Niasvizh castle Architecture History

Niasvizh castle was first mentioned in chronicles in the XIII century. Its owner, Yuri Nesvizh participated in the battle with the Tatars on the river. Kalka in 1224

From XIII to XV centuries. Nesvizh dukes ruled the city in terms of military service.
And in 1492, Shults was handed princes intestine. Soon, however, went on to Radzivills, which was destined to own the castle for centuries. The fact that in 1513 Princess Anne of the genus Kishek married John Radziwill, to which has passed the castle.

Architecture

Of course, at the beginning of the XVI century Niasvizh castle was a little like an architectural monument, which we know today. The emergence of modern Fortress is our duty to Nicholas Radziwill Orphan, who in 1583 launched an ambitious restructuring of the castle. What prompted him to do? Accurate information. Perhaps the reason was on fire. But it is possible that Prince Radziwill decided to make his castle, and a European representative. In favor of this suggests that the winter 1580-1581 gg. He was in Italy, where he could see and appreciate the achievements of European architecture.
Nicholas Radziwill commissioned the Italian architect Giovanni construction Bernardoni, and he went to Palestine.
And here at the site of a wooden building erected a new castle. It originated in the peninsula, on the right bank of the river ears. The dam on the river has formed two ponds - Panensky and Pioneer. Niasvizh castle was actually the island, with two water boundaries. Enter the territory of the fortress could only be a long wooden bridge, which is easily understood, if necessary.
The castle was surrounded by an earthen rampart with bastions at the corners and had the shape of a rectangle 170 \ 120 m shaft was also firebricks and stone passed into the same breastworks.
Over the parapet were foxholes, trenches. A large castle courtyard surrounded by three buildings. The main building of princely chambers stood opposite the entrance gate. Center of the facade was decorated with Corner. There were also traditional for Belarus octagonal tower, which by that time lost their defensive value.
Barracks and some household services were placed in a three-storey building with a high clock tower, which stood on the right of the entrance to the castle courtyard.
And the left of the entrance was a two-storey building household.
Val Niasvizh castle defended by firing the entire first floor. Inside the shaft had four secret exit, as well as several ancillary services.
From the outside the ditch water was a wide road, which is defended by a low earthen embankment. From the west and north of the mound was moat, and on the other side - the deep ponds.
From the west approach to the gate strong in a triangular trench, which runs two ways. In order to protect the access to the castle on the north side was built a large bastion on the left bank of the ears.
All this allows scientists to assert that the Niasvizh castle began the tradition of the new bastion fortifications in Belarus - novoitalyanskoy system.
Then the Niasvizh castle was one of the most advanced. There always was a large garrison, there was no shortage of artillery, and military ammunition. In addition, in 1576 here was the first in Belarus cannon foundry workshop - lyudvisarnya.

History

Like many architectural pamyaniki, the castle was destroyed many times. He survived the siege of the troops in 1654 and 1659. during the Russian-Polish war. However, in 1706 the troops of Charles XII took the castle after a long siege, plundered the palace and blew up the bastions.
Niasvizh castle rebuilt in the 20th years of XVIII century. During the restoration, he has substantially changed the appearance. Firebricks bastions of earth gave way.
Residential and business is not just perestarivali and supplemented with new details. The main palace building rebuilt in the middle of the XVIII century., Adding a three-story volumes. This is how the open courtyard. The decor of facades become more complex, the walls became members of the pilasters. Has been used successfully Ochent Corner, which has been raised to four and a half storeys and gable ended. Extensive use of relief decoration and sculptural insert in the late Baroque style. Particularly richly decorated pediment a shield, the field slopes on both sides and risolits mezhpilyastrovye intervals. Also in the XVIII century. Wings put together a two-story gallery of the palace.
Niasvizh castle, the family nest Radziwill, was once a cultural center. The castle housed a great library of up to 20 thousand volumes, a collection of paintings of famous and unknown artists, the collection of Arabic, Japanese, Chinese and European weapons, Slutsk belts, luxurious furniture and much more.
Unfortunately, the long history of the castle almost all of these items were lost or destroyed.
In 2002 the castle suffered a great fire, and then began a massive reconstruction that prododzhaetsya to this day. And in 2005 Niasvizh castle was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.