Golshany. Sapieha Castle.

Golshany was first mentioned in the 13th century, and there was already a wooden castle here that belonged to the Golshany princes. The Golshany family died out in the 16th century, and the city passed into the hands of the Sapieha magnates. At the end of the 16th century, the Oshmyany elder Pavel Stefan Sapieha began to build a palace and castle architectural complex in the Renaissance style. Several floors of the castle go underground, where weapons and provisions were stored. A Catholic chapel was built here, there were stables and outbuildings. In the 18th century, the castle was reconstructed.

With the arrival of the Russian Empire, the castle began to decline. Sapieha emigrated to France. The castle passed into the hands of Russian officials, who began to sell it for bricks. During the Soviet era, the architectural monument continued to be destroyed. And only with the acquisition of independence by Belarus, the castle began to be restored.

The architectural complex of the castle is a quadrangle with defensive towers at the corners. The walls of the castle contained residential and utility rooms. The castle was built in the Renaissance style and is somewhat reminiscent of the castles and palaces of Holland. Therefore, some researchers believe that Dutch masters could have participated in the construction in Golshany. The castle was surrounded by powerful earthen ramparts and a defensive moat filled with water. The princely chambers were decorated with beautiful frescoes and portraits of the Sapieha magnates. The windows in the rooms were decorated with colored stained glass. The rooms contained expensive furniture. The castle was heated by a modern system of pipes and chimneys. The fireplaces were decorated with colored tiles and stucco moldings using the chasing technique. The floor was laid with figured tiles.

The castle in Golshany, like every self-respecting castle, has its own legend... The Legend of the Black Monk. A poor young man fell in love with Princess Anna-Gordislava, and the princess reciprocated his feelings. But the prince learned of his daughter's love and ordered the unfortunate young man to be walled up in the castle wall. And since then, the soul of the young man has been wandering the basements and staircases of the castle, like the shadow of the Black Monk.

Part of the castle has been restored in recent years and now welcomes visitors. The museum in Golshany is a branch of the Oshmyany Regional Museum of Local History. You can pay for a ticket and buy souvenirs near the parking lot, where there is a ticket office and a toilet.