I haven’t posted anything for the entire April. My laptop and I experienced an operating system failure and as a result I lost almost all data, including lots of photos and footage from my trips. I’m very upset about this fact, but it also made the idea of this blog more valuable for me.
Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is not very popular among tourists. And honestly, I don’t have much to say in its defense, it’s a nice city with a few landmarks but it can’t compete much with other capital cities.
But there are hidden gems not far from Minsk. Many travelers are passionate about visiting castles and if you have been to some legendary castles in Europe, you might also be interested to learn about Belarusian castles.
The most famous castles of Belarus are Mir and Nyasvizh (Nesvizh), they are located not far from each other (29 km) and can be visited in one day but if you are not in a rush, I strongly recommend dedicating a full day to each castle, both have nice towns and park nearby.
Mir Castle
The Mir Castle is a 16th century fortified castle which is now a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site. It was built in Brick Gothic style, a form of Gothic style that you can also see in Northeast and Central Europe especially in the Baltic Sea area.
Here are some well-known examples of this style:
The castle has a long history: from a duke’s residence in the 16th century to a Jewish ghetto during the World War II. It is now restored and open to the public, check the opening hours before you plan your visit.
Nyasvizh Castle
The Nyasvizh Castle is a 16th century residential castle included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Unlike Mir Castle, Nyasvizh is an example of baroque architecture.
The castle was rebuilt and restored many times: in the 17th, 18th, 19th and 21st centuries, which affected its architectural style.
Apart from the Castle, The Nyasvizh Complex includes a park that occupies 66 hectares and deserves your attention, especially if you happen to be there on a sunny day.
Plan your visit at https://niasvizh.by/en/
What else
I should mention that there are more than these 2 castles in Belarus, you can also visit Lida Castle, Kosava Castle, Krevo Castle and others.
As for me, I plan to return to Belarus to see the city of Grodno located in the western part of the country. It’s very close to the Poland and Lithuania (just 15 and 30 km). I heard a lot about its architecture and its peaceful cozy environment. If you have been there, please share your opinion and tips.
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