Excursion «Mir and Nesvizh castles (in English)»

Program

Land of Castles: tour to Mir and Nesvizh

The lands of Belarus earlier were often called the Land of Castles, and this is not accidental, because there were more than 100 in their territory! We invite you to visit with us the two best preserved and most famous ones — the Mir Castle and the palace-palace in Nesvizh. These are two unique objects included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, which are among the most valuable monuments of Belarus.

Tour to the Mir Castle with English speaking guide

The exact date of commencement of construction of the castle in Mir has not yet been established for certain. Historians suggest that the owner of these places in the 16th century, Yuri Ilyinich, ordered the castle to be built around 1522. As a result, a majestic structure with powerful walls and towers grew. 

A stone-paved courtyard of the Mir Castle you can walk in the company of a guide who tells about the mysteries and secrets of the castle and its surroundings, you will see wine cellars, narrow staircases and wide halls. The museum exposition impresses even experienced travelers, as well as the luxury of the Rococo Ballroom. Every year music and knight festivals, artisan festivals, days of Belarusian and Medieval art are held near the castle walls. 

There is something to see in the village of Mir itself — its historical part and now retains the flavor of the former town, where the world, together, lived representatives of different nationalities. The market square is surrounded by temples: an Orthodox church, a church, a synagogue, a yeshiva, which only confirms the peaceful coexistence in the village of Belarusians, Poles, Jews, Tatars and Gypsies. The ensemble of historical buildings of the house of merchants and artisans complement it. And at the castle walls you can admire the graceful church-tomb, elegantly designed in the modern style: here the princes Svyatopolk-Mirsky, the last titled owners of the castle, found their rest. 

The sights of Nesvizh: Palace, Brama, Farny Church

Nesvizh is a city of mysteries and legends, a treasury of ancient architecture, the former capital of the ordination of the Radzivils princes. Acquaintance with him will begin with the Market Square, where the shopping arcades, the houses of artisans, the town hall and the city gates of the XVII century — Slutskaya Brama, are perfectly preserved. 

Then you can see a magnificent example of architecture of the XVI–XVIII centuries, which harmoniously combines Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism. The palace and park complex was built according to the drawings of the architect D.M. Bernardoni, the initiator of the construction was the famous representative of the Radziwill family, Nikolay Krzysztof Radziwill "Orphan". The palace-castle, surrounded by ponds and earthen ramparts, consists of a whole complex of buildings. Together they form a majestic front yard, outside of which are picturesque, with impeccable taste designed parks. 

Inside the Nesvizh Palace, you can wander endlessly through the main halls — Golden, Ballroom, Portrait, Chimney, and Hunting. The beauty and richness of the museum exhibition in each of them is truly impressive. During the excursion there is an opportunity to explore residential and business premises, learning along the way about the life of representatives of the Radziwill dynasty, one of the richest and most influential families of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. 

The tomb of the famous surname, Crypt, is located in the dungeon of the Farny church built by D. M. Bernardoni in 1593. The temple is among the most valuable in Belarus, in part due to the magnificently executed frescoes. 

The tour will allow you to touch the history of the country and the dynasty, which left a significant mark in the cultural heritage of Belarus and Europe.

Have a nice trip!