Mir Castle History

If you pick up a compass and a map of the world circle the circle of Europe, then its center is on the territory of the Republic of Belarus - somewhere between Minsk and Grodno. More precisely, the center of the circle falls on the town by the name Mir. It is said that the notorious geographical point is just under the walls of the local castle.


The outlines of an ancient castle can be seen from afar: the majestic towers, tall walls, three-story palace - all are fraught with echoes of the past. According to legend, Mir Castle, built by the mysterious knights existed since time immemorial. Revision of historians is more prosaic: they reportedly Castle, later known as "the brightest flower of medieval", built by order of the mayor of Brest - the court marshal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Yuri Ilyinich - unknown local artist.


The question arises: In what year was this momentous event? Trying to find the most plausible answer, experts have not agreed. Some still argue that the construction of the Mir Castle began in 1506, others - in the 1495-1500 years., And others - in the 1522-1526 years.


However, the study of the Lithuanian Metrica evidence in favor of the latest version of researchers focusing on the first mention of the Mir Castle (1527th year) associated with a letter on the division of ownership between the sons of George Ilyinich. Especially because there is an impressive confirmation of the written loan taken Ilyinich father just after 1522. And this despite the fact that by the time Yuri Ilyinich Pan was rich enough and had the presence of more than 40 estates, that is, a total of about 2,000 yards (can you imagine how impressive was the amount of taxes collected!).


In addition, some features of the architecture of the Mir Castle indicate that he was not previously incorporated in 1510. The two towers, the south-western and south-east, close to the inner spiral staircases are characteristic arches - this type appeared in Central Europe until the end of the XV century, and in the Baltic countries (for example, Bernardine church in Vilnius) at the beginning of the XVI century . The same can be said about the use of a number of decorative elements on the facades.


Clarify the time of construction helps, and one more thing. In the 1524th year, not far from Vaukavysk was founded the Church of St. Michael, plastic architectural details which hardly differs from the Mir Castle. The reason for such a striking resemblance, in the end we found out: it turns out, the founder of the church was married to the niece of George Ilyinich, so that in 1522 the year of family property cases linked set.


To this day the debate continues, and the appointment of Mir Castle. Full of all sorts of decorative details and elements of the Gothic, built in the quiet time and almost on the plain, he could hardly be used in a purely defensive purposes. Of course, this does not mean that the creators of the Mir Castle exclude the idea of ​​protecting their possessions, because the fact of construction at all tiers and at the foot of the palace battlements of various sizes, involving the use of firearms, is hardly accidental. Especially when you consider that the western and southern walls of the gallery battle ended with loopholes for firing bows and crossbows, and inclined slits-slits allow the resin to pour on the heads of the attacking opponents, throwing stones at them or just shoot.


Intriguingly, however, that the western towers are too close to each other that would have to create a lot of inconvenience in monitoring the situation around, and even more so during the shelling. In addition to the merits in defense of the proposed multi-storey towers and high walls, over the years became more and more questionable due to the rapid development of firearms. In other words, "the brightest flower of medieval" was more of a "castle in the game" rather than locking in the usual sense of the word.


Decoration of towers and walls is modest - his architectural drawing is made of the same type, though different in magnitude elements, niches, arches and other ornaments of medieval language often incomprehensible, so the purpose of various components often can only guess. For example, it is unclear what caused the appearance of the south wall of the castle rock a sheep. The desire to acquire a magical talisman, or perhaps read "Holy Lamb"? So the assumption that the Jury decided to build Ilyinich Mir Castle in order to use it to get high rank, or simply to perpetuate itself in the light of the above do not seem quite so improbable.


Ilyinich ... Sr. died in the 1522nd year and not being able to realize its ambitious pants - at least in full, since the castle was left unfinished. He pinned hopes on the sons, who had begun to continue his business? Apparently, yes, but fate had a different way.


First, he died one of the four sons of George Nicholas Ilyinich that, as expected, led to a feud between the remaining candidates for the succession. "The truce" between the brothers was achieved only through the intervention of the Grand Duke and the King Zigimont. However, in 1531 the year of the Mir Castle once again left without master - young and childless, Stanislav Ilyinich wife was poisoned by his own servants during one of his tricks. The other two brothers were also destined to a short life ...


As the only grandson of the founder of the Mir Castle - George, he was left an orphan at age eight and, accordingly, the owner of all property Ilinich, was taken into custody by Nicholas Radziwill, "Black" and most of his life with his Nesvizh yard.


After the death of Nicholas in the 1565th year, the young Yuri Ilyinich, who had no wife, no children, became the guardian of the descendants of Radziwill's "Black", and soon, sensing something was wrong, has issued a testament to the eldest son of Nicholas Krystof ("Orphan") and in 1569 - the year he died. Thus Secular County, including the castle, passed into the possession of Radziwill.


When Radziwill "Orphan" Mir Castle has undergone some changes. Now the defense function has been assigned to the new and reworked the old fighting gallery, earthen ramparts with bastions at the corners, and moats.


The very same castle being completed in accordance with the then fashion along the northern and eastern walls - a three-story palace, along the south and west - single-storey utility rooms, on the second floor of the tower over the gate there was a chapel of St. Christopher - the third watch. In the same palace on the first floor of the stored food supplies, weapons, etc., and the second was occupied by the county administration of Mir, and the third was intended for the prince.


Decorative image of the castle changed, too: a stone gave way to brick, and the leading role was given to the thread. From the Italian Renaissance also borrowed the rhythm of alternating windows and doors, staircases and rooms at the same height floor. Have not been forgotten, and gothic elements, and another thing, that the simple form, a huge palace windows were in the inside of the shaft in the defense, while balconies of luxury decor, lamps, art galleries - in the courtyard. In fact, Mir Castle has become the suburban villa, which captured the image of Nicholas "Orphan" even during his trip to Italy.


It is clear that not everyone in the history of the Mir Castle was not as rosy. It suffices to mention the long-term Swedish siege in 1655 the first year, the Great Northern War, in which the Swedes in the 1705th again, took the castle by storm, and burned everything so carefully restored several decades earlier, and the storming of the castle armies of Alexander Suvorov. However, the most significant challenge to the Mir Castle was the War of 1812, when, in July and November, between the Russian and French troops of fierce fighting. And it was blown up by the north-east tower, where the gunpowder warehouse burned down the palace, and destroyed fortifications.


After World War II in 1812 is no more or less significant events in the Mir Castle and the surrounding area did not occur. But what's interesting: the more he is destroyed, overgrown with grass and trees, the more attracted admirers of antiquity. Legends of old Mir Castle and its inhabitants the dozens, particularly famous in this sense, one of the Radziwill - Pan Kohanek (from the Polish word kochanek - lover, beloved). What did he supposedly did not commit; and refuge from pirates in a nutshell, and riding in the summer of salt on the Bose, drawn by bears, and was famous for its many romantic adventures, and once even got a lover from among the ... Sirens!


Radziwill castle owned right up to the end of the XVIII century, and later it belonged to the Counts and Princes of Hohenlohe, Berlenburgam, Wittgenstein, and in 1891 the year it became the property of princes Svyatopolk-Mirski (common name and the name of the estate - no more than a coincidence), which was beginning of the formation of a new palace and park ensemble. His compositional center was a two-storey palace, built around a single axis with a lock on the opposite side of the estate - about a former farm, on-site gardens. The front part of the ensemble was allowed in the classical forms. To this day remained a side wing and a large raised circle with lime trees, which are two maple alley entrance.


The landscaping of the park located between the castle and the palace and was built on the principle of alternation of wood and open glades groups. The main structural elements of the landscape and the art was a large pond with an island, arranged in the 1896-1898 years. in place of five ponds in the floodplain of the stream and cut down the garden. It was he who identified the main walking route that led from the main entrance to the castle along the pond, then to the west dam and pine alley deduced through the bridge back to the palace. In 1904, the year of the composition of the park was included a chapel and burial vault of princes Svyatopolk-Mirski - the original building with a bell in the tower with a colorful mosaic panels on the main facade, designed by St. Petersburg academician R. Marfeld architecture. Next to the cartouche panels fastened to the arms of the four oldest cities in Russia (Kiev, Novgorod, Pskov, Moscow), designed to emphasize the antiquity of the princely family Sviatopolk-Mirski.


After a fire in the 1914th year, the palace was not restored, and the last of the princes Svyatopolk-Mirski lived in an old castle until 1939. During World War II at the castle throughout the year there was a ghetto, and later they began to meet people whom the war has deprived the roof over your head. Many refugees have lived here and after the war - the last resident left the Mir Castle in the early 60s.

For further use of the castle spoke a variety of proposals, from the opening of this House creativity of architects, artists, and composers to the center for servicing of foreign tourists. In the end, June 25, 1983, in the south wall of Mir was solemnly laid a brick with a start date of restoration, and ten years later the grand opening of the first exposure to the south-west tower. Restoration work continues to this day.