Belovezhskaya Pushcha / Białowieża Forest Belarus

Belovezhskaya Pushcha / Białowieża Forest - Belarus

Short Report

Situated on the watershed of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, this immense forest range, consisting of evergreens and broad-leaved trees, is home to some remarkable animal life, including rare mammals such as the wolf, the lynx and the otter, as well as some 300 European Bison, a species which has been reintroduced into the park.

Wide Report

The Białowieża primeval forest is the last remaining primary deciduous and mixed forests of the European lowlands. Located at a turning point in the Baltic and the Black Sea, this huge forest composed evergreens and productive closed broadleaved forests trees is home to some remarkable flora and rare and interesting mammals. The park consists of about one-tenth of the entire Białowieża primeval forest, which has a wide range of flora and fauna characteristic of both Western and Eastern Europe. The park protects a part of the last and one of the largest remaining areas of European primeval forest lowland mixed forest: pine, beech, oak, elzen and pines. The forest dating from 8000 V. CHR and is the only remnant of the original forests that once covered much of Europe.

These wilderness areas are inhabited by European bison, a type in the park in 1929, elk, deer, roe deer, wild boar, lynx, wolf, fox, marten, badger, otter, ermine, beavers and many bats. It is also a reserve to see tarpan (Polish wild forest horse). The avifauna includes corncrake, white-tailed catfish eagle, stork, peregrine falcon and eagle owl.

Located in the transition between the boreal and temperate zone in the south-west White-russia , on the border with central Poland, the site contains elements of northern and southern flora. Almost 90% of the park is covered with old 'growth' virgin stands of mixed productive closed broadleaved forests and pine forests. More than 900 vascular plants species are listed, including 26 trees and shrubs 138 species. Almost two thirds are indigenous with the remainder anthropogenic introductions.

Białowieski National Park is the oldest national park in Poland and one of the oldest in Europe. It was founded as 'Reserve' forestry in 1921 but officially established as a National Park in Białowieża in 1932. In 1947 it was restored as the Białowieski National Park. At one time the property of Polish kings, the Białowieski Forests have survived in an almost unaltered form. It is without doubt the most valuable natural area in the European lowlands.

Source:whc/unesco

Struve Geodetic Arc Belarus

Struve Geodetic Arc - Belarus

Short Report

The Struve Arc is a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest Norway to the Black Sea, by 10 countries and more than 2,820 km. These are points of a study, carried out between 1816 and 1855 by the astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, which corresponded to the first accurate measurement of a long segment of a meridian. This helped the exact size and shape of the earth and was an important step in the development of earth sciences and topographical maps. It is an extraordinary example of scientific cooperation between scientists from different countries and the cooperation between monarchs for a scientific cause. The original arc consisted of 258 main triangles with 265 main station. The website contains 34 original station points, with different markings, i.e. a hole drilled in rock, iron cross, cairns, or built-in obelisks.

Wide Report

The first accurate measurement of a long segment of a meridian, helps the exact size and shape of the world is an important step in the development of earth sciences. From about 500 Bc it had been known that the earth not flat, but of a spherical shape. In the 3rd century BC. BC., the surveying technique and theory for the determination of the size of the Earth was developed by Eratosthenes. This theory remained in use until the age of satellite of Geodesy. Eratosthenes's theory, with length and angles determined by star observations made it possible to determine the size of the Earth, while the measurements themselves were still not accurate, especially because of the lack of resources and equipment. In the 17th century better measuring equipment was developed, together with a new method with triangulations. According to this method, a much shorter line can be measured accurately, while the long distances were covered by a chain of triangles. This triangles covered each hundreds of kilometers, with each of the sides (baselines) as long as 100 km and each triangle in the chain with one common basis with at least one other triangle, and two joint angles (station) with another triangle.

The triangulation method help creating in the 1730s and 1740s the actual shape of the Earth, by means of long arches in Peru and Lapland. The problem of the size of the Earth remain unresolved and had much more complex, because it was known that it was not a perfect sphere. The various early les arcs in France, Peru, Lapland, Italy, South Africa and Austria had several shortcomings that do not allow for a proper solution to this problem. The defeat of Napoleon, followed by the Congress of Vienna and the decision in 1815 to internationally agreed limits in Europerequires accurate maps. These needs are clearly felt in Russia, where Tsar Alexander I the astronomer Wilhelm Struve with all funds for his project for a new long geodetic arc. This can be seen as the first step in the development of modern geodetic framework and topographical maps.

A very long arc, completed in 1840, was measured in India by Lambton and Everest and a shorter arc in Lithuaniaby Carl Tenner. Struve, who was working at the DorpatUniversity in modern Estonia, decided that the arc it would impose would follow a line of longitude (meridian) runs through the observatory of the university. The new long arc, later known as the Struve Arc, was eventually createded join previous, smaller arches to the south measured by Tenner, and the extension of the north and south. The arc is therefore a line connecting Fuglenæs near Hammerfestin the far north, along 2,800 km, with Staro-Nekrasowka , near Ismail, on the Black Sea coast.

The world heritage consists of 34 of the original transmitter was by Struve and his colleagues between 1816 and 1851 - four points in Norway, four in Sweden, six in Finland, one in Russia three in Estonia, two in Latvia, three in Lithuania, five in Belarus, Moldova and four in Ukraine. The marks in various forms: small holes drilled in rock surfaces, and sometimes filled with lead; cross-shaped engraved marks on rock surfaces; hard stone or brick with a marker; rock structures (cairns), with a central stone or brick. Characterized by a drilled hole; one stone, and specially constructed 'monuments' in commemoration of the point and the arc.  The Struve geodetic Arc is an extraordinary example of exchange of human values in the form of scientific cooperation between scientists from different countries, as well as an excellent example of a technological ensemble.

Source:whc/unesco

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

Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh Belarus

Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh - Belarus

Short Report

The architectural, Residential and cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh is located centrally in White Russia. The Radziwill dynasty, who build and maintain the ensemble from the 16th century to 1939 gave birth to a number of the most important figures in European history and culture. Thanks to their efforts, the city was Nesvizh exercise great influence on the sciences, arts, crafts and architecture. The complex consists of the residential castle and the mausoleum Church Corpus Christi with their surroundings. The castle has ten interconnected buildings, which is as an architectural completely around a six-sided courtyard. The palaces and church were important prototypes mark the development of architecture in all of Central Europe and Russia.

Wide Report

The architectural, residential and cultural complex of the Radziwill family at Nesvizh was the cradle for the inoculation of new concepts on the basis of the synthesis of Western traditions, which resulted in the creation of a new architectural school in Central Europe. It is an important step in the development of typology in the history of the architecture of the countries of Central Europe in the 16th and 17th century, in particular the Corpus Christij Church, typologically with regard to the cross-bubble basilica.

Built and inhabited by the Radziwill family from the 16th to the 20th century, the ensemble is located in the village of Nesvizh, in the Province of Minsk in White Russia central. It consists of the castle-residence and the mausoleum church Corpus Christij with their surroundings. The castle has ten interconnected buildings, including the palace, the gallery, the place of residence and the arsenal, which as an architectural completely around a six-sided courtyard. The buildings are located in the remains of the 16th-century fortifications that consists of four bastions and four curtain walls in a rectangular plan, surrounded by a ditch. Through a dam, the castle is connected with the Corpus Christij Church, which is part of a block of the urban area of Nesvizh. The ensemble is in the middle of a cultural landscape that has several components. The limits of the field an elongated area with the main ax parallel to the Usha riverbed and waterfront.

The castle is addressed from the west to the east. The entrance is located in the west by the gate building, the lower part of which is embedded in the stronghold. It has an octagonal two-storey gate tower, dressed with a helmet. The original structure dates back to the 16th century. The first floor and the tower were in the 18th century. The main building of the complex is the palace is located in the center of the east side of the courtyard. Also dating back to the 16th century and was in the 18th century. This is a three-storey building on a virtually square map.

The corners are reinforced by four octagonal towers with alcoves. The facade is decorated with stucco by Antoni Zaleski. The ground floor that was originally was used as a treasury, has preserved the 16th-century vaults. The main stage is decorated by the 18th-century representation of 'Aurora' Francisezek Smuglewicz. On the first floor the interiors dating from the 18th and 19th century. The south side of the court, the three-storey Residence building, built in the 16th century with a tower. The north side has a corresponding Arsenal building, which is also used for a chapel. These are connected to the palace through gallery structures which the corners of the room. The court is then closed by attachments that connect these buildings to the gate structure. Corpus Christij Church is located in the eastern part of the city Nesvizh, next to the street leading to the castle. The plan of the building is based on a Latin cross with an elongated rectangular body of the two lateral chapels with five sides and a apsidal choir. At the intersection of the nave and the transept is the dome. The chapels are covered with domes without lanterns.

The most valuable links are the grave of Krzysztof Radziwill (1607) and the altar of the Holy Cross (1583) by the Venetian sculptors Girolamo Campagna and Cesare Franco. The vaults of the church are frescoes of Ksawery D. Heski from 1852-53. The two-storey facade is divided by a prominent entablature, slightly offset on the axles of the pilasters and dressed with a triangular gable. The church is a crypt with the coffins of 72 members of the family Radziwill, dating from the 16th to the 20th century. The church is surrounded by a 18th-century boundary wall.

Historical Data

Historically, White-Russia is a cross-border, in the European context. Part of its territory was successively: the Kievan Russia and Russian Medieval principalities (10e - 13e c. ); The Grand Duchy of Lithuania ( 14th c. ); The united polish-Lithuanian border state, Republic Rzeczpopolita (1569-1795); the Russian Empire (1772/1795 - 1917), Poland (for Western White-russia , 1921-1939); USSR as Belarusian Socialist Republic (from 1922); and the Republic White Russia (from 1991). As a result of these circumstances the territory of the Republic of Belarus was on historical, cultural, artistic, political, military and religious (adapt Calvinism and catholicism, orthodoxy, Uniat church and Judaism) crossroads between East and West. The Radziwill dynasty, to whom the Nesvizh residence was one of 1523 to 1939, one of the most remarkable personalities in European history and culture since the 15th century. The Radziwill landlords controlled the territory of the former Rzeczpopolita (now Ukraine) and they were the princes of the Holy Roman Empire since 1518.

The first records of Nesvizh dating back to the 15th century. From 1513, he was part of the Radziwills, who lived here until 1939. For the castle, there was a mansion inhabited by Duke Mikolaj Radziwill, the chancellor of Lithuania and voivoda of Vilnius. The duke was a protestant, which Nesvizh an important center of the Reformation. The first catechism room in Belarusian language was printed in the ducal pressure. The first phase of the castle dating from 1582-1604, when Mikolaj Radziwill began with the construction of a new seat. It is shown with bastioned fortifications in a drawing of 1604 by T. Makowski ( 'Nesvisium' ).  The house has survived almost in its original form until now, while the other parts are amended or added to later. The galleries are built in 1650. In 1706, the Castle was inhabited by Sweden, which destroyed the fortifications. After their departure, the Castle was renovated by Michal Radziwill in 1732-58, which architects from Germany, Italy, Poland and White Russia.

In the 19th century, the castle remained unoccupied until the owner passed to Antoni Radziwill and his French wife Maria of Castellane, who renovated the interiors in 1881-86. They also added a terrace with neo-gothic towers against the palace. They are also designed and built the romantic landscape park around the castle complex (1878- 1911). After 1939 was the first taken over by the Soviet army, and then the Germans used as a military hospital. From 1945 to 2001, was used as sanatorium. Since then, the subject of the restoration and adaptation in the use as a museum and as a cultural and visitor center. In 2002, a fire, the upper part of the house as well as a part of the gallery, which are built in 2003.

Source:whc/unesco