Bauska Castle and Raudondvaris Manor project shortlisted for European award, public voting open
Public voting has opened for the European Commission's REGIOSTARS 2026 People's Choice Award, with a joint project by Bauska Castle Museum and Raudondvaris Manor among the finalists. Voting runs until 14 October.
The European Commission has opened public voting for the People's Choice Award of its prestigious REGIOSTARS 2026 competition, and among the finalists is a joint Latvian-Lithuanian project, "Historical Route: Raudondvaris–Bauska," carried out by the Bauska Castle Museum and Raudondvaris Manor.
REGIOSTARS is regarded as the European Commission's leading competition for regional development projects, judging not only quality and innovation but also long-term impact on local communities. This year the contest received a record 274 applications from across Europe, with only 25 projects in five categories reaching the final. The Bauska–Raudondvaris project is competing in the "Europe Closer to Citizens" category.
Online voting for the public's favorite project is open from 3 September until 14 October at noon Central European Time. The winner will be announced at the REGIOSTARS award ceremony in Brussels during European Week of Regions and Cities.
What the project achieved
The project was implemented under the Interreg V-A Latvia–Lithuania cross-border cooperation programme, aiming to expand cultural heritage offerings and attract visitors outside the peak tourist season. At Bauska Castle, replicas of historical musical instruments were made, and the museum's concert hall was equipped with modern technology, making it suitable for conferences and seminars as well. A new open-air military exhibition was created with cannons placed on the castle's bastions, and the existing military display and museum programs were expanded.
Together with Raudondvaris Manor, a trilingual tourism guide covering both sites and the surrounding area was produced. The project attracted nearly 92,000 visitors and strengthened Latvian-Lithuanian cooperation in cultural tourism. Total funding amounted to €785,875, of which the European Regional Development Fund covered 85%, or €667,993.75.
