Jelgava, which lies among the forests, was called Mitawa in the past and is one of the tourist centers of Latvia. Its greatest attraction is the magnificent neoclassical palace of the Dukes of Courland, and the surrounding area offers the possibility of canoeing and other forms of active tourism.
Jelgava was founded by the Knights of Swords as a settlement near the castle. It was then called Mitawa and is known under this name in the history of as the place of a truce between Poland and Sweden in 1622 in the subsequent war on Livonia.
The most important monument of the city is the neoclassical palace of the Courland princes surrounded by park. It was built in the 18th century on the site of the former castle of the Sword Knights. In the city you can also see the baroque church of St. Anna and the tower of the destroyed church of the Holy Trinity, which is a great viewpoint.
The surroundings of Jegława abound in forests and rivers. Thanks to that they are a great place for active tourism. You can arrange hiking and biking tours, and canoe and river rides on the rivers.
