Hola amigos,
So I am starting to notice that my blogs are shifting more from cultural artifacts to significant landmarks across the globe. Last semester I think I focused more on things like food, clothes, and other tools from different backgrounds. I find that all of those things are important to culture, but I particularly enjoy researching historical sites. In doing so, I can share a little about the history of the site, why it is special, and pictures of the landscapes are just so breathtaking! So, keeping with the emerging theme, this week we are going to explore the Mir Castle Complex! I do not know how I have come this far without doing a castle yet! Without further ado~
Let’s first begin with where exactly this beautiful structure exists. The Mir Castle Complex can be found in Belarus. For those of you who do not know (myself included), Belarus is in Europe! It is actually right on the border of Russia, above Ukraine. Here,ย a map can describe it best.
The castle dates back to around the 15th century, when it was first constructed.ย To be exact, the construction started in the early 1520s by Duke Ilinich. This period was known at the Gothic period, so Mir Castle Complex reflects the artistic influence at that time. Part of the original structure includes towers, a rampart, a moat, and even a drawbridge! There are 5 towers total. The walls that connect them are 3 meters thick, too!
However, it underwent so expansion and reconstruction to attain a Renaissance, then Baroque style. In 1568 a man named Mikolay Radziwil finished the castle, adopting the Renaissance appearance. The castle ended up being abandoned for about a century. Sadly, it suffered heavy damages during the Napoleonic period, which was during the early 1800s. It underwent more reconstruction later during the end of the 19th century. The surrounding area was turned into a park, and additional elements were added to the castle itself.
Much like other sites I have talked about in previous posts, Mir Castle Complex is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site was deemed a world cultural monument in 1994. It was not until 2000 that it became included on the world’s legacy list by UNESCO due to the diverse artistic influence that gives the castle its beautifully blended and very impressive appearance. It is no wonder that there is desire to preserve such a naturally historical and political rich area.
It was only after intensive restoration that the castle was reopened to the public in 2010. It took about 3 more years for the full restoration to be completed. There are multiple parks that were redone as was as part of the castle that was added during the last owner in 1891, Nikolai Svyatopolk-Mirsky.
Overall the history of this site is incredibly rich. The political turbulance since its construction has allowed for an intriguing history. I suggest a visit, I have seen great reviews! We will end on a good note by admiring one last picture of the Mir Castle Complex–my favorite I found!
Sources:
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/625
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mir_Castle_Complex
http://kcm.co.kr/bethany_eng/c_code/belarus.html
Mir Castle Complex. History, Legends and Useful Information about the Top Attraction of Belarus
http://www.belarus.by/en/travel/belarus-life/mir-castle
http://pages.uoregon.edu/rkimble/Mirweb/MirCastleHistory.html
https://www.worldheritagesite.org/list/Mir+Castle
Mir Castle Complex. History, Legends and Useful Information about the Top Attraction of Belarus
While I know there are many beautiful historical sites in Europe, I had never heard of Mir Castle. Mostly, I hear about such castles in the UK or Italy or Spain but I like how you recognized a more obscure castle in Belarus. As I gather from the pictures, it is a gorgeous landmark. While your blog provided a great overview on the history of Mir Castle, I am actually encouraged to learn more about it. I am curious as to what the interior of the castle looks like as well. I may potentially take a trip to Europe in the near future, so I now know somewhere I could visit.
I really enjoyed reading about the Mir Castle Complex. I find it so interesting to look at the images of the castle and to be able to see all the history behind it with all of the little hints of architecture that relate to the many time periods in which it was built or reconstruction. It’s so fascinating that, not only in looking at this castle but so many other buildings and works of architecture, that we can visually and physically see the history making it seem that much more alive.
I always marvel at your ability to connect to the audience! I really feel like you are engaging me in a face-to-face conversation every time I read your work. Why did Mir Castle end up being abandoned for a century? Furthermore, was it a site of battle during the Napoleonic period? If not, what did it take damage from? Overall, interesting work!
Very interesting to read about these historical worldwide landmarks! I had never heard of this one before but I’d be very interested in looking into it more! Someday if I were to travel the world I’d definitely take a look at your blog for some ideas!