Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Two suitcases in an empty airport hall.
AO Mailbag: Is It Normal to Share a Checked Bag With Your Boyfriend?
Kolaches
How Texas Became an Unlikely Epicenter for Czech Pastries
What I Found Driving Across Northern Michigan
What I Found Driving Down Highway 61

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Latvia Jelgava The Family Vault of the Dukes of Courland
AO Edited

The Family Vault of the Dukes of Courland

The Jelgava Palace holds one of the few burial places of governor’s dynasties that is open to the public.

Jelgava, Latvia

Added By
ahvenas
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The Family Vault of the Dukes of Courland   ahvenas / Atlas Obscura User
The Family Vault of the Dukes of Courland   ahvenas / Atlas Obscura User
The Family Vault of the Dukes of Courland   ahvenas / Atlas Obscura User
The Family Vault of the Dukes of Courland   ahvenas / Atlas Obscura User
The Family Vault of the Dukes of Courland   ahvenas / Atlas Obscura User
The Family Vault of the Dukes of Courland   ahvenas / Atlas Obscura User
The Family Vault of the Dukes of Courland   ahvenas / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Twenty-four members of the House of Kettler and six members of the Biron family are buried at this location. Initially, the remains of dukes and their family members were placed in a vault under the chapel. The sarcophagi were later moved to the basement rooms under the new Jelgava Palace.

The vault contains 21 metal sarcophagi and nine wooden coffins, all adorned and decorated with fine engravings and ornamental details. The oldest pewter sarcophagus belongs to Sigismund Albert, the son of Duke Gotthard. Sarcophagi from earlier periods (the end of the 16th-century and the beginning of the 17th-century) are simpler with only a few ornaments and coats of arms.

The most sumptuous pewter sarcophagi belong to Duchess Elisabeth Magdalene, her husband Duke Friedrich, and Duke Wilhelm.

Another group of stylistically similar sarcophagi in Baroque style belong to Duke Jacob, his wife Louise Charlotte, and their son Karl Jacob. They are richly adorned with acanthus leaf motifs, reliefs, and coats of arms of Courland-Semigallia. The last member of the Dukes dynasty who was laid to rest here was Princess Charlotte Friederica.

The vault has sustained severe damage over the course of history and has been looted several times. The sarcophagi have been restored and are a permanent exhibition of the Palace Museum.

Related Tags

History & Culture Burial Places

Know Before You Go

The Family Vault of the Dukes of Courland is managed by Rundales Palace. Exhibition is open only in summer months; check the website for opening times.

Community Contributors

Added By

ahvenas

Edited By

Martin

  • Martin

Published

October 26, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://visit.jelgava.lv/en/sightseeing/muzeji-un-ekspozicijas/item/80-rundales-pils-muzeja-ekspozicija-jelgavas-pili-kurzemes-hercogu-kapenes
The Family Vault of the Dukes of Courland
2 Lielā iela
Jelgava, 3001
Latvia
56.655306, 23.733863
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Jelgava Palace

Jelgava, Latvia

miles away

Riga Aviation Museum

Skulte, Latvia

miles away

Dzintaru Forest Park Watchtower

Jūrmala, Latvia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Jelgava

Jelgava

Latvia

Places 2

Nearby Places

Jelgava Palace

Jelgava, Latvia

miles away

Riga Aviation Museum

Skulte, Latvia

miles away

Dzintaru Forest Park Watchtower

Jūrmala, Latvia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Jelgava

Jelgava

Latvia

Places 2

Related Stories and Lists

Our Favorite New Places of 2021

List

By Atlas Obscura

Related Places

  • Addolorata Cemetery.

    Raħal Ġdid, Malta

    Addolorata Cemetery

    Malta’s largest cemetery is a Victorian-era architectural masterpiece.

  • Ahlat, Turkey

    Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery

    Hundreds of medieval Islamic gravestones decorate the mountainous landscape in the largest cemetery in Turkey.

  • Sortino, Italy

    Necropolis of Pantalica

    Thousands of rock-cut tombs fill the cliffs of this Sicilian nature preserve.

  • Sarcophagus of Chrodoara

    Amay, Belgium

    Sarcophagus of Chrodoara

    Since its accidental discovery in 1977, this sarcophagus has been described as "the greatest masterpiece of Merovingian sculpture north of the Alps."

  • Burial mounds in Birka

    Birka, Sweden

    Birka Viking Burial Mounds

    Sweden's first Viking city is also the site of thousands of burial mounds.

  • The Crypt

    Lastingham, England

    Crypt of the Church of St. Mary

    Thought to be the oldest Norman crypt in the world.

  • The monument

    Leadville, Colorado

    Irish Miners' Memorial and Cemetery

    Thousands of unmarked, sunken graves in a pauper's cemetery.

  • Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain

    Necròpolis de Cala Morell

    These ancient burial caves carved into the cliffs offer a glimpse into prehistoric funeral practices and Menorca's early inhabitants.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.