In the morning Irina led us through two exceptional castles, both UNESCO sites, on our way to our "farmstead" stay in the southwest part of Belarus. The first was Mir Castle in Mir, which was started in the 15th century in Gothic. It has had a checkered past, having connections with the Radziwill family, but
during WWII, it came under the dominion of the Nazi occupying force and served as a ghetto for the local Jewish population prior to their liquidation.* The second was in Nesvizh, a short distance away, which was started in the 16th century as a residential complex for the Radziwill family. In 1939, the family was expelled from the castle by the invading Red Army. In Soviet times, one part was used as a sanatorium, while the park gradually fell in neglect. In 1994, the castle complex was designated as a national historical and cultural reserve, and subsequently added to the World Heritage List.*
*(From Wikipedia)
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| Irina and Bryant at Mir Castle Grounds |
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| Mir Castle |
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| Church at Mir Castle |
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| Radziwill Residience at Nesvizh |
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| Nesvizh Castle Ceiling |
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| "Wave Machine" used in dramatic performances at Nesvizh |
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