The Mir Castle

The Mir Castle is a wonderful sample of the 16th century fortification and it was a residency of most powerful noble families. At the beginning of the 16th century duke Yuri Ilyinich initiated building of the castle not far from the Mir village. In 1569 the Mir Castle became the property of Mikalai Krishtof Radzivil "The Orphan". After the construction of the Nesvizh Castle Radzivil’s residency was moved to Nesvizh, and the Mir Castle they start to use as a country house. Throughout 17th century during the war with Swedish and Russian the castle was seriously damaged.

At the beginning of 18th century a new owner of the castle Michal Kazimier Radzivil "Rybenko" reconstructs the building and returns its former glory. He organized different splendid balls and accepted guests for hunting parties. In 1790 the castle had a new owner Dominik Hieronim Radzivil who has died of battle injuries during the Napoleonic Wars in 1813 and the castle passed to his daughter Stefania, who married Ludwig Wittgenstein. From that moment Wittgenstein family possessed the castle until the government order of 1887 which forbid foreigners to own a real estate. At the time of wars with Napoleon in the 19th century the castle was heavily damaged and turned out to be abandoned for many years. So the Mir estate with the castle was sold to Nikolai Svyatopolk-Mirsky in 1895.

The architectural complex was renovated by a new holder, later his son Mikhail proceeded his undertaking, and so in 1920s the Mir castle was partially restored. During the Second World War the Mir castle was captured by German armies and turned into a ghetto for Jewish people foregoing their liquidation. After the liberation of Belarus the inhabitants of Mir village, whose houses were ruined during the war, settled in the castle. In 1980s government start to reconstruct the castle. In 2000 UNESCO declared Mir castle a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site. After long restoration works the castle is opened for visitors.