Rundāle Palace

Zemgale · Lettland · Palace

Two ladies roam Rundāle: the white gardener's daughter searching for her severed head – and the black one, Catherine the Great herself.

Courland's "Versailles", the baroque palace of Rundāle, carries one of Latvia's most macabre castle legends. Catherine II's favourite Platon Zubov allegedly began an affair with a local girl, and the furious empress, so the story goes, had the girl dressed in a white gown, beheaded, and her head presented on a golden platter. Ever since, the White Lady is said to drift through the halls searching for her head, while a Black Lady – Catherine herself – hunts for her rival's lover. Palace staff and craftsmen have testified to both figures over the years; one worker reportedly fell from the scaffolding in fright.

FAQ

Where is Rundāle Palace located?

Rundāle Palace is in Zemgale, Lettland.