Castles and fortresses of Belarus. Castles and palaces in Belarus: it's worth seeing Castles and palaces in Belarus that are visited

The castles of Belarus reflect the country's turbulent history and keep many secrets and mysteries. They were built in the XIII-XVII centuries. They were built in the traditional form - on a rectangular plan, with towers, surrounded by a moat with water. They were often built on high ground or on the banks of rivers. Almost always these were defensive structures to protect against the onslaught of external enemies. Since the end of the 16th century, castle-type palaces have been built.

In 2011, the state program “Castles of Belarus” was approved, within the framework of which it is planned to restore 38 historical monuments. Currently, some of the castles have been restored and are open to the public as museums. Some castle complexes host stylized knightly battles, festivals and exhibitions. Those castles that are still ruins are waiting for their second revival.

The best castles in Belarus

The most interesting and beautiful medieval fortresses. List, photos with names and descriptions!

Mirsky

Built in the 16th century, located in the Grodno region, in the city of Mir. The history of the castle comes from the Ilinich family. During the Russian-Polish and Russian-French wars it was destroyed and restored each time. This is a square red brick building with towers around the perimeter, a chapel, underground passages and a lake. Completely restored. Knight festivals and exhibitions are held here.

Nesvizh

Located in the Minsk region. The masterpiece is a palace complex built of stone at the end of the 16th century by the Radziwill family; several generations lived there. It was rebuilt many times, so there is a mixture of styles: Gothic, Baroque, Classicism. The castle with a courtyard is surrounded by a moat with water. In 2012, reconstruction was completed and the rich interiors were restored. Now there is a museum there.

Lida

Located in the Grodno region. Erected in 1323 by order of Prince Gediminas. Throughout its history, it has saved city residents many times. The castle is rectangular in shape with two corner towers and walls up to 2 m thick. Protected by a moat and an artificial lake. Since 1953 under state protection. Since 2005, it has been the venue for the Gediminas Castle festival, a vibrant celebration of medieval culture.

Brest Fortress

The original watchtower for defense was created back in the 13th century. The capital defensive fortress was erected in the 19th century. Since 1842, under the name "Brest-Litovsk", the fortress defended the borders of the Russian Empire. The great page of the feat of the defenders of the Brest Fortress - June 22, 1941. The fortress took the first and unexpected blow of Nazi troops. The heroism of the fighters destroyed all plans for a lightning-fast capture.

Novogrudok

It is located behind Castle Hill in the city of Novogrudok - which was the center of the Principality of Lithuania. At first it served as protection against the Tatars. Over the centuries, 7 towers were built behind a high wall surrounded by a moat. The powerful structure staunchly protected against numerous enemies. It was not completely destroyed during the Russian-Polish War, but turned into ruins during the Northern War. Nowadays knight tournaments are held there.

Kamenskaya Tower

It is 31 m high and the thickness of the strong walls is more than 2.5 m. It was erected at the end of the 13th century, in the Romanesque style. Served for defensive purposes. On the ground floor there was a food supply and a well. There were such towers in every city, but only this one remained in the entire territory of Belarus. Now there is a historical museum with interesting exhibitions and an observation deck at the top of the tower.

Lyubtchansky

Erected on the banks of the Neman. Throughout history, the owners of the castle were: Jan Kiszka, Kszysztof Radziwilow and his descendants, several European families. The latter, nobles from the Falz-Fein family, radically transformed the castle at the end of the 19th century and turned it into a country residence. In 1945, the residence was destroyed and a school was erected on the foundation. The appearance of the castle is currently being restored.

Old Castle (Grodno)

One of the oldest, built in 1398 by order of Prince Vytautas. The stone castle with five towers was a defensive fortification on the banks of the Neman. For a long time it was the residence of Polish and Lithuanian kings; receptions and magnificent balls were held here. Rebuilt many times. In the 19th century it was transferred to the Russian Empire and was used as a military base. Now there is a museum and a regional library.

Golshansky

Erected in the 17th century, it was the palace residence of the nobleman Pavel Stefan Sapieha, nicknamed Bluebeard. Changed owners, several tragic legends are associated with it: the story of the White Lady, the ghost of the Black Monk. It used to be a magnificent building with lush decoration, now in its place there are ruins that will be restored under the “Culture of Belarus” program.

Krevsky

Located in the Grodno region, built in the 14th century by the Lithuanian prince Gediminas. The first castle built entirely of stone, the thickness of the walls was 2.5 m and the height was 12-13 m. It was part of the “Stone Belt”, consisting of castles for protection against the Teutonic knights. It was a defensive fortification and withstood the siege of the Tatar and Moscow troops. Destroyed in the First World War. Now there are ruins there.

Smolyansky (Bely Kovel)

Located in the Vitebsk region, built in the 17th century by order of Prince Semyon Sangushko-Kovelsky. A rectangular structure with four towers along its perimeter, a five-tiered tower at the gate. The three-story premises were used for living. According to legend, underground passages connected the castle with the monastery in Orsha and the Church of the Transfiguration. Destroyed, the high tower and part of the wall remain.

Bykhovsky

Located in the Mogilev region, it dates back to the 17th century. It was built by Jan Karol Chodkiewicz. It was the center of the city's fortification system, which withstood a long siege by enemies. It is located on the high bank of the Dnieper, surrounded on three sides by a moat with water. The fortress fell under the pressure of the troops of Peter I. The Russian garrison was located there for 7 years. Destroyed, now it is a historical ruin.

Borisovsky

Located in the Minsk region, between the Berezina River and the Prilya tributary. It was a defensive structure, built of wood, erected from the 12th to the 14th centuries. The area is 2 hectares, surrounded by a deep moat with water. Oval in shape with five bastions. It was destroyed and rebuilt many times. In the 19th century, a two-story stone house was built there; it was called a prison castle. Included in the “Castles of Belarus” program.

Vysokovsky

Located in the city of Vysokoye, Brest region, it was founded in the 17th century under governor Pavel Sapega. The earthen ramparts and dilapidated gates have been preserved. These were earthen fortifications with bastions on the banks of the Pulva. The castle was surrounded by water, in front of the gate was a pond with a drawbridge, a two-story brick tower built into the thickness of the earthen rampart, and in the central part there was a wooden palace and outbuildings.

Mozyrsky

Located in the Gomel region. The castle-fortification was built in the 15th century on the banks of the Pripyat River, surrounded by a high rampart and a moat. It consisted of a palace, three defensive towers, a church, residential and outbuildings. For a long time it protected residents from the onslaught of enemies. In 1649 it was burned by order of the governor Janusz Radziwill. In 2008, reconstruction was carried out and the original appearance of the ancient settlement was recreated.

Zaslavsky

Located in the Minsk region. Built in the 16th century by the Polish-Lithuanian Glebovichs, this is one of the earliest bastion castles. Located on a hill, surrounded by deep ditches with water. Powerful ramparts are lined with red brick, the entrance to the gate is via a bridge over a moat, an underground passage and a well in case of a siege. Only defensive earthen ramparts, a tower and dilapidated walls have survived.

Gaityuniš Castle House

In the Gothic and Renaissance style, located in the Grodno region on the banks of the Zhizhma. Built in 1611-1612 as the country residence of Peter Nonhart. A rectangular two-story building, with towers around the perimeter and a high tower in the center, thick walls, narrow loophole windows in the towers, facades without decoration. The interior has painting and stucco. Since 1956 there has been a psychiatric hospital here.

Kossovo Castle

Construction of the luxurious palace began in 1830 by Kazimir Puslovsky. The castle has a difficult fate. The owners changed many times, among them Princess Anna Trubetskaya, Prince of Oldenburg. Looted and destroyed during the First World War. During World War II, the building became a ghetto. In 1944, almost all buildings and structures burned down. Restoration has been underway since 2008.

Kozell-Poklevsky estate (Krasny Bereg)

Included in the “Golden Ring of Gomel Region”. The estate consists of a residence, buildings and a park. Erected in 1890-1893 by order of M. S. Gatovsky. The style is neo-Moorish, uncharacteristic for the territory, with elements of Gothic, Empire, Art Nouveau and Renaissance. It has been well preserved throughout its history. Restoration was carried out, all the elegant interior details of 36 rooms were restored.

Ruzhany Palace

Located in the Brest region. In 1598, a ceremonial palace with defensive towers was built. Royalty was received in the building and balls were held. During the civil strife, the estate was destroyed. The second life began in 1786, a palace and park ensemble was built in the style of Versailles. The First and Second World Wars led to the following destruction. In 2008, restoration began again.

Geographical coordinates: 52.860822, 24.895757 (Brest region, Pruzhany district, Ruzhany)

Description: Erected at the beginning of the 17th century, the palace complex in Ruzhany is often called the Belarusian Versailles. Initially, an impregnable fortress was built in Ruzhany in 1617, but during the Northern War the castle was almost completely destroyed. The second birth of the castle is considered to be 1784-1788, when the impregnable castle was transformed into a sophisticated palace with parks, gardens and greenhouses.

Status today: On January 25, 2011, the Ruzhany Sapieha Palace Complex museum was opened on the territory of the palace and park complex, consisting of four exhibition halls and one exhibition hall. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 9.00 to 18.00.

Lida Castle

Geographical coordinates: 53.887175, 25.302782 (Grodno region, Lida district, Lida)

Description: Built in 1323 - 1325 and having seen many battles and sieges, one of the few surviving castles on the territory of Belarus is Gediminas Castle.

Status today: The castle is open to tourists all year round, and since 2005, visitors to the castle can also visit the International Festival of Medieval Culture “Gediminas’ Castle”.

Golshansky Castle

Geographical coordinates: 54.251389, 26.020279 (Grodno region, Oshmyany district, Golshany village)

Description: In 1610, by order of Pavel Stefan Sapieha, a castle was erected in Golshany. Unfortunately, the destruction that the castle suffered during its existence did not allow all the greatness and beauty of this castle to be conveyed to our time. However, the castle in Golshany still attracts all lovers of secrets and mysticism.

Status today: As sad as it is to realize this, today all that remains of the former grandeur of the Golshansky Castle are ruins, which represent a kind of open-air museum.

Lyubcha Castle

Geographical coordinates: 53.752008, 26.068939 (Grodno region, Novogrudok district, Lyubcha town)

Description: In the 16th century, the influential magnate and nobleman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Jan Kiszka erected a castle in Lyubcha. Later, in the 17th century, the castle was significantly rebuilt by Radziwill. In 1655, the troops of Hetman Zolotarenko burned the castle, destroying two towers, after which the castle forever lost its significance as a military fortification.

Status today: Since 2003, restoration work has been carried out using funds from a charitable foundation created by volunteers, “Lyubcha Castle”.

Castle in Krevo

Geographic coordinates: 54.30923, 26.28244 (Grodno region, Smorgon district, a.g. Krevo)

Description: Built in 1338, Krevo Castle more than once found itself at the center of events that determined the course of history: it was here that the murder of Keistut by Jagiel took place, here Vytautas was in captivity and it was here, in 1385, that the Union of Krevo was signed. During the history of its existence, the castle was repeatedly attacked, but managed to remain in good condition until the 18th century. However, local residents and the destruction of the First World War left only ruins of the castle.

Status today: Today, the castle, where fateful decisions were made for the entire medieval European civilization, is in a deplorable state and is nothing more than ruins.

Geographical coordinates: 53.518096, 30.259606 (Mogilev region, Bykhov district, Bykhov)

Description: Built in 1619 by Hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Y.K. Khodkevich, the castle was rebuilt by L. Sapieha. During its existence, the castle building housed a barracks, a prison, and a woodworking workshop, and after a fire that happened in 2004, the castle remains abandoned to this day.

Status today: The destroyed building of the Sapieha Palace and the remains of bastions and ditches are all that remains of one of the best fortifications of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Castle "White Kovel" in Smolyan

Geographical coordinates: 54.60135, 30.05444 (Vitebsk region, Orsha district, Smolany village)

Description: Built at the beginning of the 17th century by the princes of Sangushko, the castle in Smolyan is one of the few castles in Belarus that had its own name - “White Kovel”.

Status today: Only the central five-tiered tower has remained intact from the impressive and huge castle.

Geographical coordinates: 52.047811, 29.269196 (Gomel region, Mozyr district, Mozyr)

Description: The first mention of Mozyr Castle dates back to 1519. During its history, the castle was destroyed several times, but it was reborn again and again. But after January 1649, when the castle was completely burned by order of Janusz Radziwill, it lost its defensive significance and was never restored.

Status today: Mozyr Castle, which is open to the public today, is a restored smaller copy of the original. Visitors can visit the castle towers, observation decks, and also look into the pavilion-chapel.

Kossovo Castle

Geographical coordinates: 52.76561, 25.12146 (Brest region, Ivatsevichi district, Kossovo)

Description: Built in 1838 in the neo-Gothic style, the palace of the Puslovsky counts or Kossovo Castle was often called the “knight’s dream”.

Completely plundered during the First World War, the castle fell into disrepair, and in 1944 it was completely set on fire by partisans.

Status today: Since 2008, the palace has been undergoing reconstruction, which should be completed by 2018.

Geographical coordinates: 53.6772, 23.823084 (Grodno region, Grodno district, Grodno)

Description: The old castle in Grodno was built in the 11th century on the banks of the Neman and was a whole complex of temples, defensive structures and secular buildings. Since the 12th century, the castle was a princely residence, but as a result of attacks by the Crusaders, it was partially destroyed, but was restored. In 1580, the princely palace was rebuilt for King Stefan Batory of the Republic of Poland.

Status today: The Lower and Upper churches, fragments of defensive fortifications and the palace, in the building of which the Grodno Historical and Archaeological Museum is located, have survived to this day.

For a long time, the Belarusian palace and castle complexes were in decline, and only recently local authorities are trying to restore them to their former greatness, but they are being restored by volunteers, without government assistance.

Below you can see a short overview of the most beautiful castles and palaces in Belarus.

The most beautiful castles of Belarus in a 2-minute video

Nesvizh Castle

The Nesvizh palace and castle complex, built back in the 16th century by the Radziwills, has a long history of wars and destruction. It burned and was restored several times, and recently appeared before tourists finally restored in all its glory.

The castle is UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also worth a visit because it is only two hours away from.

Various music evenings are actively held on the territory of the Radziwill Castle at different times of the year. You can have a picnic in nature, swim, ride a bicycle or ride a carriage through its parks: Japanese, English, Mary's and others.

You can stroll through its gardens in winter, or sit on a bench on sultry summer evenings, admire the picturesque views of the river and pond with swans, and swim on a real boat.

Mir Castle

In the town of Mir, Grodno region, there is a castle of the same name. It can be seen from a distance by turning and driving a few kilometers from the M1 Moscow-Brest highway.

But even if you come for a short time, a few hours is enough to stroll through the ancient park and take a boat to the island in the middle of a picturesque pond.

Official website of Mir Castle: mirzamak.by

Book a tour of the castles of Belarus:

Krevsky Castle

The history of Krevsky Castle is no less rich. This is where it was signed the legendary Union of Krevo, which united the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with Poland. There are many legends around this castle, which tell about a beautiful girl imprisoned within the walls of the castle, and about a secret tunnel leading to the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius.

Also, various events are constantly held on its territory, mainly on folklore themes. The Krevsky Castle itself was built by Prince Gediminas from red brick and stone. Unfortunately, to this day, only a few sections of the walls and part of the Prince’s Tower have survived from the former palace. But you can come here in the summer with a tent and have a wonderful rest, enjoying the beauty of this place.

Official website of the Krevo Castle and the city of Krevo: krevo.by

Palace in Ruzhany

Another intriguing corner of Belarus is the palace complex in the town of Ruzhany (Belarusians often call it their Versailles), which once belonged to the Sapieha dynasty.

To this day, the main and eastern buildings, as well as the gates and side wings, have been preserved. The annual festival “Ruzhanskaya Brama” takes place on the territory of the palace complex, attracting thousands of guests not only from Belarus, but also from all over Europe.

Official website of the palace in Ruzhany: ruzhany.museum.by

Lyubcha Castle

In the outback of Belarus, on the banks of the Neman, 150 km from Minsk is located. This place is worth visiting for an inquisitive tourist who is interested in the history of Belarus and loves picturesque landscapes: near the village of Lyubcha they are really worthwhile. Here you can fish and swim, enjoy sunsets on the banks of the Neman.

The castle itself was built in the second half of the 16th century, but was repeatedly destroyed and changed its owners. In 1964, a local history museum was organized at the school that occupied the palace building. At the moment, only two towers of the Lyubcha Castle have been preserved; they are being reconstructed by volunteers.

Official website of Lubcha Castle: lubcza.by

Lida Castle

Very interesting in architectural terms is (aka Kossovo Castle), which was built at his own expense in 1838 by voivode Kazimir Puslovsky, but later his grandson lost the palace at cards.

Initially the palace had 132 rooms: Every year for two and a half days the sun illuminates one room completely. And each of the 12 towers of the castle symbolizes a month of the year.

There are many legends associated with Kossovo Castle. The most common is the presence of an underground wide tunnel between the palace and the Sapieha residence in Ruzhany.

From 2008 to 2017, restoration of the castle was carried out. All rooms and gardens nearby have been restored. Note to tourists: next to the Kossovo Castle, on the shore of a picturesque lake, you can visit the house-museum of Tadeusz Kościuszko, a famous figure of his time.

Other castles in Belarus

There are many other castles in the country. The Old and New Castles in the city deserve special mention.

The treasures of the powerful Radziwill magnates, which are still kept in northern Paris to this day, the village of Golshany, along with the Bermuda Triangle, included in the encyclopedia of mysterious places on the planet, a huge number of secrets and legends - you can learn about all this by going on an exciting journey through Belarus.

Castle Country

The Belarusian lands, through which the largest trade routes passed, were often attacked, since there were many who wanted to take possession of this territory. This was the reason for the appearance of a large number of defensive structures here. That is why in the Middle Ages Belarus was called the country of castles.

The predecessors of castles were fortifications. The appearance of isolated stone fortifications in the 13th century turned into the massive construction of stone castles along the border by the 14th-15th centuries.

Castles in Belarus are shrouded in mystery and have enormous historical and architectural significance, along with many other European historical monuments.

Mir Castle

One of such monuments is the Mir Castle (Mir) in Belarus. It is located in The earliest buildings of this masterpiece of defensive architecture date back to the 16th century. The castle was founded by Prince Illinich, and in 1568, by coincidence, passed to Nicholas Radziwill, who completed it in the Renaissance style. This wealthy Polish-Lithuanian-Belarusian family owned the Mir Castle until 1891.

Despite its monumentality and power, the castle does not look intimidating, although it was built as a defensive structure, like all castles in Belarus. The structure was a square, one side of which was 75 meters, and the width of the walls reached three meters at the base. The height of the walls was 10 meters, and the towers with loopholes reached 25 meters.

The castle, striking in its elegance, is surrounded by a nine-meter-high earthen rampart. A ditch was dug around the shaft, filled with water thanks to the Miranka River and a new pond.

The princely chambers were located on the third floor of the castle, built in the courtyard. The second floor was reserved for footmen and administration, while the first floor was used as a food warehouse and armory.

Today Mir Castle, where restoration is actively taking place, is a museum. It is called the “Mir Castle Complex” and is open to visitors.

in Belarus

Another possession of the Radziwill princes was Nesvizh Castle. According to one of the legends, a tunnel was built between it and the Mir Castle, about 30 kilometers long and such that a carriage drawn by three could easily pass through it. But to date there is no confirmation of this.

The foundation of Nesvizh Castle was laid in 1583. Due to numerous reconstructions, the palace combines many architectural styles: neo-Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, Rococo, Classicism.

Due to the anti-Russian position of the owner of the castle in 1764 -1768, Nesvizh was occupied by Russian troops. The library, archive and all valuables were confiscated and taken to St. Petersburg.

The Radziwills finally left the castle in 1939, when the Red Army entered Nesvizh. After World War II, the park and palace complex fell into disrepair.

Restoration work that began in 2004 brought this magnificent castle back to life. Nesvizh in Belarus was recognized as the cultural capital, and the palace and park complex was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The largest landscape park in Europe, founded in the 19th century, decorative lakes, shady alleys and the palace ensemble made this place very popular among tourists.

Brest Castle

Belarus became famous throughout the world for the staunchness of the defenders of the Brest Fortress, located in the south, near the border with Poland. Brest itself has a history of almost a thousand years. The geographical location became the reason for numerous wars that took place on this land. Brest Castle survived many sieges and was eventually almost completely destroyed. Some of its bastions were used in the construction of the fortress of the same name.

The photo above shows the Kholm Gate of the Brest Fortress.

Historians and archaeological groups are working to find the remains of the castle itself. As a result of excavations at the Volyn fortification, a supporting wall of a bastion built in the 16th or 17th centuries was found. Archaeologists still hope to discover the very residence of the rulers of those times.

Legends of Golshansky Castle

In the small town of Golshany there are the ruins of a once majestic palace that belonged to the noble Sapega family. Its outlines are similar to Mir Castle. The architectural complex, which is a striking representative of the work of Dutch architects, was built by Pavel Sapieha in 1610. Today, only ruins remain of its former grandeur. Severe destruction occurred during the last two wars.

Nevertheless, it is very popular among tourists. Many are attracted by the aura of mystery and numerous legends that have survived to this day.

According to one of them, in the ruins of a mill located at the very beginning of the town, at night you can hear the creaking of millstones, the neighing of horses and the voice of the main miller. How true this is, you can check for yourself by visiting Holstan Castle.

Bykhov Fortress

In the city of Bykhov there is the only fortress in Belarus that has survived to this day. The first mentions of it date back to the 14th century. It was then that the first fortifications appeared. Bykhov, surrounded by a rampart with bastions and a deep ditch, was famous for its inaccessibility. The castle itself was built in the 17th century under Jan Karol Hadkiewicz, who used it as a country residence on the right bank of the Dnieper River. In 1619, the construction of the castle was completely completed.

Since then, he has survived many military battles. Peter the Great besieged the Bykhov fortress twice. At the beginning of the 18th century, the castle fell under the onslaught of the Russian Tsar. Having become part of the Russian Empire, Bykhov lost its strategic purpose, turning, like many castles in Belarus, into a historical architectural monument.

Today, only minor fragments remain of its former grandeur. The regional leadership has developed a plan for the restoration of a unique architectural structure; the costs of restoration will be borne not only by the local, but also by the republican budgets. For now, only the ruins of the great Sapega Castle are visible to travelers.

Castles in Belarus reveal to tourists the eventful historical past of the people of this country, whose spirit was not broken by numerous wars and troubles. The preservation and restoration of the castles of Belarus is evidence that the peaceful and freedom-loving Belarusian people remember the history of their ancestors.

I have already managed to tell you a lot of interesting things about Belarus, it’s time to tell you about the mysterious, alluring, enigmatic castles and palaces associated with numerous legends. Yes, yes, absolutely true, this is not a typo, there are a lot of castles in Belarus. This, of course, is not Romania, but there is definitely something to see here, which is exactly what my husband and I did during our road trips in Belarus!

I’ll tell you about the most interesting, in my opinion, castles, but this is not all that can be seen on the territory of Belarus.

Castles and palaces in Belarus

Let's start with restored castles and palaces that house hotels, restaurants, and museums.

Nesvizh Castle or Nesvizh Palace and Park Complex

Castles and palaces in Belarus

First of all, Nesvizh Castle came into our field of vision, which is almost in the center of Nesvizh, which, by the way, is protected by UNESCO, and which was mentioned in the 13th century in chronicles. This restored palace and park complex is associated with the name of the noble Radziwill family, about which you can learn many interesting facts, family secrets and legends by walking through the museum with an audio guide. The castle-palace is surrounded by a moat, has towers and a courtyard.

I really liked the castle, both inside and out, but my husband liked the other one better. The territory now contains picturesque gardens and parks, so I recommend going here in the summer to admire nature. The buildings include echoes of all kinds of styles, from Art Nouveau to Baroque. They combine the seemingly incompatible.

The castle began to be restored 12 years ago, and the results of many years of work can be seen now. In addition to museums, parks and two restaurants, the castle has a hotel, where we stayed for the night. It's great to spend the night in a castle!

http://www.niasvizh.by/

Reports and reviews about the castle

Palace and park complex Nesvizh: Radziwill Castle

Tour of the Nesvizh Castle Museum: history and interiors

Parks of Nesvizh Castle

Review of staying at the Palace Hotel in Nesvizh Castle Belarus

Farny Church in Nesvizh: review of the visit

Mir Castle

Castles and palaces in Belarus

We are transported to the castle, which my husband just liked, this is the Mir Castle in the town of Mir, it is, in addition, also a museum, it is also protected by UNESCO. The Mir complex is an English park, earthen ramparts, a pond, a church-tomb, a watchman's house and a roadside chapel. In the warm season, medieval festivals (music) are held here.

By the way, there are many legends associated with this castle. For example, according to one of them, a huge tunnel was dug under it, which connects the Mir and Nesvizh castles together. Another legend says that when an old orchard was being cut down, a lumberjack died there, and his mother cursed this place. She said that from now on a person would drown in the pond for every tree that was cut down. 12-year-old Princess Sonechka, Prince Svyatopolk-Mirsky - I don’t know whether this is true or fiction, but, alas, they drowned.

Another interesting legend is that if only one stone, similar to a ram’s head, is removed from the castle walls, the building will collapse.

http://mirzamak.by/

Review of visiting Mir Castle in Belarus

Lida Castle

Castles and palaces in Belarus

Then we headed closer to Grodno, yes, right to the monument of defensive architecture of the 14th century - the oldest Lida castle made of brick and rubble stone, which managed to survive after numerous sieges. However, one way or another, in the 18th century it began to gradually collapse; now Lida Castle has been restored, but it looks quite new. On one side, the structure was protected by a deep ditch, on the other, by a lake formed by a dam on the river.

For 11 years now, the annual International Festival of Medieval Culture “Gediminas Castle” has been held here. Outside of festivals, you can visit the museum on site. In winter, an ice skating rink is installed in the castle courtyard.

Lida Castle in Belarus

Old castle in Grodno

Castle in Grodno

The city of palaces and princes - Grodno is proud that on its territory there are two majestic castles, the walls and towers of the Old one are made of hewn stones and bricks, and it is decorated with 5 defensive towers. Subsequently, the castle was rebuilt into a secular palace. After reconstruction in the 18th century, the building became simpler, and this is exactly how we saw it. Without towers, without decorative elements on the walls, with barracks. To me, it doesn't look like a castle at all.

Almost 100 years ago it was transferred to the Historical and Archaeological Museum, and it is still there.

http://museum-grodno.by/

New castle in Grodno

Castle in Grodno

There is one more castle preserved in Grodno, which is called New. It is located next to the Old, on a mountain that once represented the letter “P”.

It was rebuilt in the 19th century, but even today it amazes with its beauty, even despite its austere façade. Nowadays there is a library and a museum here, and many years ago it was here that the so-called “silent” Sejm was held, the abdication of Stanisław August Poniatowski.

Today, both castles form a single palace and park complex; a bridge across the river connects the buildings. By the way, since there is a branch of the wedding palace here, newlyweds can get married like kings. Eh, it’s enviable to get married a second time?!

http://museum-grodno.by/

In addition to restored castles, there are well-preserved ruins in Belarus, from which you can understand what the building was originally like. These places are interesting for photography lovers, as there are amazing open spaces around, many angles for photos against the backdrop of preserved elements of former luxury.

Castle in Ruzhany

Castles and palaces in Belarus

Perhaps I would call the castle in Ruzhany the most majestic, even though today it was only partially restored, although it would be more correct to say that it was not allowed to completely collapse. The guidebooks, as one, call the Ruzhany Castle the Belarusian Versailles. Hmm, if we imagine it in its former glory, then perhaps I’ll agree with this comparison. The stunningly beautiful ensemble with parks, gardens, and greenhouses belonged to the powerful Sapieha dynasty. Subsequently, wars mercilessly destroyed it, leaving only a few frames of the buildings intact.

For the past 5 years, the annual festival “Ruzhanskaya Brama” has been held here, but, unfortunately, we were not able to attend it. 6 years ago, the castle began to be restored (now it is ruins), and excavations began at the same time. My husband and I enjoyed admiring the restored central entrance gate and side wings.

Now about the mysterious: according to one of the legends, this castle and the castle in Kossovo are connected by a 25-kilometer tunnel; it’s interesting that no one has been able to confirm or deny this information yet! At our own peril and risk, we descended into an open part of the dungeon (loudly said, of course), but we also did not find any passages.

Ruins of the Sapieha palace in Belarusian Ruzhany

Puslovsky Palace in Kossovo

Castles and palaces in Belarus

Not far from Ruzhany there is the village of Kossovo, to which we headed to see that very “knight’s dream”. This is what the Puslovsky Palace was called for its luxurious appearance. It is interesting that each tower of the castle was a kind of symbol of a certain month, the highest towers being the central ones.

It is also interesting that none of the 100 rooms were accessible, and in the Main Hall there were fish swimming under the glass floor. Now the fact is known for sure that heated floors definitely took place - miracles and nothing more, for that time it was completely unheard of! The castle is currently undergoing restoration; you cannot go beyond the fence. But since the walls are preserved quite well, even in this condition the palace makes an impression.

Well, and finally, here are a couple of legends that surround the building. Local residents said that the owner was guarded by a real lion; at night he roamed the corridors. It is also curious that if you clap your hands on one of the windowsills, the vaults emit melodious sounds.

I can say for sure that, even after being severely destroyed and turned into ruins, the castle has not lost its splendor; it is a beauty over which time has no power!

Puslovsky Palace in Kossovo in Belarus

Church-fortress in Synkovichi

Castles and palaces in Belarus

Star-shaped vaults, pointed arches of openings, a crypt under the floor - the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, in the village of Synkovichi, was especially interesting to me. This is a unique fortress church, so I decided to mention it in the review of castles and palaces. By the way, the church is in excellent condition and is operational.

No less curious is another attraction of the fortress church - this is the icon of the Mother of God “Vsetsaritsa”. According to beliefs, it heals even serious illnesses. Loopholes, high towers located in the corners of the building, tall walls - to be honest, the building impressed me both inside and out.

The area around the building is very well-groomed - in contrast to the abandoned ruins of castles that we saw earlier, the flowering alleys were quite a delight to the eye. The inside of the building is currently being restored.

Church of St. Michael in the Belarusian village of Synkovichi

Defensive church in Murovanka

Another church, which is located in the Grodno region, in the village of Murovanka, deserves attention if you like castles and fortresses. It is called the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary and represents. I would say that this is the signature style of Belarus; I have never seen churches with loopholes and defensive towers anywhere before.

Unfortunately, we never got there, but I dream of seeing it with my own eyes.

We did not ignore the ruins of previously magnificent and famous castles. I don’t know about you, but I even like to look at ruins, because the history they hold is incredibly cool!

Krevsky Castle

Castles and palaces in Belarus

Next on my wish list was Krevsky Castle. Despite the fact that the Krevsky Castle as such no longer exists, only ruins remain, this place made an indelible impression on me. Maybe it's all about one of the legends associated with this place?! Or maybe the mystery lies in the fact that the building became the place where many historical events took place?! For example, in the 13th century, on the orders of Prince Jagiello, his uncle Keistut was strangled in a dungeon.

The legend shocked me even more: they say that at night you can see a girl walking her dog here. A long time ago, two princes fell in love with her, and one of them killed his rival. However, he never received reciprocity. Then the girl was ordered to be walled up in the wall along with the dog. After that, they began to notice a lady with a dog. Anyone who fell under her spell died.

Now this place, however, is losing its mystery, nature is swallowing up the ruins, and even the charitable foundation created in 2005 is not helping.

Golshansky Castle

Castles and palaces in Belarus

If you want to see the White Lady or the Black Monk, then go to Golshansky Castle. Despite the fact that only ruins are left of it, you may well see at least a ghost, but we were not lucky.

This “Stone Flower” was very similar in appearance to the Mir Castle; the wars destroyed the unique work of the leading architects of that time, but the legends surrounding these buildings are still relevant to this day. According to one of them, a young man once fell in love with Princess Ganna Golshanskaya, whose father found out about the meetings. He ordered the young man to be walled up. Since then, his soul has been wandering around the castle as the shadow of the Black Monk.

The legend of the White Lady is no less terrifying. The builders who were building the monastery near the castle decided to make a sacrifice for the successful completion of the work, walling it up in the wall. Interestingly, during excavations in 2000, the skeleton of a girl was discovered with traces of violent death. The workers who discovered the find soon died, and the soul of the White Lady still wanders around the monastery today.

Ruins of Golshansky Castle in Belarus: history, photos, legends

Castle in Novogrudok

Castles and palaces in Belarus

My husband and I were in Novogrudok for a short time; we looked around the roundabout town and the ruins of a stone castle, which is currently mothballed.

The ancient stone tower, which withstood numerous attacks, was subsequently reincarnated into the new “Shield Tower”; it truly became a kind of shield of the city.

And here there is a legend: many hundreds of years ago the Teutons tried to capture the castle, the prince decided to ally with them, but his wife changed into armor and led the army out. The Teutons were defeated, but the prince soon learned that the deceased courageous knight was his wife. Later, the lake near the castle was named Litovka in honor of the fearless woman.

Be sure to visit Detinets (Castle Hill) with the remains of a stone castle and the roundabout town (Small Castle). Here it is so beautiful!

Kamenets Castle

Unfortunately, we never visited the Kamenets Castle. On every trip there were always so many plans and route points that we couldn’t even cope with everything.

However, next time we will definitely visit the castle of the Koriatovich brothers and check out the walls with loopholes, stone towers, or rather what remains of them, and, of course, we will visit the museum.

By the way, in the 17th century the castle was used as a prison. In total, the building is surrounded by 12 towers, each of them is associated with a specific historical event. For example, one of them, the Papal Church, was built at the expense of Pope Julius II.

Lyubcha Castle

We also didn’t have time to look at the ruins of the Lyubcha Castle, which is on the banks of the Neman; curiously, it is surrounded by water on all sides; ditches were dug on three sides for this purpose.

In the 16th century, the castle was rebuilt, Radziwill erected additional towers. It was later burned. In recent years it has been restored (for 13 years now); previously, the Lyubcha school was located here.

And, of course, there is a legend: there is a luminous path of green lights that supposedly leads to the treasure. However, many assure that the whole mystery lies in the rotten mushrooms that appeared after uprooting the stumps.

I don’t want to compare Belarusian palaces and castles with other countries. Perhaps in Germany, the Czech Republic, Romania you can find larger and better castles, but that’s a completely different story. Belarus is easily accessible for our tourists; at any moment you can break away and go on vacation for a couple of days, and at the same time visit a castle or palace. I appreciate any cultural heritage, I really liked the castles in Belarus!