incredible video! Thank you so much for creating this giving us all this history and sharing all of the beauty of these areas. The narration is wonderful. It's so smooth and easy to listen to that lovely voice.

[ethanol]

You don't understand how unbelievable happy I get every time I see a new upload from you!!

[PT-Shorts]

Can you cover the worlds most architecturally beautiful botanical gardens?

[TeaTheLeaf]

Random topic for a video but I'm 100% here for it! 👍🏼👍🏼

[adamcheklat]

3:34: Ouch! Wilhelm Karl was one unlucky noble.

[erichtomanek]

Bravo to the Three Baltic States!
Remain Free and Independent Forever!

[UlmanistLatvia]

Fate has been unkind to the Jelgava palace. Once upon a time, the main residence of the Dukes of Courland-Semigallia, for a while the main residence of the French Bourbon dynasty, where King Louis XVIII wrote the biography of Marie Antoinette, it once surpassed Rundāle in scale, opulence, and fame. And yet, after a few destructive events, it has become a shell of it's former self, and it's prominence has been taken over by it's younger, smaller sibling in Rundāle, which historically was considered but a provincial hunting lodge.

As a side note, I've heard claims that Jelgava Palace might be cursed. The northern wing, in particular, has burned multiple times—in 1744, 1788, 1805, and 1816. The entire palace was burned down in 1919, and again in 1944, with more recent, small-scale fires occurring in 1992, and 2024.

[JassuHuh]

Thankyou for making this I never knew this as an Estonian I appreciate you so much

[davebeat]

Rundale is a really great day out if you're visiting Latvia. It's accessible by coach from Riga, the jorney is approximately 1 hour to the town of Bauska and then there's a local bus from Bauska to Rundale. While you're in Bauska, you can also visit the much older Bauska Castle which is part restored and part ruins. Bauska Castle was built by the Teutonic Knights of the Livonian Order, but later turned over to the Duke Gotthard Kettler who extended and "modernised" it.

[Mister_O]

Could also mention the Põltsamaa Castle, which served as the official residence of Duke Magnus of Holstein from 1570 to 1578

[micahistory]

man this channel just always delivers some of the best videos on this channel. I always feel inspired after watching your content. Can't wait for what is next!

[CarthagoMike]

Great content as always! Better than some documentaries I've seen!

[GarfieldRex]

Tampoco tenía idea de que tan bellos palacios existían en el Báltico. Muchas gracias por el video