The late Baroque and early Classicism building was commissioned by Duke Peter Byron of Courland and Zemgale, and it was built between 1773 and 1776 on the basis of a design by a Danish architect.  It was the castle of Duchess Anna.  The first university in Latvia, Academia Petrina was established here in 1775 and named after Duke Peter.  The first observatory was installed at the academy in 1772, and a high school was in the building during the age of the Russian Empire.  Among graduates are distinguished Latvians such as Krišjānis Barons, Jānis Alunāns and Jānis Čakste, as well as the Lithuanian Antanas Smetona.  The Jelgava Museum of History and Art took over the building in 1952, and in 1975 it was named after the Old Master Ģederts Eliass (1887-1975).  The exhibition speaks to the history of the city and surrounding area during and after the period of the Duchy of Courland and Zemgale.  Outside the impressive building are four cannons from the period of the duchy, as well as monument to Eliass that was designed in 1987 by the sculptor Jānis Zariņš.  Another monument, “Lāčplēsis and the Black Knight,” was designed by the sculptor Kārlis Jansons and commemorates the liberators of Jelgava.

The most fascinating part of the Park is its underground museum. Guided underground tours take visitors to where miners used to work and rest and stored their explosives, and include a real train ride and learning about various pieces of equipment and technology. A delicious miner’s lunch can be booked in advance and enjoyed in a genuine miners´ underground canteen.

The Kretinga Estate park is one of the oldest ones in Lithuania to have survived to the present days.  Established in the 16th and 17th century, it is a mixed-style park that covers 23 ha of land.  The southern part of the park has an astronomical calendar with a sundial, a hedge, allies, and flowerbeds and rock gardens with dahlias, peonies, tulips and roses.  There are trails for strollers and areas for relaxation.  Particularly popular among local residents is the restored fountain in the park.

The museum set up in 1982 presents life and activity of the region from the late 19th C to the recent past. Temporary exhibitions are held in the barn and more than 200 species of trees and shrubs can be viewed in the parkland extending over 17 ha. Themed events include baking bread, celebrations of folk holidays are frequently arranged. From the museum visitors can access Velise cultural and natural heritage trail.

The museum was opened in 1977 in an old farmhouse with a reed roof.  The museum features distinguished people from the surrounding area, events there, and the region’s history and traditions.

An age-old twisting postal road between Tartu and Võru takes travellers to Varbuse postal station dating from 1863. The Estonian Road Museum is housed in this well-preserved complex of a postal station which creates a wonderful setting for displaying the history of travelling and roads, traffic regulation and machinery. Cross-sections of road pavements disclose the secrets of road building. An outdoor display shows stretches of historic roads from Estonia and former Livonia creating an authentic ambience of the past.

The memorial museum for Edvards Veidenbaums (1867-1892) was established at his homestead, “Kalači.”  The great poet and translator lived there from the age of five and also died there.  Alongside the museum is an exhibition hall that offers thematic exhibitions.  A monument designed by the sculptor Laimonis Blumbergs is in the garden of the museum and was installed in 1961.  There is also a granary in which Veidenbaums lived during the summer.  The poet was buried in the local Liepa cemetery.