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CONSTRUCTION HISTORY

Count Ernst Johann von Biron bought the undāle manor complex on 26 June 1735. In August of
the same year the court architect of Russia Francesco Rastrelli came to Courland. From September
until December agreements were being concluded with carpenters, masons, brickmakers,
construction material suppliers, potters – stove makers.
The construction project was ready in January of 1736. The eight pages of the project are located in
the graphic art collection “Albertina” in Vienna. It consists of a situation plan, two floor plans, a
sketch of four facades and the altar of the palace church.

The first construction period from 1736 to 1740.

On 24 May 1736 the foundation-stone of the palace was set. Construction of the foundation was
completed on 6 July, whereas on 13 October the central building was built to the level of the
windowsill of the second floor. The construction of 12 brick-kilns and 12 brick storages was
finished in June. 268 masons were working in the palace, but Rastrelli requested 500 men.
Construction was stopped on 1 November due to cold.
The construction works were restarted on 12 April 1737. On 28 May the central building was
finished, and on 18 June covering was started to be placed on the side buildings, whereas the
construction of the central building roof was finished at the end of June. When the works were
stopped on 10 October, one side building was roofed over, and the other one was covered with a
temporary roof. The foundations of the stables were also ready. The bricklaying works were
finished on 1 October 1737. After Biron was elected Duke, he ordered to simplify the building. The
finishing materials were produced by the master carpenters and woodcarver A. Kamaev of the
Imperial Construction Bureau of Saint Petersburg, master potter I. Ushakov of the Neva brick
factory with his team and painters I. Mizinov, I. Pilugin and I. Yevdokimov. Austrian potters were
working in Vircava. The finishing materials were also being produced in Saint Petersburg.