Fortresses and castles in Belarus

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

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

Castleland

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

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

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

Mir Castle

One of these monuments is Mir Castle(Mir) in Belarus. It is located in the Grodno region. 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 Nikolai Radziwill, who completed it in the Renaissance style. This we althy 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 building 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 splendor, is surrounded by an earthen rampart nine meters high. A ditch was dug around the rampart, filled with water thanks to the Miranka River and a new pond.

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

Today the Mir Castle, where restoration is actively taking place, is a museum. Called "Mir Castle Complex", it is open to visitors.

Nesvizh Castle in Belarus

Another possession of the Radziwill princes was the 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 a troika could easily pass through it. But ontoday there is no confirmation of this.

The foundation of the Nesvizh Castle was laid in 1583. Due to numerous rebuildings, 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 and 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 a palace ensemble made this place very popular with tourists.

Brest Castle

Belarus has become famous throughout the world for the steadfastness of the defenders of the Brest Fortress, located in the south, near the border with Poland. Brest itself has almost a thousand years of history. The geographical position was the reason for the numerous wars that took place on this land. The Brest castle survived many sieges, and as a result was almost completely destroyed. Part of its bastions was used in the construction of the fortress of the same name.

The photo above shows Kholmskygates of the Brest Fortress.

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

Legends of the Golshansky Castle

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

Nevertheless, the Golshany castle is very popular with tourists. Many are attracted by the halo of mystery and numerous legends that have survived to this day.

According to one of them, in the ruins of the mill, located at the very beginning of the town, the creak of millstones, the neighing of horses and the voice of the chief miller are heard at night. How true this is, you can check for yourself by visiting Holstein Castle.

Bykhovskaya fortress

In the Mogilev region in the city of Bykhov stands the only fortress in Belarus that has survived to this day. The first mention of it dates back to the 14th century. It was then that the first fortifications appeared. Bykhov, surrounded by a rampart with bastions and a deep moat, was famous for its impregnability. The castle itself was built in the 17th century under Jan KarolKhadkevich, who used it as a country residence on the right bank of the Dnieper River. In 1619, the construction of the castle was fully completed.

Since then, he has experienced many military battles. Peter the Great besieged the fortress of Bykhov 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 small fragments of the former greatness remain. The regional authorities have developed a plan for the restoration of a unique architectural structure, the cost of restoration will be borne not only by local, but also by the republican budgets. So far, only the ruins of the great castle of Sapieha are available to the gaze of travelers.

Castles in Belarus open up for tourists the eventful historical past of the people of this country, the spirit of which 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.