www.belarustourism.by hospitality beyond borders Castles, Fortresses, Towers Islands of inviolacy and puissance in the ocean of the centuries-long history Castles, Fortresses, Towers 1 11 2 9 5 12 16 6 7 12 3 11 8 17 4 14 3 13 3 1 13 4 19 10 18 14 5 15 6 Table of content 1. Mir Castle . .2 16 2. Nesvizh Castle and Palace Ensemble . 4 3. Novogrudok castle . .6 7 4. Lubcha Castle. 8 5. Krevo Castle . 10 6. Golshany Castle. .11 17 7. Grodno Castles. 12 8. Bykhov Castle . .13 8 9. Smolyany castle . .14 10. Mozyr Castle. 15 11. Lida castle. 16 18 12. Zaslavl Castle . .17 13. Synkovichi Bastion Church. .18 9 14. Malomazheyki Church. 19 15. Kamai Catholic Church. .20 16. Haityushniki House-castle . .21 19 17. Bobrujsk fortress. 22 10 18. Brest Fortress . 23 19. Kamenets Tower . 24 Родовые дворцы и усадьбы ear travelers! Are you craving for the medieval mysteries and unforgettable impressions, exciting trips and new discoveries? Welcome to Belarus! It is often called “the country of castles”. The first stone fortresses appeared here in the XIIth century! The tower of Kamenets rising on the western border of Belarus has been an amazing example of the beauty and grace for more than 7 centuries. Mir and Nesvizh castles included into the UNESCO World Heritage list are stunning and unique constructions. Brest fortress walls remember lots of historic events – tragic as well as fascinating. In this edition we present the most interesting objects of the defense architecture of Belarus. However there are far more of them than this brochure can include. Belarus is a wonderful and peculiar country that managed to preserve its unique aura. Take a look at the magnificent architectural masterpieces, created by the talented architects! National Tourism Agency of the Republic of Belarus Сastles, Fortresses, Towers │ Mir Castle Grodno region, Karelichi district, Mir, Minsk - 100 кm, Grodno - 197 кm Like a bewildering mirage lost in castle severely. During the war time Mir Castle lures tourists. Five between Russia and the Polish- similar but not identical towers Lithuanian Commonwealth the create its exceptional silhouette. castle was stormed by the Russian The towers are decorated army and during the Great with the myriad of niches and Northern War (1705) the Swedes moldings. This was a traditional blew up one of the towers and feature of the XVIth century set the castle on fire the traces architecture. However Mir Castle of which can be seen on the is still unique. Neither in Russia, nor ancient brickwork. in Poland, nor in the Baltic states The last owners of Mir Castle there are its analogs preserved. Sviatopolk-Mirskie dukes restored The construction of Roman style it. Lots of efforts were made by Mir Castle was commenced by Michail Sviatopolk-Mirski who was the Ilyinichi dukes in the beginning rebuilding the destroyed rooms of the XVIth century. The new carefully and patiently. Once owners, the Radzivill family added this spade bearded man with some gothic and Renaissance a sophisticated sense of humor features to the building in late noted jokingly: “There are two XVIth century. wrecks in Mir – the castle and History-lovers will appreciate me”. the numerous mysterious legends The last tragic page in the that wrap Mir castle. According history of Mir castle was opened to one of them there is a 35 km by the World War II. There was long underground tunnel that a ghetto organized behind the connects Mir castle and the ancient walls where more than Radzivills family residence in 1000 people were killed. Nesvizh. Another legend tells that Today the Castle of Mir is a lamb was immolated during a branch of the National Art the laying of the castle. This was Museum of the Republic of made to insure the building Belarus. In 2000 Mir Castle was against destroying. A stone similar included into the UNESCO to the head of the lamb in its World Heritage List. After the shape can be noticed in one of reconstruction, that takes place the walls. at the moment, the restaurant Mir Castle has its own ghosts. and the conference hall will be In early XXth century two dead opened at the castle. Today one soldiers in armour were found of the towers, the gallery and the under one of the stabs. They say cellar are open for the tourists. that since that time the moaning Rise up on the spiral stairs, look and the swords clanking are out of the narrow loophole, touch heard on the New Year’s night at the rough walls and you will feel the ancient chambers. the scent of the days long gone. Numerous wars damaged the On this page (top to bottom): The family vault (1904) of Svyatopolk-Mirskie dukes The bird’s eye view. Mir Castle, called the brightest medieval flower is is hiding in the ancient park. the most famous castle in Belarus. 2 Islands of inviolacy and puissance in the ocean of the centuries-long history On this page: The castle admires its reflection in Miryanka river. Mir Castle was rebuilt many times becoming similar to a palace. The courtyard view. www.belarustourism.by 3 Сastles, Fortresses, Towers │ Nesvizh Castle and Palace Ensemble Minsk region, Nesvizh district, Nesvizh, Minsk -110 кm The family residence of the fabulously rich. The coevals told uncrowned kings of the Grand that Stanislav Radzivill rode his Duchy of Lithuania is the title guests in sledge along the road that Nesvizh castle bears by dusted with salt in summer. It has right. Erected in XVIth century to be noted that the salt was as it became the residence of expensive as the gold at those the Radzivills, one of the most times. Another myth comes powerful families in the Eastern about the mysterious Radzivills’ Europe. treasure, buried somewhere Nesvizh castle was laid down near the castle in 1812. There are by Mikolaj “Sierotka” Radzivill in the legendary 12 Apostles – the 1584 and the last representatives golden figures of the human of this family left it only in 1939 height among the other gems. when Nesvizh was merged into Even now this hoard heats the USSR. the imagination of numerous Over the course of XVIIth – treasure-hunters. Who knows, XIXth centuries the castle was may be it is you, lucky enough to destroyed and rebuilt many times unriddle this secret? and today it amazes the travelers Still, the most popular legend of with its intricate combination of Nesvizh castle is the story about the Renaissance, baroque, gothic “the Black Lady”. For several and classicism architectural styles. centuries the spirit of the poisoned The inside decoration of the Barbara Radzivill (the wife of castle astonished the guests with Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth its splendor. There were 170 rooms King Sigizmund II Augustus) in total. The most fascinating halls, appears at night in black dress decorated by the priceless arms and wanders along the ancient collections and rare works of art halls as if warning about the were called the Royal Hall, the coming tragedies. It is said that Golden Hall, the Marble Hall, the she was seen the day before the Hunting Hall and the Arms Hall. fire in 2002 when that largest part The earthwork and bastions of the castle was burnt. as well as the system of the Nesvizh Castle was included canals and ponds that locked into the UNESCO World Heritage the whole construction on the List in 2005. Today the castle island made the castle absolutely in being reconstructed and in inaccessible. The remains of the 1020 the galleries, the armory fortifications can be seen today. and the oldest part of the castle The chain of the underground decorated by the unique 300- paths, stables and vaults, the year old frescos will be available whole underground town hidden for tourists. in the earthwork usually provokes special interest of the tourists. The Radzivills family was On this page (top to bottom): Gold-plated figures that decorate the church. The Cathedral Church or Corpus Christi Church One of Nesvizh Castle towers. is a family vault of the Radzivills. There are about 70 burials there. 4 Islands of inviolacy and puissance in the ocean of the centuries-long history On this page (top to bottom): Nesvizh townhall, which is considered to be one of the Various styles blend harmonically in the oldest and one of the most fascinating townhalls in architecture of Nesvizh Castle. Belarus, is the coeval of the castle. www.belarustourism.by 5 Сastles, Fortresses, Towers │ Novogrudok Castle Grodno region, Novogrudok district, Novogrudok, Minsk - 148 кm, Grodno - 190 кm The tragic but rich history of The fortress suffered lots of Novogrudok castle constantly trials. In the XVIth century it was attracts those looking for unusual stormed several times by the impressions. Erected in the middle Crimea Tatars but all the times of the XIIIth century it gained its they were rolling back from its final look in the XVIth century walls like the waves roll back becoming the main part of the to the ocean from the shore. defense system of the ancient But during the war between town of Novogrudok. Russia and The Polish-Lithuanian Large bricks and small stones Commonwealth (1654 – 1667) the were chosen for the building castle was severely damaged. which made the castle even Later it was demolished by the stronger. Novogrudok fortress was Swedish army during the Great the largest one on the territory of Northern War (1700 – 1721). Belarus and had 7 towers. It was The history of Novogrudok situated on the knap of the hill. castle inspired the outstanding That is why in favourable weather and the most mysterious polish the soldiers could watch 15-20 km poet of the belarusian ancestry, of the surrounding territory and Adam Mitskewich.