Mir Castle, photos of which are featured on many tourist brochures, is indeed an interesting place. It is definitely worth a visit while in Belarus. Dozens of castles were once built on the territory of this country, but not many have survived to this day. Those that remain are of interest to historians, archaeologists, and, of course, tourists. This castle was listed as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage of UNESCO, and, despite numerous restorations and alterations, it has managed to maintain its special atmosphere.
Undoubtedly, such a place attracts not only tourists. Historical knights' festivals are held annually on the territory of the castle. In the summertime, a stage is set up near the castle, where youth concerts are held in the evenings. There is something to see in the castle itself. A wonderful historical museum open to visitors, as well as the most interesting theatrical, costumed excursions will impress anyone.
The history of the creation of the Mir Castle
Entering the territory of this castle, tourists instantly feel a special mysterious atmosphere. It seems that this place, the history of which is counted for millennia, silently keeps dozens of secret secrets and legends behind its thick walls. This is not surprising, because the castle, the construction of which began in the 16th century, cannot have any other energy.
The beginning of the construction of the Mir Castle was laid by Yuri Ilyinich. Many are inclined to believe that the initial purpose of construction was the need to build a powerful defensive structure. Other historians say that Ilyinich really wanted to receive the count's title from the Roman Empire, and for this it was necessary to have his own stone castle. In any case, this structure was impressive from the very beginning with its scope.
The builders erected five huge towers, which in case of danger could function as independent defense units. They were connected to each other by powerful walls with three-layer masonry, the thickness of which reached 3 meters! The construction was so large-scale that the Ilyinich dynasty ended its family before it could build the castle.
The new owners were representatives of the richest family in the Lithuanian principality - the Radziwills. Nikolai Christopher made a special contribution. By his order, the castle was surrounded by new defensive bastions, dug in with a deep ditch filled with water. But over time, the castle lost its defensive function and turned into a suburban residence.
Three-storey residential buildings were erected on its territory, the walls were covered with plaster, the roof was tiled and weather vane was installed. For several years the castle plunged into a quiet life, but during the Napoleonic battles it was seriously damaged and for over 100 years was in complete desolation. Its serious restoration at the end of the 19th century was taken up by Prince Svyatopolk-Mirsky.
We recommend seeing the Vyborg Castle.
In 1939, after the arrival of the Red Army in the village, an artel was located in the castle. During World War II, a Jewish ghetto was placed on this territory. After the war, until the mid-60s, ordinary people lived in the castle, whose houses were destroyed. Serious restoration work began only after 1983.
Museum throughout the castle
Despite the huge number of alterations and frequent renovations, today Mir Castle is considered one of the most impressive and beautiful castles in Europe. Many museum exhibitions are located on its territory, and in 2010 the castle received the status of an independent separate museum. Now the cost of an entrance ticket to the castle territory is 12 Belarusian rubles for an adult. The complex will work according to the established schedule: from 10:00 to 18:00 (Mon-Thu) and from 10:00 to 19:00 (Fri-Sun).
Legend of an ancient castle
Many tourists are attracted not only by the historical significance of this castle and its majestic beauty. Mir Castle is shrouded in its own mysterious legends. According to one of them, at night, “Sonechka” appears in the castle - the ghost of Sophia Svyatopolk-Mirskaya. At the age of 12, she drowned in a lake near the castle. The girl's body was buried in the family tomb, but thieves and looters, who often made their way to the castle in search of the Radziwills' treasures, often disturbed her peace. And now the staff of the castle tells that they often see Sonechka walking at night on her property. Of course, such stories not only do not frighten tourists, but, on the contrary, attract them.
Amazing opportunity to spend the night in a real castle
In this amazing place you can not only spend the night, but also live for several days. As in many modern tourist centers, there is a hotel on the territory of the Mir Castle with round-the-clock work. The cost of living will vary depending on the class of the room. For example, the cost of double deluxe rooms in 2017 is from 680 rubles. up to 1300 rubles per night. Since there are always a lot of people who want to stay at this hotel, it is better to be vigilant by booking a room before starting your trip.
Excursions
Inside the castle, on an ongoing basis, excursions for every taste are held. Entrance tickets can be bought right in the castle, the prices (in Belarusian rubles) are quite low. We will briefly consider some of the most interesting excursions below:
- For only 24 Belarusian rubles, the guide will take you around the entire Northern building. The history of the past of this castle, the stages of its construction will be told in detail, as well as the opportunity to learn interesting facts from the lives of all its many former owners will be given.
- You can also learn more about the people who once lived in the Mir Castle on a chic theatrical excursion. Their talented actors will tell the guests about what kind of work the servants used to do in the castle and how everyday life was held in these wide walls many centuries ago. A fascinating life story of some representatives of the Radziwill dynasty will also be told. You can watch all this theatrical action for only 90 Belarusian rubles.
- One of the most informative historical excursions can be called "Ghetto in the Mir Castle". Its visit for one person will cost 12 bel. rub. The guide will tell you about the life of Mir Castle during World War II, when the ghetto was located there. In memory of the perished inhabitants of the village, a book of ghetto victims is kept in the castle, which does not let you forget about the horrors of the Holocaust.
Where is the castle and how to get from Minsk to it yourself
One of the easiest ways to get there from Minsk is to order a ready-made excursion. The company organizing the trip itself develops the route and provides transport. If, for some reason, this option is not suitable, the question of how to get to the Mir Castle on your own will not become a special problem for tourists.
From the Minsk "Central" railway station, you can take any bus that goes in the direction of Novogrudok, Dyatlovo or Korelichi. They all stay in the urban village of Mir. The distance from the Belarusian capital to the village is about 90 km, a bus journey will take 2 hours.
If you plan to travel by car, there will be no special problems with building an independent route. It will be necessary to move in the direction of Brest along the M1 motorway. After the town of Stolbtsy on the highway there will be a sign “g. P. World". After it you will need to leave the highway, the road to the village will take about 15 minutes. In the world itself, the castle is located at st. Krasnoarmeiskaya, 2.
