Bauska

56° 24′ 13″ N, 24° 10′ 25″ E

Bauska Castle situated in the interfluve of the Mēmele river and the Mūsa river was founded upon the order of Master Heinrich Vincke von Overberg (the first reference is dated 1441). In 1559 Bauska castle along with a number of other castles passed to King of Poland Sigismund II Augustus under the first Treaty of Vilnius. In 1561, upon the dissolution of the Livonian Order and the Archdiocese of Riga, tenure of the castle was first granted to the Archbishop of Riga Wilhelm von Brandenburg, and later it became the residence of the last Master of the Order Gotthard Kettler who became the Duke of Courland as a vassal of the Polish Crown.

Tags: castles and fortresses