Mir Castle

History of the castle

The region in which Mir Castle is located has been the scene of military conflicts for many centuries. The Polish and Swedish kings, the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, and the Moscow tsars claimed ownership of these lands. Crimean Tatars rushed here from the south, plundering unprotected peaceful cities. Apparently, this is why the first owner of the vast estate - the Lithuanian magnate Jerzy (Yuri) Ilyinich, the headman of Brest and Kaunas - decided to build in the 20s of the 16th century on a hill near the Miryanka River not just an estate, but a well-fortified castle. However, during the 40 years of ownership of the castle, the owners were never able to complete the work they started; their family died out completely.

The next owner of the castle is Nikolai Radziwill, nicknamed “The Orphan,” a representative of one of the most powerful families. The Radziwills were called the “uncrowned” kings of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; many secrets and legends are associated with representatives of this family. Nikolai Radziwill reconstructs the castle, builds three-story residential buildings, a moat with water and an Italian garden appear around the castle. After the construction of a new castle in Nesvizh, Mir acquired the status of a country residence of the Radziwills, and remained in their possession for more than two hundred years.

In 1891, the castle was acquired by Prince Nikolai Svyatopolk-Mirsky, where he lived with his family until 1938. During the Second World War, the Nazis organized a Jewish ghetto here. In 1983, restoration work began on the territory of the Mir Castle, and in 1993 the first exhibition was opened with great solemnity. In 2000, Mir Castle was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Walk through the castle

From a distance, Mir Castle, built of brown brick with white decorative inserts, resembles an elegant chocolate house surrounded by a landscaped park. The first thing that attracts attention is the richly decorated north-eastern tower, where residential quarters were previously located. The gate tower, where the chapel is located, is also very impressive. Once upon a time, in the deep dungeons located underneath there was a dungeon, about which there are evil rumors: according to legend, the ghosts of tortured prisoners often appear here.

The citadel was planned according to all the rules of fortification art of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The 12-meter walls of the stronghold in plan form an irregular square with sides of 75 meters. On the inside, log battle galleries stretch along the walls. Four 25-meter towers protruding beyond the walls were erected in the corners. Each of them has five combat levels, connected by narrow stone stairs. The massive first floors of the towers are tetrahedral; heavy artillery was located here. The upper floors were built octagonal, their loopholes provided all-round fire from crossbows and muskets at the attackers. In the basement of the fifth tower, rising in the center of the western defensive wall, there is an entrance gate. Behind them extends an internal square paved with stone, with a well in the center. All structures are decorated with cornices, ornamental belts, semi-columns, arched niches and other elements of elegant facade decor. In the 17th-18th centuries, many loopholes, which had lost their defensive significance, were expanded and turned into arched windows of apartments, which took the place of rebuilt barracks. The battle towers and palace buildings are connected by underground passages extending beyond the citadel.