 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Nesvizh Castle" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(March 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in Belarusian. (May 2021)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 View from the lake | |
| Location | Nyasvizh,Minsk Region,Belarus |
| Part of | Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii)(iv)(vi) |
| Reference | 1196 |
| Inscription | 2005 (29thSession) |
| Website | niasvizh |
| Coordinates | 53°13′22″N26°41′29″E / 53.22278°N 26.69139°E /53.22278; 26.69139 |
  Location of Nesvizh Castle in Belarus | |
Nesvizh Castle orNyasvizh Castle (Belarusian:Нясвіжскі замак,romanized: Niasvižski zamak;Russian:Несвижский замок,romanized: Nesvizhskiy zamok;Lithuanian:Nesvyžiaus pilis;Polish:zamek w Nieświeżu) is a residential castle of theRadziwiłł family inNyasvizh (Nesvizh),Belarus. It is 183 metres (600 ft) above sea level.[1] Built in the 16th and 17th centuries, and maintained by the Radziwiłł family until 1939, the castle and the nearbyCorpus Christi Church were instrumental in the development of Central European and Russian architecture.[2] In 2005, the castle, church, and surrounding environment were inscribed on theUNESCOWorld Heritage List.
| This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(August 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The estate was owned by theRadziwiłłmagnate family from 1533, when it was awarded toMikołaj Radziwiłł and his brotherJan Radziwiłł after the extinction of theKiszka family. Since the Radziwiłłs were one of the most important and wealthy clans of theGrand Duchy of Lithuania and theCrown of the Kingdom of Poland, it was there that theLithuanian Metrica was moved in 1551. In 1586 the estate was turned into anordynacja.
After theUnion of Lublin the castle became one of the most important residences in the central part of thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
In 1582,Mikołaj Krzysztof "Sierotka" Radziwiłł, the Marshal of Lithuania,Voivode ofTrakai–Vilnius andcastellan ofŠiauliai, started the construction of an imposing square three-storey "château". Although the works were based on a pre-existing structure of a medieval castle, the former fortifications were entirely turned into a renaissance-baroque house. Construction was completed by 1604, and they added several galleries half a century later. The château's corners were fortified with four octagonal towers.
In 1706, during theGreat Northern War,Charles XII's army sacked the castle and destroyed its fortifications. Several decades later, the Radziwiłłs invited some German and Italian architects to substantially renovate and enlarge the castle.Antoni Zaleski decorated its yellow facades with baroquestucco work. The 16th-century castle gates were also reconstructed, and the two-storey gatehouse tower was crowned with a helm. It was at this time that the three separate buildings surrounding the central courtyard were joined into a single structure.
During thePolish–Russian War of 1792, the castle was seized by Russian forces and the Radziwiłł family was expelled. Soon afterwards the Lithuanian Metrica was transferred toSaint Petersburg (where it still remains today), while the majority of works of art gathered in the palace were distributed among various Russian and Polish nobles in support ofCatherine the Great. Due to theSecond Partition of Poland in 1793, the castle became part of Russia.
Abandoned both by the original owners and by the Russian army, the palace gradually fell into disrepair. However, it was restored by the Radziwiłłs and between 1881 and 1886 the castle's interiors were renovated by PrinceAntoni Wilhelm Radziwiłł and his French wife,Marie de Castellane. They also designed alandscape park in English style. With an area of more than one square kilometre, the park is one of the biggest such facilities in Europe.
.jpg)
After thePolish–Soviet War the castle complex and the surrounding area became part of the newly establishedSecond Polish Republic in 1920. During that time, the castle was considered one of the most beautiful in theKresy region.During theinvasion of Poland in 1939, the Radziwiłł family was expelled from the castle by theRed Army. InSoviet times, the castle was used as asanatorium, while the park gradually fell into neglect.
The castle complex is considered to be the most beautiful in Belarus.[3] In 2005 it was listed byUNESCO as aWorld Heritage Site.[4]
The castle complex was extensively restored from 2004–2012.
| ||
 Black Ruthenia |
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Volhynia |
| ||||
 Red Ruthenia |
| ||||
 Podolia |
| ||||
| Wild Fields |
| ||||
53°13′22.36″N26°41′30.25″E / 53.2228778°N 26.6917361°E /53.2228778; 26.6917361
 | ||
Also See:Castles in Belarus | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
