Mir Castle Complex Belarus

Mir Castle Complex - Belarus

Short Report

The construction of the castle began at the end of the 15th century in the gothic style. Then was extended and reconstructed, first in the Renaissance and then in the baroque style. After leaving almost a century ago serious damage during the Napoleonic period, the castle was restored at the end of the 19th century, with the addition of a number of other elements and the enhancement of the environment as a park. The current form is graphically witnesses of the often turbulent history.

Wide Report

The region in which Mir Castle has a long history of political and cultural confrontation and cycle through, which is displayed graphically in the form and appearance of the ensemble. This is a fertile area in the geographical center of Europe, at the crossroads of the main trade routes, and at the same time at the epicentre of key European and global military conflicts between neighboring powers with different religious and cultural traditions. The short period of the history begins in the late 15th century was marked by a combination of unprecedented changes in the religious, humanitarian and economic actors. The Mir Castle complex in the nearby lively represents the body of the history of Belarus and as such, it is one of the largest national symbols of the country.

The construction of the castle of the family Ilyinichi began at the end of the 15th century in the gothic style, was later extended and reconstructed. The first work consisted of building the walls and towers in the gothic style, but came to an end for a reason. Building was completed in the beginning of the 17th century, with the addition of the regal residence, with some Renaissance characteristics, after he had passed to the Radzivill family. After sieges in 1655 and 1706 reconstruction was the addition of a number of Baroque characteristics. After leaving almost a century ago serious damage during the Napoleonic period, the castle was restored at the end of the 19th century, with the addition of a number of other elements and the enhancement of the environment as a park. The current form is graphic testimony often turbulent history. The old castle survived as a romantic ruin.

The Mir Castle complex is located on the shore of a small lake at the confluence of the river Miryanka and a small tributary. The fortified walls of the castle an irregular quadrilateral; there are four outer corner towers with hipped roofs will rise to five levels and a six-storey external gate tower on the western side. The facades are in brick, with recessed painted stucco and the frames and the balconies are sandstone. The roofs are tiled, some of the glazed tiles.

From the castle is the Chapel-Crypt of the Dukes of Svyatopolk-Mirsky . The facade is decorated with mosaic panel depicting the image of Christ, made of multi-colored tesserae. Other features are the watchman's house, close to the north of chapel crypt; palace annex built in the late 19th century, which is located in the landscape park with stucco decorated and facades. The ruins of the main building are located on the eastern edge of the complex, and is not currently in use. The 19th-century chapel is a tiny stuccoed stone building. The memorial on the site of the massacre of the Mir ghetto prisoners is located in the northern part of the complex, in the east of the former Italian garden.

Historical Data

The castle was built in the late 15th or 16th century (the first reference to the dating back to 1531) by the Ilyinichi family. The first work consisted of building the walls and towers in the gothic style, but came to an end for a reason. Building was completed in the beginning of the 17th century, with the addition of the regal residence, with some Renaissance characteristics (including an Italian-style garden and a system of ponds), after he had passed to the Radzivill family in 1569. This work was probably accompanied by Italian architect Gian Maria Bernardoni.

Following sieges in 1655 and 1706 reconstruction was the addition of a number of Baroque characteristics. It was badly damaged during the Napoleonic period, in 1794 and again in 1812, and he was still in a state of destructive leave until in the late 19th century, when the complex was purchased by the Duke of Svyatopolk-Mirsky , which began a landscape park with a small lake. A new palace (destroyed in 1914) and other structures (chapel, watchman's house, etc) were set up in the grounds. The old castle survived as a romantic ruin. Some restoration was carried out in the 1920s and 1930s, making a number of Secession and romantic elements were added. During the Second World War it served as a prison camp and a ghetto. Recovery is not started in earnest again until 1982.

Source:whc/unesco