A Needle Pulling Thread, Issue #53 (2020) Architecture
-публікацыя ў часопісе-
The Mir Castle - "Мірскі замак"
A little
history...the Mir Castle
In
medieval times, Belarus (the former Grand Principality of Litva) was considered
a ‘country of palaces and castles’.
Unfortunately, there are very few 'old' things left after the numerous
wars and 200 years under Russian occupation.
Still, Mir Castle is undoubtedly known to
everyone who has heard about Belarus at least once. A source of Belarusan
pride, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mir Castle is a unique monument of
Belarusan architecture that impresses with its strength and solidity and graceful
elegance.
The Castle
was built as a fortress at the beginning of the 16th century.
Thick
brick walls with slits, many towers, a rampart, a moat, and a drawbridge, were
all part of the original structure. The successful blend of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture makes Mir
Castle one of the most impressive castles in Europe.
After
several sieges, the last one being Napoleon’s war in 1812, the Castle ruins
were abandoned for one hundred years, and only in 1983 did the real
reconstruction began.
In
1994, UNESCO placed the Castle of Mir in the top category of the world culture
monuments.
In
2000, UNESCO designated Mir Castle a World
Cultural and Natural Heritage site.
Today, Mir Castle is one of the most famous and popular attractions in Belarus. It brings travelers back to time, exposing them to the deep and distinctive Belarusan history back in the medieval times. The modern Mir Castle is a complex with a well-developed tourist infrastructure.
The Belarus people are proud to consider Mir Castle to be the main landmark or recognizable icon of Belarus.
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