Mir Castle Complex

Mir Castle, founded at the turn of the XV-XVI centuries, is located in the small Belarusian town of Mir, in Korelichi district of Grodno region. Half a century ago the Mir Castle lay in ruins, but at the end of the last century it was tastefully restored, after which it deservedly found itself on the UNESCO World Heritage List as an outstanding monument of Central European castle and palace architecture.

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Video: Mir Castle

Contents

Highlights

Mir Castle is one of the most spectacular and popular tourist attractions in Belarus. The former citadel and residence of Lithuanian aristocrats invariably impresses travelers with its harmonious and integral appearance, despite the fact that its architecture intertwines elements of late Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Mir Castle is full of charming corners, where the atmosphere of the past centuries is recreated. Festivals, balls, concerts, theatrical tours are held here, during which guests are invited to dance in the ballroom with animators dressed in 18th-century fashions.

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On all floors of the castle there are museum expositions showing antiquities of different epochs. However, there are not many exhibits belonging to this particular citadel, all the property was irretrievably lost during the decades of neglect when the castle was half-destroyed. Some of the rooms are hotel rooms, including luxury ones. The Mir Castle offers its guests an atmospheric restaurant and a café. Special excursions to the princely kitchen and under the vaults of the wine cellar of the castle are organized for everyone, where tourists can taste exquisite drinks and snacks.

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History of Mir Castle

The region in which Mir Castle is located has been the scene of military conflicts, political alliances and cultural borrowings for many centuries. Polish and Swedish kings, Lithuanian grand dukes, and Moscow tsars claimed ownership of these lands. From the south, the Crimean Tatars rushed here, plundering unprotected peaceful towns. It seems that it was these disturbing factors that prompted the first owner of the vast estate – Lithuanian magnate Jerzy (Yuri) Ilyinich, the headman of Brest and Kaunas – to build in the 20s of the XVI century on a hill near the Miryanka River not just a manor house, but a well-fortified castle. It is likely that the castle had stood there in the previous century as well. Archaeological excavations conducted here during the restoration revealed a cultural layer with the remains of burnt wooden fortifications of the 15th century on the territory of the castle

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In the second half of the 17th century, the Mir Castle, which by that time had come into the possession of the powerful Radziwill family, found itself in the very center of a conflict region, where military clashes between the troops of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the army of the Russian Tsar, who wanted to expand his western borders, became more frequent. The medieval walls did not save the castle from the cannons of the opposing sides. For the first time it was devastated in 1655 by Ivan Zolotarenko’s Cossacks and the army of voivode Alexei Trubetskiy. In the same year the Swedes stormed the castle, ruining the Radziwill estate and destroying the fortress buildings. In the 1680s restoration work was carried out here, which returned the castle to its original appearance.

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In 1706, during the Great Northern War, Mir Castle was again significantly damaged. This time it was subjected to artillery fire from the troops of Swedish King Charles XII, after which it was stormed and burned. The consequences of these military actions were more disastrous than those caused by the previous battle. Prince Mikhail Kazimir Radziwill restored the castle to its former splendor, but in June 1792 the cannons rumbled again under the walls of the citadel. Here took place the Battle of Mira, in which ten thousand Lithuanian corps of Polish King Stanislaus August Poniatowski was defeated by Russian troops.

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During the Napoleonic Wars, the dilapidated citadel was abandoned. In 1812, during the expulsion of the French emperor’s army from Russia, a battle between the retreating troops of Marshal Davout and the cavalrymen of General Matvey Platov took place near the walls of Mir Castle.

In the late 19th century, the castle was restored by Russian Prince Mikhail Sviatopolk-Mirsky, whose family owned the residence until the outbreak of World War II. In 1939, Soviet troops entered Western Belarus, which belonged to Poland. The Mir Castle was again looted and considerably destroyed. After Hitler’s Germany attacked the Soviet Union, all of Belarus was captured by the Germans. In Mir Castle, the Nazis set up a ghetto for local Jews. After several prisoners escaped, all remaining prisoners were shot in the Italian Garden beneath the castle walls.

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In the post-war years, the ruins of the palace and towers were inhabited by refugees and local burn victims from the surrounding villages. Only in the 1960s the last inhabitants were evicted from the ruins. In the 1990s, the Belarusian authorities decided to restore this architectural gem, turning Mir Castle into one of the country’s most famous landmarks.

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Walking around the castle

From afar, Mir Castle, made of brown bricks with white decorative inserts, resembles a smart chocolate house surrounded by a landscaped park. The first thing that attracts attention is the richly decorated northeast tower, which used to house the living quarters. The gate tower, which houses the chapel, is also very impressive. Once there was a dungeon in the deep dungeons beneath it, which is notorious for being haunted by the ghosts of tortured prisoners.

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

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The last scion of the Ilinich family, who had no offspring, bequeathed the castle to his cousin, Lithuanian Prince Nicholas Radziwill. The rich aristocrat built two residential wings adjoining the northern and eastern walls. There were also a stable, a blacksmith’s shop, a bakery and a beer shop. The first floor of the palace housed the arsenal and food storehouse, kitchen and household services. The second floor was occupied by the administration of the estate, rooms for servants and guards. The luxurious chambers of the princely family were arranged on the third floor. In the cellars were arranged wine cellars and utility rooms, secret passages. There is a legend that once the prince hid a rich treasure in one of the secret corridors, which has not been found to this day. It is said that among the treasure were statues of the twelve apostles cast in gold.

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The exposition located on the second floor of the north wing is dedicated to the secrets of the castle’s defenses, while the following rooms display portraits and documents introducing tourists to the succession of owners of the citadel. In other rooms of the castle there are 36 thematic expositions and interesting collections. Here are selected samples of weapons from different eras, costumes, coins and medals, household utensils, antique furniture, jewelry and other antiques.

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500 meters from the castle walls, in a landscaped English park, stands the asymmetrical chapel of St. Nicholas with a bell tower. This complex was restored in 2008. In the underground crypt are the crypts of the burial vaults of the Princes Sviatopolk-Mirski, the last owners of the estate in Mir. On the facade of the chapel shines gold mosaic panel with the image of Christ the Almighty, on the left, on the bell tower, you can see a colored bas-relief with the family coat of arms of the princes, as well as the coats of arms of Moscow and Kiev – cities with which the family of the last owners of the estate was closely connected.

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Near the walls of Mir Castle there is an artificial lake, its mirror-like surface reflects the walls and towers. From the shores of the lake you can make spectacular photos. Excellent shots can be taken at the interactive photo platform, specially equipped for tourists. In the halls you can have a photo session with actors in period dress.

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Visitors

Entrance to the castle complex and park is free. There is a souvenir store and free parking. The Mir Castle hosts theatrical performances, wedding ceremonies, informative quests. To participate, you need to apply in advance.

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The cost of a ticket to the museum is 18 Belarusian rubles, there is a 50% discount for schoolchildren and students. The cost of an hour and a half group excursion with a story about the history of the castle, its titled owners and the life of the inhabitants of the citadel – 24 Belarusian rubles. An individual excursion will cost 50 Belarusian rubles. At the entrance you can take an audio guide for 3 Belarusian rubles.

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The Historical Museum of Mir Castle is open for visits daily from 10:00 to 18:00. The ticket office closes at 17:20. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday the opening hours of the museum and the ticket office are extended by 1 hour.

Where to eat

The Mir Castle offers a café with light snacks and two bars. In the palace underground there is a colorful restaurant. The menu includes dishes of old Belarusian cuisine, in the vaulted hall with antique interiors and wrought iron decorations in the evenings live music sounds. Here you can taste specialties cooked according to the recipes of the cooks of the Radziwill princes – spicy beef under cherry sauce and tender pork brisket stewed in beer. Very tasty is vereshchaka – fried meat slightly stewed in beet kvass. This dish is served with baked potatoes, with bunches of fresh herbs. And also be sure to taste the contents of a portioned ceramic pot sealed with dough. This dish is called tatskalo. Inside the hot pot you will find pieces of meat with sauce, vegetables and potatoes. The baked dough lid once served as both a spoon and bread. And, of course, you should treat yourself to the rich Belarusian borscht and melt-in-your-mouth potato dredges with meat stuffing. The guests are served hop nalewkas made according to medieval recipes, homemade kvass, good beer and other quality alcoholic drinks. The restaurant is open daily from 09:00 to 23:00.

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Where to stay

Part of the Mir Castle premises has been converted into a hotel, which is one of the top ten hotels in Belarus. Guests will find 16 luxurious rooms, the rooms are furnished with antique furniture. Comfort class rooms are located in the attic. The bathrooms of “suites” are equipped with Jacuzzi. The cost of accommodation – from 125 to 300 Belarusian rubles per room per day, it is possible to install additional children’s beds. For tourists staying in this elite hotel, there is a pleasant bonus: tickets to the museum can be bought for 8 Belarusian rubles, and for children – half the price.

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Bicycle rental

You won’t need a four-wheeled vehicle to explore the castle’s surroundings. Here it is pleasant to walk around, looking for the best points for memorable photos, all of them are located in walking distance. If you wish, you can rent a bicycle at the Mir Castle hotel. The rental cost is 4 Belarusian rubles for the first hour, 2 rubles for each subsequent hour. There are bicycle routes through the park on the vast castle territory, where there is a beautiful Catholic basilica and the tomb of the citadel owners. You can ride through the picturesque surroundings, go to the nearby lake, go to the tourist sites of the World – churches and chapels, monuments, museums, look at the city market.

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The ancient buildings of the city have been restored with love and knowledge. There is a famous in Belarus art restoration school, its graduates restored the interiors of Mir Castle and other historical buildings. Cyclists are given avenues with a street plan, where interesting locations are marked. Among them are the Gothic Church of St. Nicholas, founded in 1599, the magnificent Church of the Holy Trinity, the ancient synagogue, and the Market Square.

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How to get there

Mir Castle is located 100 km southwest of Minsk. Tourists arriving in the capital of Belarus by airplane, it is most convenient to get to the attraction by minibus or car of the company “Minsk Airport Transfer” directly from the airport. The office of this transportation company is located in the arrivals hall.

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You can book a transfer from the airport to Mir Castle in advance on the KiwiTaxi website.

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A trip by business class car from Minsk to Mirsky Castle will cost 80 Belarusian rubles (per car), by premium limousine – 90 Belarusian rubles, by minibus – from 100 to 150 Belarusian rubles depending on the number of passenger seats. The cost of the trip includes round-trip transfer, two-hour waiting for passengers in the parking lot at the castle.

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From Minsk central bus station to Mir you can get to the city of Mir by shuttle buses to Dyatlovo, Baranovichi, Novogrudok, Korelichi. Transportation departs at 14:00, 16:10, 17:30, 18:10. The cost of a ticket to Mir is 6.79 Belarusian rubles, travel time – 1 hour 30 minutes. The castle is within walking distance from the bus station.

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Near the Minsk railway station is the terminus of the shuttle bus, the route of which runs through Mir. Minibuses depart from 06:40 to 22:10 every hour. You can get on these minibuses at the stops near Minsk subway stations “Malinovka”, “Petrovshchina”, “Grushevka” (blue line). The fare is Br7. A child up to 3 years old can be carried in your arms for free.

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To get to Mir Castle by private car, you need to leave Minsk on highway E30, leading southwest towards Brest. Without turning anywhere, you need to drive about 90 km. There is a signpost at the right turn to the M1 highway, which runs through Mir. About 10 km after the turn, the road will lead to the parking lot near the castle. It’s better to leave at 7-8 am to avoid Minsk “traffic jams”. You will reach Mir Castle in no hurry just before the opening of the museum’s ticket office.

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