Castles of Belarus: brief description, photos, location and current condition. Medieval castles, fortresses and estates of Belarus Palaces of Belarus

Medieval architecture is not admired except by those who are absolutely indifferent to it. But most people cannot hold back their exclamations of admiration at the sight of beautiful castles with their sharp spiers, tiled roofs, narrow loophole windows and walls rising tens of meters up. Surely, when you mention castles, you immediately think of Germany with its 3,000 of these majestic buildings. But Believe me, Belarus also has something to surprise you with. “Sineokaya” is not only the popular Nesvizh and Mir, there are many more of them here. VETLIVA will be happy to show photos of castles in Belarus and share a description of their history and features.

Mir Castle

Majestic, powerful, mighty, monumental - all this is a castle located in Mir in Belarus. You probably already know a lot about him, we will only recall the key facts:

founded in the 20s of the 16th century;

is a monument to a medieval defensive structure, the architectural appearance of which displays Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque features;

replenishes the UNESCO World Heritage List.

If you don’t know how to get to Mir Castle, you can easily find it on the map of Belarus. And there is a selection of excellent tours to Mir, covering visits to both this urban village and Nesvizh - for those who like all-inclusive travel.

Lida Castle, or Gediminas Castle

When wondering what other castles there are in Belarus, you will probably remember Lida. Lida Castle occupies a special place in their list:

is one of the oldest in our country (founded in 1323),

architectural style - romantic gothic,

built of red brick mixed with rubble stone, which is why it looks very impressive,

is a place where life is constantly in full swing - knightly tournaments, music festivals, and various open-air costume events are held.

VETLIVA recommends: in early September, Lida attracts tens of thousands of spectators to the popular music festival Lidbeer. A whole day of drive, fun, live music - a great time to have a blast and see Lida Castle in Belarus in person.

Novogrudok Castle

But now it’s time to mention the truly ancient castle in Belarus. We are, of course, talking about Novogrudok. This is what this famous fortress of Belarus once looked like.

The first mention of the appearance of Novogrudok Castle in Belarus dates back to the 11th century. At first it was completely wooden, but gradually stone completely replaced wood.

Nowadays, the castle in Novogrudok is:

restored fragments of two towers - Shield and Kostelnaya,

a place that constantly attracts people who are interested in Belarusian history - from reenactors who constantly participate in festivals of medieval culture, to tourists who are interested in what Belarus was like many hundreds of years ago.

Again VETLIVA will surprise you: just pay attention to the photo of this castle in Belarus! The scale is amazing, and this is taking into account the fact that not even all of its buildings have been preserved. It acquired its final appearance in 1619, when it belonged to the famous Lev Sapega. The castle was famous for its ludvisarny - a workshop that cast cannons, cannonballs, bullets and grenades. The quality of the products was so high that they were supplied far beyond the borders of Belarus.

The state plans to revive the former grandeur of the Chodkiewicz and Sapieha castle in Bykhov. And it is quite possible that soon it will become a pearl among all the other castles in Belarus!

Time and historical events do not determine what to destroy. Many beautiful residences have sunk into oblivion, and the same fate befell the Sapega castle in the city of Vysokoye. Once it was surrounded on all sides by water, fortified with earthen ramparts and bastions. Inside the rampart on the castle grounds there was a brick tower with a gate. Now in place of all this splendor there are only ruins...

Our guide ends with another ghost castle, located in Geraneny. As in Vysokoye, now only ruins can be seen here. And once it belonged to the Gashtolds, was surrounded by moats with water (and you could only get inside through a moat with a drawbridge), had walls two meters thick (just imagine!). And even such power was not spared by merciless time...

Belarus is a real country of castles

After reading our guide, even skeptics were already convinced that we were not unfounded when we called Belarus a country of castles. Here we have collected not all the impressive architectural monuments that exist in the Belarusian territories. Don’t switch from our wave - another exciting journey into the world of majestic palaces awaits you ahead!

On the territory of modern Belarus there are castles built from the 13th to the 17th centuries. They are defensive structures - a closed complex of residential, commercial and defensive buildings. The fortresses were surrounded by a high wall, and there were usually towers in the corners. Castles were built in strategically important places. Today, no more than ten buildings have been preserved in good condition: Nesvizh, Mir, Lida, Grodno castles. In place of others, only ruins remained: Novogrudok, Golshansky, Smolyansky castles.

Nesvizh Castle

The palace and castle complex is located in the Minsk region, the city of Nesvizh. It was founded in 1583. The author of the project is the architect Giovanni Bernardoni. The complex includes a castle, fortifications and a landscape park. The palace was rebuilt several times. Today it is a romantic castle, decorated with rich stucco, with towers and turrets of different sizes. The entrance to the palace is made in the form of a tower with a front gate. The complex is considered one of the best in Eastern Europe. Included in the UNESCO heritage.

Mir Castle

The defensive fortress is located in the village of Mir, Brest region. The first mention dates back to 1395. The castle, which has survived to this day, was built in 1520 from brick. The fortress is included in the UNESCO heritage list. The structure looks like a square, with a side length of about 75 meters. At each corner there are five-story towers (25 meters high), they extend beyond the walls. The castle was built in the Belarusian Gothic style. This is one of the few surviving buildings built in the original style.

Old castle in Grodno

The old castle served as a defensive fortress against the Crusaders. The building, which has survived to this day, was built in 1398 by the Lithuanian prince Vytautas. The first mention of a wooden castle dates back to the 11th century. The fortress was rebuilt in the 16th century in the style of the Italian Renaissance. After the construction of the New Castle, the old building lost its significance. Today it is undergoing restoration work. The fortress houses an exposition of the historical and archaeological museum.

New castle in Grodno

The new palace in the city of Grodno was built opposite the old castle in 1734 - 1751. It served as the summer residence of Polish and Lithuanian princes. It was originally built in the Rococo style. Until 1793, the diets of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth were held in the castle. During the Second World War, the castle completely burned down in 1944, but was restored in 1952 in the style of Soviet neoclassicism. It housed the regional party committee. Today the castle houses a historical and archaeological museum.

Lida Castle

The castle is located in the city of Lida, Grodno region. It was built in 1323 on the instructions of Prince Gediminas. Intended for protection against the crusaders. The castle was built from rubble brick and stone, on an embankment hill. It was surrounded by a moat. It has the shape of an irregular quadrangle. The longest wall is 93.5 meters, the shortest is 80 meters. Surrounded by two corner towers (one is dilapidated). Restoration work has been going on in the castle for the last 20 years.

Puslovsky Palace in Kossovo

Known as Kossovo Castle. It was built in 1838 according to the design of the architect Yaschold. The castle was built in the neo-Gothic style. Located in the city of Kossovo, Brest region. The palace belonged to the Puslovsky family. During the Second World War it completely burned down. Then it was restored and consists of a main building on two floors. The wings are attached to it. The castle has 12 towers decorated with crenellations. They symbolize each month of the year.

Pishchalovsky Castle

The castle was founded in 1851 in Minsk. Today it is pre-trial detention center No. 1, in the city they call it Volodarka. One of the few historical buildings preserved in the capital of Belarus. Built in the neoclassical style according to the design of the architect Kazimir Khrshanovich, the contractor was Pishchalov. The castle is named after him. Volodarka was always used for its intended purpose; political criminals were imprisoned here. This is the only institution in modern Europe where the death penalty is still carried out.

Mozyr Castle

The fortress was rebuilt for the 850th anniversary of the city of Mozyr on its historical site. Today it is an interesting tourist site, where reconstructions of medieval battles, festivals and fairs take place. The first stone castle was built in the 15th century on the site of a wooden palace. The fortress had a palace, outbuildings, a well, and the Church of the Holy Savior. The castle withstood three major sieges, but was eventually destroyed.

Lyubcha Castle

The castle was founded in 1581 in the city of Lyubche, Grodno region. The founder is considered to be Jan Kiszka, a nobleman of the Principality of Lithuania. The castle was built of stone and brick, reinforced with boulders on the banks of the Neman. It is surrounded at the corners by four towers. The palace was located inside the defensive fortress walls. In 1655, the castle was partially burned and dilapidated. After that, it constantly changed owners and was rebuilt. Today the fortress has been partially preserved.

Golshansky Castle

Today they are the ruins of the former residence of the Sapieha family. Fragments are located in the Grodno region. The castle was founded in the 17th century by order of Pavel Stefan Sapieha. Externally, the fortress was a regular quadrangle, with hexagonal towers at the corners. The best preserved is the northern tower, which is planned to be restored. Every year the festival “Golshany Castle” is held here.

Novogrudok Castle

The fortress was founded in the 13th century, in the city of Novogrudok, Grodno region. The first mention dates back to the 11th century. The castle is a unique monument of defensive architecture of the Middle Ages. Existed from the 11th to the 17th century. It was destroyed during the capture of Grodno by Moscow troops and during the Swedish War. Today the ruins of the castle have been preserved: the foundation, the remains of the walls, the ruins of Shchitovka and the Kostelnaya tower.

Castle in Ruzhany

The ruins of the castle are recognized as an architectural monument of the 17th century. Located in the village of Ruzhany, Brest region. The castle was built by order of the Lithuanian chancellor Lev Sapieha. For a long time it belonged to a famous family. In 1831, the fortress was seized by the state and given over to a weaving factory. During the First World War there was a fire in the building, and after the Second World War the fortress turned into ruins. Today only the remains of the palace have been preserved.

Smolyan Castle

Known as "White Kovel". It was built in the twenties of the 17th century, in the Renaissance style. Today, only the ruins of the castle have been preserved; they are located on the banks of the Dernovka River, in the Vitebsk region. The fortress was erected by order of Semyon Sangushko-Kovelsky, military leader of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was partially blown up by the troops of Pera I, after which it lost its purpose. Today, the main five-story tower, part of the defensive walls and the foundation along the perimeter of the fortress have been preserved.

Krevsky Castle

Fragments of the castle are located in the agricultural town of Krevo, Grodno region. The fortress was the first defensive fortification of the Principality of Lithuania, built entirely of stone. The castle was founded in the 14th century by order of Grand Duke Gediminas. Recognized as an architectural and historical monument. The fortress was finally destroyed during the First World War. Today, only part of the walls, fragments of towers and foundations have been preserved.

Kamenets Castle

Only one tower has survived at the castle site, but it is in good condition. Located in Kamenets, Brest region. Construction dates back to 1271-1282. The unpreserved castle and tower were built by order of Volyn Prince Vladimir Vasilkovich. The height of the structure is 31 meters. The tower was built in the style of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Since 1960, it has housed a branch of the Brest Museum.

Bykhov Castle

The palace and castle ensemble was built from 1610 to 1619 in the city of Bykhov, Mogilev region. It was used as a country residence of the commander of the Principality of Lithuania, Jan Chodkiewicz. Subsequently, the castle passed to the Sapega clan. Withstood a months-long siege by the Moscow army, but was partially destroyed during the Swedish War. After a fire in 2004, the castle fell into disrepair. But today restoration work is underway.

Sapega Castle in Vysokoe

Known as Vysokovsky Castle. It existed from the 17th to the 18th centuries, in the city of Vysokoye, Brest region. Most likely, it was built by order of commander Pavel Sapieha. The castle was heavily damaged during the Northern and Swedish Wars. Later it was restored, but then fell into disrepair again. Only ruins have survived to this day: the earthen ramparts of the fortress, the remains of the gate.

The treasures of the powerful Radziwill magnates, which are still kept in northern Paris to this day, the village of Golshany, along with the Bermuda Triangle, included in the encyclopedia of mysterious places on the planet, a huge number of secrets and legends - you can learn about all this by going on an exciting journey through Belarus.

Castle Country

The Belarusian lands, through which the largest trade routes passed, were often attacked, since there were many who wanted to take possession of this territory. This was the reason for the appearance of a large number of defensive structures here. That is why in the Middle Ages Belarus was called the country of castles.

The predecessors of castles were fortifications. The appearance of isolated stone fortifications in the 13th century turned into the massive construction of stone castles along the border by the 14th-15th centuries.

Castles in Belarus are shrouded in mystery and have enormous historical and architectural significance, along with many other European historical monuments.

Mir Castle

One of such monuments is the Mir Castle (Mir) in Belarus. It is located in The earliest buildings of this masterpiece of defensive architecture date back to the 16th century. The castle was founded by Prince Illinich, and in 1568, by coincidence, passed to Nicholas Radziwill, who completed it in the Renaissance style. This wealthy Polish-Lithuanian-Belarusian family owned the Mir Castle until 1891.

Despite its monumentality and power, the castle does not look intimidating, although it was built as a defensive structure, like all castles in Belarus. The structure was a square, one side of which was 75 meters, and the width of the walls reached three meters at the base. The height of the walls was 10 meters, and the towers with loopholes reached 25 meters.

The castle, striking in its elegance, is surrounded by a nine-meter-high earthen rampart. A ditch was dug around the shaft, filled with water thanks to the Miranka River and a new pond.

The princely chambers were located on the third floor of the castle, built in the courtyard. The second floor was reserved for footmen and administration, while the first floor was used as a food warehouse and armory.

Today Mir Castle, where restoration is actively taking place, is a museum. It is called the “Mir Castle Complex” and is open to visitors.

in Belarus

Another possession of the Radziwill princes was Nesvizh Castle. According to one of the legends, a tunnel was built between it and the Mir Castle, about 30 kilometers long and such that a carriage drawn by three could easily pass through it. But to date there is no confirmation of this.

The foundation of Nesvizh Castle was laid in 1583. Due to numerous reconstructions, the palace combines many architectural styles: neo-Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, Rococo, Classicism.

Due to the anti-Russian position of the owner of the castle in 1764 -1768, Nesvizh was occupied by Russian troops. The library, archive and all valuables were confiscated and taken to St. Petersburg.

The Radziwills finally left the castle in 1939, when the Red Army entered Nesvizh. After World War II, the park and palace complex fell into disrepair.

Restoration work that began in 2004 brought this magnificent castle back to life. Nesvizh in Belarus was recognized as the cultural capital, and the palace and park complex was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The largest landscape park in Europe, founded in the 19th century, decorative lakes, shady alleys and the palace ensemble made this place very popular among tourists.

Brest Castle

Belarus became famous throughout the world for the staunchness of the defenders of the Brest Fortress, located in the south, near the border with Poland. Brest itself has a history of almost a thousand years. The geographical location became the reason for numerous wars that took place on this land. Brest Castle survived many sieges and was eventually almost completely destroyed. Some of its bastions were used in the construction of the fortress of the same name.

The photo above shows the Kholm Gate of the Brest Fortress.

Historians and archaeological groups are working to find the remains of the castle itself. As a result of excavations at the Volyn fortification, a supporting wall of a bastion built in the 16th or 17th centuries was found. Archaeologists still hope to discover the very residence of the rulers of those times.

Legends of Golshansky Castle

In the small town of Golshany there are the ruins of a once majestic palace that belonged to the noble Sapega family. Its outlines are similar to Mir Castle. The architectural complex, which is a striking representative of the work of Dutch architects, was built by Pavel Sapieha in 1610. Today, only ruins remain of its former grandeur. Severe destruction occurred during the last two wars.

Nevertheless, it is very popular among tourists. Many are attracted by the aura of mystery and numerous legends that have survived to this day.

According to one of them, in the ruins of a mill located at the very beginning of the town, at night you can hear the creaking of millstones, the neighing of horses and the voice of the main miller. How true this is, you can check for yourself by visiting Holstan Castle.

Bykhov Fortress

In the city of Bykhov there is the only fortress in Belarus that has survived to this day. The first mentions of it date back to the 14th century. It was then that the first fortifications appeared. Bykhov, surrounded by a rampart with bastions and a deep ditch, was famous for its inaccessibility. The castle itself was built in the 17th century under Jan Karol Hadkiewicz, who used it as a country residence on the right bank of the Dnieper River. In 1619, the construction of the castle was completely completed.

Since then, he has survived many military battles. Peter the Great besieged the Bykhov fortress twice. At the beginning of the 18th century, the castle fell under the onslaught of the Russian Tsar. Having become part of the Russian Empire, Bykhov lost its strategic purpose, turning, like many castles in Belarus, into a historical architectural monument.

Today, only minor fragments remain of its former grandeur. The regional leadership has developed a plan for the restoration of a unique architectural structure; the costs of restoration will be borne not only by the local, but also by the republican budgets. For now, only the ruins of the great Sapega Castle are visible to travelers.

Castles in Belarus reveal to tourists the eventful historical past of the people of this country, whose spirit was not broken by numerous wars and troubles. The preservation and restoration of the castles of Belarus is evidence that the peaceful and freedom-loving Belarusian people remember the history of their ancestors.

The castles of Belarus, which are visited by tourists, are very easy to find on the map so that, for example, you can go there on a self-guided tour. Personally, it was more convenient for me to do this in a rented car in Minsk. Therefore, having drawn up a rough route, I set off on an exciting trip into the historical past.

Belarus is an amazing country with ancient castles towering on its land, striking with their exclusive architectural beauty.

Numerous wars, which at different times took place on the territory of modern Belarus, had a very serious and significant impact on urban planning. To protect residents and their homes, special defensive structures were required: towers, fortresses, castles.

The predecessors of the first castles were fortifications: Slavic defensive fortifications.

The first stone fortifications began to appear in the 13th century. Medieval castles were built in places convenient for defense: “mountain” in the hills and “valley” in the lowlands.

It has been standing in the west of Belarus for more than 700 years - one of the very first representatives of such massive structures.

Such stone giants became widespread in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Then the construction of castles and fortified temples-fortresses began, such as, for example, the church of the revered St. Archangel Michael in Synkovichi.

According to one of the existing legends, it was founded by the Lithuanian prince Vytautas, who in these places managed to successfully hide from the persecution of his brother and enemy Jagiello.

Today this active church is widely known to everyone, thanks to the miraculous icon stored in it, dedicated to the Mother of God “The Tsaritsa”. This face was painted on the holy Greek Mount Athos and has amazing healing powers. This is evidenced by the gold and silver jewelry that people praying for health left here in gratitude for their healing. Read all the details in.

Lev Sapega - founder of the Ruzhany Palace

Ruins in Ruzhany

At the very end of the 16th century, in the small Belarusian town of Ruzhany, the famous Lithuanian figure Lev Sapieha began large-scale construction of his castle, in which he skillfully combined the features of a defensive structure and the splendor of the palace. In this estate he received important guests: the King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the King of Poland...

In the huge halls of the palace they not only drank, ate and danced, but also provided food for the mind. The magnificent, versatile palace library consisted of 3 thousand volumes, which for that time was unusual and very large.

But the main pride of Ruzhany was the court theater of 60 artists and 40 musicians. The theater building itself, the only one in Europe, had an original plan, which made it possible to change the stage scenery several times during one performance.

Unfortunately, over the years, as a result of all the wars, the luxurious palace was destroyed and only now work has begun on restoring this castle in Belarus. But part of the complex is already ready and welcoming guests. See all details.

Ruins in Golshany

There are many ancient castles in Belarus. Some are partially preserved, while others are only ruins. There is, for example, the Golshansky Sapega Castle. According to legend, the owner of the castle decided to build a monastery on the territory of his property and hired builders for this. Three walls of the building were built, but the fourth was constantly being destroyed.

And then the builders swore that they would wall up the very first woman who appeared near the construction site into this unruly wall. The young mason's wife came first - she brought her husband lunch. Local residents still say that they see the ghost of a girl near the castle walls.

Kings without a crown - the life of the Radziwill Family

Mir Castle - a “modest dacha” that evokes the admiration of kings

The exact date of the start of construction of another monument of our architecture is unknown: Mir Castle. Yuri Ilyinich laid the foundation for the construction, and the Radziwills continued it.

According to legend, two castles - Nesvizh and Mir - are connected by a wide underground road, along which you can get from one castle to another in an hour by horse-drawn carriage.

At the invitation of one of the Radziwills, Pane Kohanka, about whose eccentricities there are many rumors, the King of Poland Stanislav Augustus visited the Mir Castle. Arriving at the castle, he looked with delight and admiration at the rich decoration of the numerous palace halls.

After the Radziwills, the castle was owned by Prince Nikolai Svyatopolk-Mirsky. He decided to completely change the appearance of his new possessions. On the site of a blooming garden, he ordered a pond to be dug, for which, according to legend, he was cursed by a local witch.

Read a detailed story about the Mir Castle in Belarus and its fortress labyrinths in.

Kossovo - the castle of dreams and dreams

Another Belarusian pearl is located in. “Knightly Dreams” - this is how the palace of the Puslovsky counts was called for its fantastic beauty and incomparable luxury.

The architecture of the palace estate is unique. Its 12 towers tell the story of the 12 months of the year, the castle has many delightful halls, and each has a unique purpose and its own name.

So, in the Pink Hall, the owner’s family and his guests listened to music; only men were allowed into the Black Hall, because cards were played there. And they danced in the White Hall. It was noisy, fun, the air was filled with flirtation and love.

And in the Main Hall, under the transparent glass floor, important and eminent guests were surprised by live swimming fish. According to legend, a lion lived in the castle. The owners let him out of his cage at night so that he could take a quiet walk, stretch his paws and, if something happened, protect the house from thieves.

There was a “musical wall” in the palace; if you touched it, you could hear a response sound in all rooms. Now the castle is being restored, its reconstruction is being carried out by professionals. But even the already restored part and ruins attract attention with their grandeur.

By 2018, the castle will be restored to its former, breathtaking beauty, and it will solemnly and hospitably open its artfully decorated, beautiful doors to you.

Fortress in Brest

Of course, it is impossible to bypass another fortification of Belarus, which became more famous in history already in the 20th century. We are talking about the legendary Brest Fortress.

The beginning of its creation dates back to the first half of the 19th century. It was then that the small city of Brest-Litovsk became part of the Russian state, and like any border point it needed a protective structure.

Perhaps the fortress in Brest would not have become so famous today. But the Second World War glorified this place with the feat of Soviet soldiers who steadfastly and courageously held the defense, not giving up until their death.

Read a detailed story about the Brest Fortress in.

Tourist Belarus is waiting for you to visit

Visit the castles of Belarus. Here, with the help of knowledgeable and loving guides or more versatile audio guides, you can touch the past, imagine what people did then, what they dreamed about. Imagine how ladies in luxurious dresses danced the Allemande or Minuet at luxurious balls. And elegant gentlemen gave them flowers and declared their love.

And after a year or two, one of them became your great-great-grandfather or great-great-grandmother. And you are now touching objects that they touched. All this is quite possible. Take the same exciting journey as I did through the wonderful places of the country of Belarus, covered in the secrets of the past! You won't regret it - I promise!

And in order to make it easier for you to navigate the space, I have collected all these castles of Belarus on the map. Next to each of them there is a name and photo, and a detailed description can be found by following the link provided there.

In Belarus, in any city, there is a huge number of different housing options. It’s very easy to rent an apartment or room on the service, or book a hotel through the service.

The map below shows other sights of Belarus that I was able to visit. You can see more about this.

Castles of Belarus– living witnesses of a bygone era, symbols of history and architectural monuments. Dozens of castles were built throughout our country, but not all have survived today. Many of the castles have already been reconstructed, some are awaiting their turn, but they definitely deserve your attention.

History of castles in Belarus

The first castles in Belarus were built primarily for defensive purposes, so sites for construction were chosen in the lowlands (such castles were valley castles) or on hills and elevations (such castles are called mountain castles). The materials for construction were taken from those that are available on the territory of Belarus. Fortresses were built from wood in Orsha, Pinsk, Gomel, Mogilev, etc.; Lida, Novogrudok, Zaslavsky, Mir, and Krevsky castles were built from stone.

City citadels were defensive in nature, so they were often enormous in size. Private residences XVI-XVIII had two parts: an external fortification and a palace. It was he who was the main cultural composition. The castles of the 15th-16th centuries exhibit Renaissance and Gothic features; in the 17th centuries, baroque elements appeared. The bastion fortification system appeared in the middle of the 16th centuries, for example the Lyakhovichi and Zaslavsky castles. Only at the end of the 16th century did the construction of palace and castle complexes begin, such as Golshansky and Nesvizh. By the end of the 18th century, all medieval palaces and castles began to be replaced with fortresses, which were often supplemented by defense lines of several kilometers.

We invite you to learn more about the most beautiful castles in Belarus:

• Nesvizh Castle
• Mir Castle
• Kossovo Castle

Nesvizh Castle

Nesvizh Castle is the residence of the Radzivil family. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you haven’t been to, then you haven’t seen Belarus. More than 200 thousand tourists come to this small town every year. It owes its popularity to the Radziwill family, who made Nesvizh their residence.

History of Nesvizh Castle:

In the 16th century, Italian architect Giovanni Bernardoni designed and built a stone castle. For centuries it was considered the most advanced fortification in Belarus and withstood many attacks. Only at the beginning of the 18th century the Swedes took it by storm and thoroughly destroyed it. After restoration, the castle turned into a secular palace in the Baroque style. The Radzivils owned the castle for 4 centuries.

Exterior view of Nesvizh Castle:

Nesvizh Castle amazes at first sight; it looked very romantic: a powerful building in a harmonious combination with towers of various sizes and decorative decorations. During the heyday of Nesvizh Castle there were 12 halls and 365 rooms, according to the number of months and days in the year. The general appearance of the castle complex in Nesvizh shows symmetry, which gives the castle a special charm. The central building is decorated with pilasters, relief decorations, sculptural headpieces, and rich stucco. On the back side of the central building there is a terrace with two towers, and in the eastern tower there is a chapel for the prince. The tower at the entrance to the castle is made in the style of the front gate.

Nesvizh Castle today:

Today Nesvizh Castle is the second most visited place in Belarus (the first is the Belovezhskaya Fortress). When going on an excursion, you can take an audio guide that will tell you in detail about the history of the castle. The main halls are open to tourists. One of the most beautiful is the ballroom. It retains the original stucco molding. And in the royal hall you can also watch theatrical performances that the Radziwills themselves watched. Previously, the palace had a large collection of Slutsk belts, today only small fragments remain of it. A special room in the palace is the arsenal. Since the castle had a defensive function, such a room was necessary. Various military weapons and ammunition are stored here.

Legends of Nesvizh Castle:

The most famous legend of Nesvizh Castle is about the Black Lady of Nesvizh, who wanders around the castle. But this black lady is none other than Barbara Radziwill - the wife of the Polish king Sigismund Augustus. The king's mother did not like Barbara very much and ordered her to be killed. After the death of Sigismund Augustus, he came to Nesvizh and decided to arrange a magical session to evoke the spirit of his beloved. The main condition was not to touch her. But when Barbara’s spirit appeared before the king, he rushed to hug her, thereby breaking the magic. Since then, the spirit of Barbara Radziwill has been wandering around the castle, and appears to people to warn of trouble.

Mir Castle

Mir Castle is located in the town of the same name near Minsk. In 2000, it was recognized as a UNESCO cultural heritage site, and one British magazine called it the most beautiful castle in Europe.

Exterior view of Mir Castle

According to some historical data, the castle was built in the 1520s. Externally, the castle resembles a slightly skewed quadrangle formed by the castle walls. Each of them is 75 meters long and 2-4 meters wide. The castle was well adapted to firefights, as evidenced by two rows of loopholes. The towers were slightly extended along the walls, this made it possible to fight along them - in those days this was considered the most progressive defense scheme. The castle could be entered from a single gate, which was protected by a heavy metal grille. According to some sources, the defensive appearance of the castle was needed only to maintain the status of its owner. Indeed, the castle looks majestic after 500 years.

History of Mir Castle:

The foundation of the castle was laid by the noble Ilinich family, but it did not last long. Afterwards, the most powerful Radziwill dynasty became the owners of the castle, but they then resold it to Prince Svyatopolk Mirsky. Rumor has it that he bought the castle only out of consonance with his last name. During the War, there was a Jewish ghetto here, and after that, those who were left without a roof over their heads lived.

Mir Castle today:

At the end of the last century, reconstruction of the castle began after the Great Patriotic War. It lasted 27 years, which is slightly less than the construction of the castle itself. Now the interior of the castle is made in the style of the 18th and 19th centuries: there are many walls uncovered by plaster, exposed brick and natural wood. The main asset of the castle is the 16th century wall, which contains animal paw prints and traces of branches. The castle has a lot of narrow passages and secret staircases. All tourists can experience what it was like to be an archer of that time and climb the towers using spiral staircases. The castle consists of three levels. On the first floor, the utility room, there is a storage room. Rumor has it that so much food was stored in it that it should be enough for three years of the siege. In the underground prison you can see instruments of torture from that time. Knights also lived in the world, and now in the castle you can see their armor.

Legends of Mir Castle:

On the southern side of Mir Castle you can see a small stone that resembles a ram's head. According to legend, if this stone falls, the castle will collapse to the ground.

Kossovo Castle

Kossovo Castle is a unique and unusual castle that amazes at first sight. The first owner of the castle was Kazimir Puslovsky, who built a factory in the town, several churches for the townspeople and a palace for himself. The famous Polish architect Frantisek Jaszczola worked on the project; construction began in 1838.

History of Kossovo Castle:

The owner of the castle did not live to see the completion of the castle. His son Vandalin Puslovsky became the new owner, and after that the next representative of the family was Leon. He visited the castle very rarely, only to arrange another ball or masquerade. In addition, he was an avid gambler. One day Leon lost a large sum of money at cards, so he had to sell the castle to the St. Petersburg merchant Alexandrov. After this, the owners of the castle changed very quickly. The merchant sold the castle to Anna Trubetskoy, she resold it to the Prince of Oldenburg.

Exterior view of Kossovo Castle:

Externally, the castle amazes with its architecture. Each tower symbolizes each month of the year, and the central tower included small turrets - symbols of the most fertile months from May to August. The castles had 130 rooms, each of which had its own name. The design was thought out to the smallest detail, according to the function of the room. For example, the Pink Room was preferred only for musical evenings; in the Black Room, the owners played card games. The White Hall was considered the main one - balls and social receptions were traditionally held there.

Kossovo Castle today:

The wars also did not spare the castle. During the First World War, the collection of rare plants was lost. And during the Great Patriotic War, there was a ghetto on the territory of the castle, where almost the entire Jewish population was destroyed. Only in 2017 the castle was completely restored and is now accessible to tourists.

Legends of Kossovo Castle:

A ghost lives in the castle - the count's wife. She was saddened by her son's loss. To this day, the ghost walks around the castle and its surroundings, looking for Leon to punish him. Local residents say that she comes to everyone who wants to disgrace themselves in her domain.

Lida Castle, or Gedymin Castle, is the oldest castle in Belarus, which has stood on Lida soil for almost 7 centuries. It is a monument of defensive architecture and is one of the best preserved castles in Belarus.

History of Lida Castle:

Lida Castle was built in the 1330s on behalf of Prince Gedymin and was part of the line of defense against the crusaders. Since the 14th century, the castle has suffered many attacks and invasions. The Crusaders tried to capture it, then the Anglo-German wars. During the attack of the British, who were going to plunder and burn Lida, local residents personally burned down their houses and hid in the castle along with the treasures. So Lida repelled the attack of the English army. In the 15th-16th centuries, the castle withstood attacks by the Crimean Tatars, Prince Svidrigailo and the troops of Yuri Svyatoslavovich.

Exterior view of Lida Castle:

Lida Castle looks very massive: large walls, impregnable towers and small loophole windows. It is a quadrangle with two towers. The castle walls are built of red brick and stone. At that time, brown brick was considered very popular in Europe, and a separate “brick gothic” style was even created. Lida Castle was made in this style. On the southern wall of the castle there are three types of loopholes: the same height, but different in width. They were needed to protect the castle. The two towers were built primarily for defensive purposes.

Lida Castle today:

Today, historical performances and knightly tournaments are depicted in Lida Castle. This is an incredible sight and atmosphere. Every tourist can feel like they are in the real Middle Ages.

Legends of Lida Castle:

This happened during the next siege of the castle. The defense was commanded by Prince Dmitry Koribut. He ordered his soldiers to defend Lida Castle to the last drop of blood, and he himself escaped from the city through a secret passage. All the prince’s warriors laid down their heads with dignity in that battle. Since then, their ghosts have allegedly roamed the castle.

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