CULTURE The Minsk Times Thursday, June 11, 2009 9 Renaissance revival makes time travel possible Mir Castle ready to welcome guests once lights are connected in each room By Viktar Korbut ished. Mr. Bubnovsky guides me by ment, almost no original interior fl ashlight, the beam illuminating the elements remained. It’s not reason- Th e 16th century fortress, lo- most important objects discovered able to invent something new but a cated 100km from Minsk, is known during restoration. “Most of the East lift eases the functioning of the mu- for its UNESCO World Heritage Wing was destroyed, so it has been a seum building, which could become listing. It is the only magnate resi- challenge to restore it,” he asserts. one of Belarus’ top cultural and pub- dence in Gothic and Renaissance We are standing in a large crypt, lic sites in the future,” he says. style remaining in its original form where the Mir Castle’s fi rst owners Th e engineering is hidden in the in Belarus, although much of it was — the Radziwill dukes — stored basement — accessible only through destroyed years ago. It has taken their food and wine. Only its out- the old wine cellar of the Radziwills. several decades for restorers to side walls remained; the inside was An old Greek-style sauna will be bring the lost details of the interior destroyed many years ago. Every- open to future visitors and the three to life. In 2010, it should open to thing was rebuilt — from the Ren- upper fl oors of the East Wing have tourists, with the castle’s East Wing aissance foundations upwards. Now, 16 rooms — all ready to welcome — including a Middle Ages-styled the stones have a skilfully smoothed guests. Most have two fl oors and hotel, restaurant and conference hall surface. boast furniture from various eras; — opening soon. Leaving the cellar, we go upstairs. the most aff ecting are those in con- Until recently, no one — except Th e Polish specialists seem embar- temporary 20th century style. Of restorers — was allowed to enter. rassed that a modern lift course, the most recent owners of Even scientists had limited access. has been installed the castle — the Svyatopolk-Mirsky Now, Dmitry Bubnovsky, who dukes — lived there within the last heads the scientifi c sphere of century. Th e family gave Nicholas Mir Castle’s restoration, is joined II’s empire its best diplomats and by the Director of the National ministers. In the 1920-1930s, the Art Museum, Vladimir Proko- dukes began to restore the castle ptsov, in organising the fi rst — work then continued by the trip through the ‘secret’ halls. Belarusian state. Th e noble fam- Restored Mir Castle brings to life chivalry of Middle Ages EU experts — members of the ily occupied the castle in times According to Mr. Bubnovsky, the arriving at Mir Castle are certain to National Committee for the In- when modernism was fl ourish- castle’s potential to host top level be impressed. Th ey can stay in the ternational Council on Monu- ing; the present restoration of talks will exceed even that of Bela- retro-hotel, wander the fortress’ ments and Sites — are among the the rooms is a tribute to the past rus’ Europe Hotel. labyrinthine corridors and imagine fi rst to see Mir. Th e 16th century and to these former owners. Previously, the fortress’ owners themselves living back in the times architecture of Belarus and Poland All the fi nishing is done in Be- could remain inside for months un- of the Rzech Pospolita — when is similar, so western restorers can larus-made fi newood; some visi- der siege, living on the food stored the Ludovics ruled France, Peter I off er useful advice. Polish special- tors are sure to hanker aft er similar in the crypts. St. Christopher’s presided over Russia and Karl XII ists have already restored dozens objects for their own homes. Th e Chapel, situated over the entry reigned over Sweden. of architectural sites in their own Svyatopolk-Mirskys’ coat of arms castle seems to be the only 16th tower, is still undergoing restora- Mirzamak.by website has been country, alongside those in Russia, adorns façade of princely shrine century architectural monument in tion work, so is not accessible, but launched to give information on Europe, America and Asia. in this ancient building. A historian Eastern Europe to off er excursions the stove tiles (depicting a black ea- the history of the castle and fu- Mir Castle’s dark corridors and jokes that it’s like a time machine as well as accommodation and a gle with hunting horns on its breast ture cultural events. Apartments in rooms are yet to receive electrical and the joke seems close to the truth. venue for conferences and forums. — the Radziwill family crest) are the East Wing will soon be avail- lighting — although lamps and all Mr. Bubnovsky explains that the lift Th e North Wing is fi tted out for the ready for viewing in Stolovy Hall. able for booking online. Don’t miss the necessary cabling have now been is the only piece of modern element latter, with boxes for simultaneous Th e 17th-18th century Baroque the chance to be among the fi rst installed. Once restoration work is installed inside the wooden walls. translation. Only the tables are yet style interiors are to be restored to spend a night at Belarus’ most complete, the darkness will be ban- “As we’ve already seen in the base- to go in, with monitors hooked up. here and tourists and businessman beautiful and famous castle. Mood, Peculiarities Cadet captured in paints of folk arts takes Vitebsk hosts international children’s By Alla Kazakova and district centres, so are exhibition of art well aware of their culture. bronze Belarusian State “Our liaisons with the Six exhibition halls have Pedagogical University university will continue in By Eduard Pivovar been used to display over 700 students implement future,” notes the Head of works — including painting, series of projects the Museum’s Exhibition ‘Bronze Vityaz’ of 18th graphic art and design on a dedicated to Year of the Work Department, Tatiana International Golden great variety of themes (from Native Land, with Earth’s Lavrinovich. “Another Vityaz Film Festival ecology to a healthy lifestyle).

Creations held at State project, held at the House — held in Russian Lipetsk ALEXANDER DMITRIYEV Each piece presents a child’s Museum of Nature and of Nature (in the Troitsky — goes to Belarusian A scene from the film New Year Adventures in July view of the world, harnessing Ecology of Belarus Suburbs) will be dedicated Vitaly Dudin’s picture Chronicle of the Preceding Cultural Legacy of the Peo- their spirit and interests. More- Students and teachers to the Belovezhskaya Push- Several Belarusian fi lms Generation’ in the nomina- ples of Belarus and Russia’ over, the artwork is at the high- of the Folk Culture Depart- cha. Exhibitions connected screened at the contest re- tion for debut and student for his Piotr Konyukh docu- est level. ment have presented ceram- with the spiritual legacy of ceived special awards, with fi lms. mentary. Th e Hello, Broadway! mu- ic ware and straw artefacts, the past are often held at the special prize of the Li- A children’s fi lm prize Over 200 TV features, sical was performed before en- as well as organising a range the university. Female stu- petsk Eparchy and the di- went to Yelena Yurova and children’s fi lms, feature- trants and participants of the of excursions, with guides dents admit to having tried ploma ‘For Best Orthodox Ivan Pavlov’s New Year length and short documen- exhibition. Children also took wearing their own hand- ancient traditions such as Film’ given to Irina Kodyu- Adventures in July — ‘For taries, animations, and fi lms part in the event honouring made national costumes. sewing a rushnik talisman kova’s animation An Old Originality’ Additionally, by novices and masters alike International Children’s Day. The students tell us about or preparing dowry.” Story about Life and Love. director Anatoly Alay was were screened — hailing Th eir art was painted onto huge Belarusian regions’ charac- The students also pre- Young Belarusian director awarded a special diploma from 24 countries. Th e fes- posters with paints, onto as- teristics — since many come pare dioramas, bringing to Yekaterina Makhova’s Kol- ‘For the Revival of a Forgot- tival’s Grand Prix went to phalt with colourful chalks and from villages and regional life historical events. ish received a diploma ‘For ten Name and Enriching the Russia’s Taras Bulba. onto balloons with markers.