Mir Castle

Mir, Belarus

The Mir (Mirsky) Castle Complex was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000. Duke Yuri Ilyinich began construction of the castle near the village of Mir after the turn of the 16th century in the Gothic architectural style. Five towers surrounded the courtyard of the citadel, the walls of which formed a square of 75 meters on each side. In 1568, when the Ilyinich dynasty died out, the Mir Castle passed into the hands of Mikołaj Krzysztof 'the Orphan' Radziwiłł, who refitted it with a two-winged, three-story stately residence along the eastern and northern inner walls of the castle. Plastered facades were decorated with limestone portals, plates, balconies and porches in the Renaissance style.

In 1817, after the castle had been abandoned for nearly a century and had suffered severe damage in the Napoleonic wars, owner Dominik Hieronim Radziwiłł died of battle injuries and the castle passed to his daughter Stefania, who married Ludwig zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. Later the castle became a possession of their daughter Maria, who married Prince Chlodwig Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst.

Their son, Maurice Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst, sold the castle to Nikolai Sviatopolk-Mirski, of the Bialynia clan, in 1895. Nikolaj's son Michail began to rebuild the castle according to the plans of architect Teodor Bursze. The Sviatopolk-Mirski family owned the castle until 1939, when the Soviet Union occupied eastern Poland.

When German forces invaded the Soviet Union in 1941 they occupied the castle and converted it to a ghetto for the local Jewish population, prior to their liquidation. Between 1944 and 1956, the castle was used as a housing facility, resulting in damage to the castle's interior.

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Founded: c. 1520
Category: Castles and fortifications in Belarus

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4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Oksana Milentey (16 months ago)
Mir Castle in Grodno region is one of the most important tourist attractions in Belarus, an outstanding 16th-century fortification and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Elizaveta Cherepanova (3 years ago)
If you wish to see a castle like in fairytales, you definitely should visit Mir Castle. It was recently renovated and looks amazing. There are a museum, a restaurant and a hotel inside. So one can get the whole experience ? I visited the museum. Recommend to go there as well
Alex T (3 years ago)
We were there at the workday, there were not a lot of people, so we spent there several hours, observed all the halls, visited a restaurant at the bottom floor of the castle, tasted delicious food, enjoyed beautiful views around the castle. It was calm and relaxing day. Highly recommend
Aliaksei Mychko (3 years ago)
Great experience. One of the lasts historical places in the country. Take audio guide and visit museum. This place has things to watch.
Siarhei Krukouski (3 years ago)
More than 500 years old huge and powerfull Noble castle with a collection of artifacts inside from the UNESCO heritage list with 3 ancient churches will impress you with amazing spirit of brave middle ages - the time of honest knights and incredible ladies.
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