Mir-Nesvizh, Travel in Belarus
29.04.2007 We traveled to acient Belarusen castles.
The Mirsky Castle Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Belarus located 85km from Minsk and 29 km to the north-west from another World Heritage site, Nesvizh Castle.
The construction of the castle began at the end of the 15th century, in the Gothic architecture style. Building of the castle was completed by Duke Ilinich in early 16th century near the village Mir. Around 1568 the Mir Castle passed into the hands of Duke Radzivil, who finished building the Castle in Renaissance architecture style. A three story palace was built along the eastern and northern walls of the castle. Plastered facades were decorated with limestone portals, plates, balconies and porches.
Mir church
Mir Castle
After being abandoned for nearly a century and suffering severe damage during the Napoleonic period, the castle was restored at the end of the 19th century. In 1813, after the death of Dominik Radzivil, the castle passed into the hands of his daughter Stefania, who married Ludwig zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. The castle later fell into the hands of their daughter Maria, who married Prince Chlodwig Hohenloche-Schillingfurst. Their son, Maurice Hohenloche-Schillingfurst sold the castle to Nikolaj Sviatopolk-Mirski, of the Bialynia clan, in 1895. Nikolaj's son Michail began to rebuild the castle according to the plans of architect Teodor Bursze. The Sviatopolk-Mirski family owned the castle up to 1939.
Now the castle is under reconsrtruction.
Polonechka country estate was belong to famous Radzivil family. The house had a rich furnitured interior, mosaic, huge library. When soviets came all valuables were plundered. Now the house looks awful.
The strange building
Nesvizh castle
Nesvizh Castle has beautiful and harmonic combine of medieval architectural features, styles of late Renaissance, the Baroque and original stylish research of local masters.
The estate was owned by the Radziwill magnate family from 1533, when it was awarded to Mikolaj Radziwill and his brother Jan after the extinction of the Kiszka family. Since the Radziwill's were one of the most important and wealthy clans of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, it was there that the Lithuanian Archive was moved in 1551.
I should mention picturesque Nesvizh parks. One of them Ozeryna Park (Lake Park) or Old Park had been laid out behind Northern rampart on the right bank of Diky Pond (Wild Pond). The park was remarkable for its numerous beautiful avenues such as lime tree, hornbeam and maple trees.
Zamkovy Park (Castle Park) or Park of Anthony was famous first of all for its rare diversity of exotic plants. The most remarkable object the visitors are usually interested in is a small yard possessing numerous secret underground ways. According to legends the ways led not only to Cathedral Church but also to Mirsky Castle.
By 2010, specialists will complete the second-stage reconstruction of the Nesvizh Castle.
Pictures were made with Canon EOS 400D.
