Bauska (pronunciationⓘ) is a town in its eponymous municipality, found in the Zemgale region of southern Latvia.

In previous centuries, the city was known in German as "Bauske", in Yiddish as "Boisk", in Lithuanian as "Bauskė", and in Polish as "Bowsk".

In the mid-15th century, Bauska castle was built by Germans of the Livonian Order, who then were a part of the Terra Mariana confederacy.

In the shadow and protection of the castle, a small town called Schildburg grew on the narrow peninsula formed by the Mūsa and Mēmele rivers.

Around 1580 on the orders of Duke Gotthard Kettler this settlement was relocated to the present location of Bauska Old Town, eventually receiving city rights sometime before 1609.

After 1820 Jews were allowed to settle in the city, and by 1850 made up half the population, diluting the strong German influence.

Bauska was home to a thriving Jewish community in the 19th century,[4] many employed as scholars or in occupations such as baking and distilling.

A group of Jews who were former inhabitants of Bauska proposed to establish a memorial on the site of the Great Synagogue burnt down in July 1941.

In October 2017, the "Synagogue Garden," a monument/memorial created by the Council of Jewish Communities of Latvia[10] and Latvian sculptor, Girts Burvis,[11] was dedicated on the site.