The city of Nesvizh, Belarus – attractions, photos. The city of Nesvizh and the most beautiful castle in Belarus Where is Nesvizh located

Whatever they say, the most acceptable option for a Russian tourist who wants to go to Belarus is Belarus. Nesvizh, the sights of which will be described in this article, has absorbed the best of the history and culture of this friendly country. The town is located in the Minsk region. Therefore, getting there from and returning in one day is not difficult. The decoration of Nesvizh is the palace and park complex. Nesvizh Castle is included in the World Heritage List and is under the patronage of UNESCO. But in a town with a population of only fifteen thousand people there are other attractions.

How to get to Nesvizh

The town is separated from Minsk by more than one hundred and twenty-five kilometers. To see the sights of Nesvizh, you first need to get to the capital's Vostochny bus station. A ticket to the city will cost approximately sixty thousand Belarusian rubles. The first bus to Nesvizh leaves Minsk at seven in the morning, the last one at eight in the evening. Travel time is about two hours. You can make the journey cheaper if you take the train (16 thousand rubles). But it will only take you to neighboring Gorodeya, from which Nesvizh is eighteen kilometers away. So you will have to change to a commuter bus.

History of Nesvizh

To fully understand the attractions of Nesvizh, you should understand the vicissitudes of its origin. Previously, scientists associated the name of the city with Prince Yuri Nesvitsky, who died in the battle of Kalka (1223). However, this version has been refuted by historians. And archaeological research does not find traces of buildings older than the fifteenth century. The first mention in chronicles also dates back to 1446, when the Grand Duke of Lithuania Kazimir Jagiellonczyk donated the city to Jan Mikolay Nemirovich. This family ruled Nesvizh for a short time. Already in 1492 Nesvizh found itself in the hands of the richest Lithuanian magnate Peter Kiszke.

A representative of this family, Anna, married Jan Radziwill the Bearded in 1513. Nesvizh “by tow” went to these noble aristocrats. The son of Jan and Anna, Mikolay Chorny, achieved for himself the title of “Prince of the Roman Empire”. Thus, the possessions of the Radziwill family received the legal status of ordinations. That is, they were inherited by the eldest son. From this moment the golden age of Nesvizh begins. Radziwill's ordination lasted until 1939, when Soviet troops captured this part of what was then Poland.

Nesvizh (Belarus) attractions

The finest hour for the city struck with the accession to the rights of the son of Mikolay the Black - Christopher Radziwill, nicknamed the Orphan. In his youth, this nobleman traveled around European countries. Arriving home, he enthusiastically set about arranging his family home. Those sights of Nesvizh that we admire today were laid or erected by Christopher Sirotka. He demolished it to the ground and in 1583 began to build a new one a little further away. The reforms also affected the city. Chaotic buildings are replaced by orderly neighborhoods. But this is not what the townspeople of Nesvizh remember about their ruler. Orphan abolished many taxes. In modern language, he proclaimed why people and traders poured into Nesvizh into the settlement of artisans. In just a few decades, the city blossomed and turned into a bustling industrial and commercial center. In 1586, Nesvizh was granted. The city was surrounded by powerful walls surrounded by a moat. There were many churches and monasteries inside.

What to see in the city of Nesvizh (attractions)

Photos of this city and especially its castle adorn guidebooks to Belarus. Unfortunately, all that remains of the once powerful fortress walls is the Slutsk Gate. She meets travelers coming from the eastern side. To understand the grandeur of medieval Nesvizh, head to the central market square. In the middle of it stands the symbol of the city's self-government - the town hall, built at the beginning of the seventeenth century in the Baroque style. Christopher Sirotka was a famous philanthropist. He invited scientists and people of liberal professions to his city. As a result, the first printing house in Belarus and an Arian school operated in Nesvizh, where they studied natural sciences, theology and languages.

Monasteries and cathedral church

In the large and rich Nesvizh there were previously many sacred buildings. The city's population was multinational. There was a synagogue and an Orthodox church here. The main one was the Cathedral of the Body of God. It is unique in that it is the second church in the world entirely in the Baroque style (after the Roman temple of Il Gesu). In the script of the cathedral there is a family tomb of the Radziwills - those powerful magnates who once owned the city of Nesvizh. The attractions of the town are its monasteries. There were several of them. The Order of Bernardines, Benedictines, Dominicans, and Jesuits built their monasteries in the city.

History of the castle

What is interesting about Nesvizh? The sights described in the article are only a wonderful prelude to the wonderful symphony that you will see in the palace and park ensemble. But the castle was not built in one day. Nothing has survived from the old wooden fortress. The first stone buildings were erected by Dutch fortification masters under Mikolay the Black Radziwill. In May 1583, Christopher Sirotka founded the castle to the south of the wooden fortress. Ditches were dug around it. Later they were filled with the waters of the Usha River. The creation of the fortress was first attributed to the Italian architect Giovanni Bernardoni, but this version is doubtful for the reason that the architect specialized in the construction of sacral structures, not fortifications. And the Nesvizh castle was so fortified that it withstood two Russian sieges (in 1654 and 1660). And even when the Swedes took the city, the regiments of Charles the Twelfth, after a long siege, were forced to retreat from the walls of the citadel. And only at the end of the Northern War, the castle, surrounded by thousands of armies, accepted honorable terms of surrender.

Transformation into a palace and park complex

The Swedes thoroughly destroyed the citadel. When the passions of war died down, the Radziwills began to reconstruct their family nest in the 1720s. But now they did not invite military engineers. The fashion was no longer the same, and the artillery had reached such a level of defeat that powerful walls could not save from its attacks. Therefore, narrow loopholes and redoubts were replaced by the graceful forms of a real palace. A garden with ponds was laid out around it. Nesvizh is famous for the beauty of the palace and park complex. The sights of the Radziwill family nest were recreated with maximum accuracy and reflect the life of the magnates of the eighteenth century. By the way, you can read about the filling of the suite of luxurious halls in the novel “Princess Tarakanova” by G. Danilevsky. Tourists can visit not only the state rooms and the library, but also the castle chapel.

Palace in the 19th-20th centuries

As further developments of events showed, the Radziwills were in a hurry. The defenseless castle was taken by the Russians during the partition of Poland. Then it was plundered by them during the retreat of Napoleon’s army. Russian troops took away the wealth of the eleventh Ordinate, Dominic Jerome, in ten britzkas. But in the sixties of the 19th century, the castle returned to the possession of the Radziwills. New generations of this family began to improve the area around the palace. Thanks to them, such attractions of Nesvizh as the Castle, Old, New, English parks and the Japanese Garden appeared. By 1939, the area of ​​the complex was approximately ninety hectares. As World War II raged in Poland, Soviet troops advanced west and occupied the castle without firing a shot, arresting the Radziwill family. Italian diplomats saved them from execution. Representatives of the family were allowed to emigrate to Italy. And their castle housed a hospital and sanatorium. Only after the collapse of the USSR did restoration work begin in the palace and park complex. The museum was opened in the summer of 2012.

Nesvizh from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Nesvizh.

  • Last minute tours to Belarus
  • Tours for the New Year Worldwide

Search for air tickets to Minsk (the nearest airport to Nesvizh)

Where to stay

Despite the modest size of the city, there are enough hotels in Nesvizh where you can stay during your trip. It all depends on how much you are willing to pay for the apartment. If you only need an overnight stay without any frills, you can easily rent a double room from 4 BYN. Apartments of a higher class, which means greater comfort and convenience, will cost from 58 BYN. Prices on the page are as of August 2018.

Weather in Nesvizh

Cafes and restaurants

There are many establishments in Nesvizh where you can either just have a snack or have a substantial meal, and this often happens in a beautiful medieval setting.

The dishes in the local cafes and restaurants offer a wide variety (be sure to try the local zrazy and pancakes), it all depends on how much you are willing to pay for the meal.

For example, in the restaurants “Nesvizh” (on Belorusskaya Street), “Ratusha” (on Sovetskaya Street) and in the cafe “Strauinya” (the territory of the palace and park ensemble), the average bill (without the cost of alcohol) is 7-10 BYN. You can dine at the luxurious Getman restaurant (also located on the territory of the palace and park ensemble) from 20 BYN per person on average.

Guides in Nesvizh

Entertainment and attractions of Nesvizh

Once in Nesvizh, be sure to visit the palace and park ensemble, the Church of the Corpus Christi, as well as the City Hall and the triumphal arch called the Slutsk Gate. The Church of the Corpus Christi was built in the 16th century according to the design of the Italian architect Jan Maria Bernardoni. The interior of the temple is richly decorated with paintings and frescoes.

Above the main altar there is a painting by Xavier Gesky “The Last Supper”. The interior of the church contains many sculptural images (bas-reliefs and busts of tombstones, marble altars and monuments). Above the entrance to the temple you can see the choir with an organ. In the basement of the church there is the Radziwill tomb, in which more than seventy representatives of this dynasty are buried.

Nesvizh Castle

Another main attraction of the city is Nesvizh Castle, built back in the 16th century. At that time it was a richly decorated palace, but, alas, only a little has reached us. During its history, the castle survived several sieges, looting, fire, and in Soviet times it was given over to the needs of a hospital and a sanatorium. However, despite the deplorable condition, Nesvizh Castle was restored, and today it is a very popular tourist place. Opening hours: daily 9:30 - 18:30. Entrance: 14 BYN, for students: 7 BYN. Audio guide is paid separately.

What else to see in Nesvizh

Don’t be lazy and visit the City Hall in Nesvizh. This, by the way, is one of the oldest local government buildings in Belarus today. The town hall in Nesvizh appeared in the 16th century; today many of its premises have been converted to meet modern needs, but the external architectural style has remained untouched. Opening hours: daily, 10:00 - 18:00. Entrance: 3 BYN, for students: 1.5 BYN. Not far from the palace and park ensemble there are also picturesque parks of Nesvizh, which are simply impossible to pass by. A walk along the shady paths and alleys will be well complemented by boating on the lake. You can visit Nesvizh parks both in the morning and late in the evening. By the way, tourists are not charged an entrance fee here.

Don’t pass by the Slutsk Gate, a unique architectural monument that has come down to us through many centuries. The structure is a snow-white triumphal arch connecting the road between Nesvizh and Slutsk.

During its existence, the gate was destroyed several times to the ground, but no matter what pitiful ruins remained, the arch was always rebuilt. And today the Slutsk Gate welcomes tourists in an updated form (reconstruction was carried out here in 2012).

  • Where to stay: directly in Minsk - although the choice of hotels is small, everyone can find a “gatel” to their liking. For those who come to improve their health and conquer the ski slopes, resorts are ideal

Sights of Nesvizh. The most important and interesting sights of Nesvizh - photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, websites.

  • Last minute tours to Belarus
  • Tours for the New Year Worldwide

All All Architecture Religion

Any Museum card

The main city attraction is the palace and park complex of the 16th-19th centuries, located in the north-eastern part of the city. Like a number of other interesting city buildings, the complex was erected under Prince Mikolaj “The Orphan” Radziwill. The palace is very beautiful, as is the surrounding area with several landscaped gardens.

The second most important city building, which dates from approximately the same period as the palace, is the old city hall. It is considered the oldest on the territory of modern Belarus. Particularly noteworthy is the restored Town Hall tower, which for a long time was the highest point in the surrounding area, which made it possible to use it as a lookout.

The third of the most remarkable buildings in Nesvizh in a historical and architectural sense is the Farny Church, or the Church of the Body of God. Its chief architect was Giovanni Bernardoni, specially invited from Rome, and from the outside the church is very reminiscent of Italian examples of religious architecture. But its interior is even more remarkable: here you can see excellent frescoes, thanks to which the temple acquired great fame. Its second feature is the crypt: it contains the family tomb of the Radziwill princes, where more than 70 tombs have been preserved.

The landscaped city parks are beautiful, which were created over hundreds of years under various princes Radziwill.

Unfortunately, not much of the rest of the religious buildings in Nesvizh has survived to this day. The former complex of the Benedictine monastery is used today by the teacher training college, and of its buildings, only the tall narrow gate tower, built in the Baroque style by the same Bernardoni, remains the same. Only one building has survived from the Bernardine monastery. The tiny chapel of Bulgarin dates back more than three centuries - this is a small rectangular chapel a couple of steps from the Farny Church, built into its fence.

The urban development of old Nesvizh was more fortunate: in the city you can still see old and interesting houses of varying degrees of preservation. For example, the plebania building is from the 17th century. (the house where the priest lived). Also interesting is the craftsman's house in the city market: it is believed that this is the only urban residential building left in the country with a facade made in the Baroque style. The house was built in the 18th century. and was remodeled several times, but the interesting facade with a complex and majestic profile can still be seen today.

The memorial stone in the Old Park was erected by Prince Anthony Radziwill in honor of his wife, Maria de Castellan. Today there is a strong belief that the stone fulfills the wishes of those who touch it or leave money on it.

Also interesting is the inn building, built at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, and the shopping arcade buildings on the town hall (aka market) square. The rows were added to the Town Hall at the same time as its construction, separated from it by passages for the delivery of goods. Some of the shops were located even in the Town Hall itself, but today they remain only in these neighboring pavilions.

The landscaped city parks are also beautiful, which were created over hundreds of years under various princes Radziwill. These are the Old Park with the “Wishing Stone”, founded in 1878, the English Park on the opposite side of the castle pond, the romantic and quiet Marysin Park to the north of it, Antonia Park (the least well preserved of all) and the Japanese Park, the newest and unfinished .

  • Where to stay: directly in Minsk - although the choice of hotels is small, everyone can find a “gatel” to their liking. For those who come to improve their health and conquer the ski slopes, the Logoisk, Silichi and Yakut Mountains resorts are ideal, where all the conditions for active recreation are created not only in winter, but also in summer. It’s worth spending a couple of days to see the historical sights

Western Belarus attracts tourists with its ancient castles and cities. One of them is Nesvizh, which is one of the most historically significant places in the country. Its eventful past could not but affect the appearance of the city. Nesvizh is filled with outstanding monuments, among which the main place is occupied by Nesvizh Castle. What is interesting about this attraction and what else can you see in Nesvizh?

Nesvizh Castle

In the northeast of the city is its calling card - Nesvizh Castle. This palace and castle complex has a long history dating back to the 16th century, when in its place the Kishki family, the former owners of the city, built a wooden castle. 10 years later, Prince Nicholas Radziwill ordered the first stone to be laid not far from the wooden structure. It is this period in 1583 that is officially considered to be the date of the foundation of the castle.

The powerful structure helped repel enemy attacks and withstand sieges for a long time. But by the 18th century, the castle still fell to the Swedes, who dismantled most of the structure.

In the 19th century, Nesvizh Castle again fell into the hands of the Radziwills and began to be restored. But a new war, the Second World War, put the very fact of its existence at risk. It was not until 2012 that the final reconstruction was completed.

The castle is the main attraction of Nesvizh.

Today Nesvizh Castle adorns not only the city itself but also the whole of Belarus. Since 2005, it has been on the UNESCO heritage list. Its main attraction is the Golden Hall - a spacious room with marble fireplaces, parquet floors made of rare trees, coats of arms of previous owners, lush chandeliers, and mirrors. Many of the hall's artifacts were lost without a trace, but some original items were returned to the castle during the restoration. The trophy room contains trophies obtained by the castle owners during hunting, and the study has a simple interior design. But the Ballroom will surprise you with the beauty of the neoclassical style - here you can see the original stucco molding. Ammunition and cannons are stored in the Arsenal Hall, and everything related to the Nesvizh Theater is stored in the Theater Hall.

The castle has essentially been turned into one large museum, which also displays costumes (both originals and reconstructions), documents, weapons, antique furniture and much more.

In the castle's arsenal.

Part of Nesvizh Castle is a large park where tourists enjoy walking. It is rich in interesting natural and man-made objects. You can see oak groves, memorial obelisks, sculptures, fountains, pedestrian bridges, and flowering gardens.

By the way, right in the castle there is a comfortable hotel - a romantic and convenient accommodation option in the historical heart of Nesvizh.

Other sights of Nesvizh

Among the monuments of Nesvizh, the city hall deserves attention. This is the oldest town hall building in Belarus, built in the 16th century. The architecture of the town hall is in the Renaissance and late Baroque styles. Once upon a time, the city treasury was stored in it and theatrical performances were held there.

The town hall acquired its modern appearance after reconstruction: its upper tiers, observation deck and clock were restored.

On the 2nd floor there is a very interesting museum exhibition dedicated to the city government of Nesvizh and the history of the city. And on the 1st floor (side entrance) tourists can relax in the restaurant.

Nesvizh Jesuit Church is another architectural monument, which became the first church building in Belarus in the Baroque style. Another unique feature of the church: it is the only family tomb in Eastern Europe where the Radziwills are buried. The church is not distinguished by its elaborate interior decoration. In appearance it is a modest white building, but inside the luxury of its design is striking. The dome is decorated with biblical paintings, the beauty of which is emphasized by graceful cornices, stained glass windows and sculptural forms. The church contains sculptures depicting some members of the Radziwill family.

Another attraction of Nesvizh is the original architectural monument, the entrance gate or “Slutsk gate”. It was part of a fortification system that reliably protected the entrance to the city. Today this is the only surviving gate of Nesvizh, which has become a reminder of the times of the power of the Radziwills. They have two tiers, in which the customs and guard premises were located. On the second floor there was a chapel, where those who arrived in Nesvizh were sure to go to venerate the local icon.

In the historical center there is a Benedictine monastery, which, together with the Church of St. Euphemia, formed a single architectural complex. The stone wall has not survived, but when you visit you can see the baroque three-tiered tower from the 18th century.

Stone buildings from the 17th-20th centuries have been preserved in Nesvizh. Among the surviving buildings, the Craftsman's House stands out - the only example of urban housing in Belarus with a Baroque facade (XVIII century). The most interesting for inspection is the facade wall with a figured contour. It has an unusual stepped shape, typical of buildings of that era. The building itself is made of wood and stone structures.

Also included in the series of stone buildings in Nesvizh are shopping arcades - this impressive structure surrounds the Nesvizh Town Hall. They appeared on the market square in the 16th century and were an important part of city life. Interestingly, today shopping arcades are used for their intended purpose. The architecture of the building and the internal U-shaped courtyard combines Renaissance and Baroque features.

Nesvizh for tourists: what the city offers

Despite the modest size of the city, it offers everything you need for a comfortable stay. In Nesvizh there are both apartments and hotels of a higher class. The average price per night, depending on the level of the hotel, is $18-60. As for restaurants, there are many excellent establishments in Nesvizh where you can have a good lunch or a quick snack. The city has cafes with traditional Belarusian cuisine and luxurious restaurants, including on the grounds of the castle.

It is also worth noting the convenient location of Nesvizh. It is located close to the Moscow-Brest highway, along which you can easily reach your destination by following the signs.

Nesvizh - one of the old cities of Belarus - is located almost in the center of the country. The city stands on the banks of the Usha River, in the Neman basin.

Story

Until the 1980s The first mention of the city was associated with the name of Prince Yuri Nesvizhsky (Nesvitsky). As the chronicle “The Tale of Bygone Years” tells, at the head of his squad he fought in the battle on the Kalka River on May 31, 1223. In that battle, the Russian-Polovtsian army was defeated by the Mongols, several princes died, among them Yuri Nesvizhsky.

The consonance of the prince’s name with the name of the city was for a long time considered sufficient reason to believe that the city of Nesvizh already existed by that time. However, excavations have shown that the city could not have appeared earlier than the 15th century. Now the first written mention of it dates back to 1446, when the “town” was mentioned in connection with the transfer from the Grand Duke of Lithuania Kazimierz Jagiellonczyk to Mikolay Jan Nemirovich.

Subsequently, the city changed its feudal owner several more times. Perhaps Nesvizh would not have left a trace in history if in 1492 the Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander Jagiellonczyk (1461-1506), whose property it was then, had not transferred it to the Lithuanian magnate Peter Kiszka, who lent the prince money. And in 1513, a representative of the Anna family married Jan Radziwill, who received Nesvizh as a bride’s dowry, or, as they said then, “by tow.”

In 1533 Nesvizh finally became the property of the Radziwills. The rise of the city is associated with the assignment of the title “Prince of the Holy Roman Empire” to the Radziwill family, which was achieved in 1547 by the statesman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Nicholas Radziwill the Black (1515-1565). The title required a solid residence, and Nesvizh became it. In 1562, the prince opened the first printing house on the territory of present-day Belarus.

Nesvizh acquired even greater significance after the death of Nicholas Radziwill the Black, who established the Nesvizh Ordination: one of the three majorates into which he divided his possessions. From now on, Nesvizh became an indivisible collection of lands with its center in Nesvizh Castle. This primogeniture went to the eldest son - Nicholas Christopher Radziwill, nicknamed the Orphan (1549-1616), a statesman and military leader of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

The rapid growth of the city is mainly associated with Prince Nikolai Radziwill the Orphan. He rebuilt the wooden Nesvizh he inherited into a stone one, and the chaotic layout of the medieval city was replaced by a regular quarter system, which has survived to this day.

In 1654, during the Russian-Polish War, Nesvizh was burned, but it was again restored by the Radziwills. During the Northern War, in 1706, the city was plundered by the Swedes. In 1726, Prince Mikhail Radziwill rebuilt the temples, castle, fortifications, built an arsenal, library and art gallery, the printing house started working again, and the publication of the city newspaper began.

In 1768, Russian troops captured Nesvizh, and after the Second Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1793, it became part of the Russian Empire. It had the status of first a district town and then a provincial town.

Since 1921, Nesvizh was part of the Polish state, in 1939 it became part of Soviet Belarus, in 1941-1944. was under occupation by Nazi Germany.

Nesvizh initially developed as a personal possession of the Radziwills, and its layout, architecture and purpose of buildings were influenced exclusively by the tastes and preferences of the ruling family, which turned Nesvizh into their residence.

Nesvizh Castle was built according to the design and under the supervision of the famous Italian architect Giovanni Maria Bernardoni (1541-1605).

The architectural heritage of the city that has survived to this day dates back mainly to the second half of the 16th century, when the Radziwills settled in Nesvizh. In a fairly short time - from 1584 to 1616 - a city and a castle were built, and a rampart was built around the settlement and a moat was dug. To fill it, they raised the waters of the Usha River with dams. At the entrance to the city, several stone gates appeared - gates with massive towers. Only the Slutsk Gate in the east of the city has survived - an original monument of Baroque architecture, only a few of these have survived in the world. All this beauty was created with the participation of Italian and local craftsmen.

Market (now Central) Square remains the center of the city today. In the middle of the square is the town hall with a high 6-tier tower - a symbol of Magdeburg Law, granted to the city in 1586.

The document - privileges for Magdeburg Law - Nesvizh was signed in Grodno by the King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Grand Duke of Lithuania Stefan Batory (1533-1586).

Built at the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century, the town hall was rebuilt several times in the 18th-19th centuries, overgrown with shopping arcades, forming a single architectural composition with them.

However, the main attraction of the city, which is why Nesvizh itself began to develop by the will of the Radziwills, is the Radziwills' palace and park complex, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005.

Initially, the castle had the shape of a quadrangle 170x120 m, it was surrounded by a rampart with bastions, a moat with water, a wide road and a chain of ponds. Behind the fortress wall there were stone buildings: Radziwill's house with towers (they have survived to this day), a barracks and an outbuilding.

During the wars with Russia and the Swedish siege, the castle was largely destroyed. Having returned it to themselves, the Radziwills expanded the structure. Destructions and restorations completely changed the original appearance of the castle, which now mixed Renaissance, classicism, baroque, rococo, neo-Gothic and modernism.

The palace complex also includes five parks: Castle; Old, or Ozerina; New, or Marysin; Japanese, or Plintovka; and English. The sixth park - Antonia - was virtually destroyed during the years of Soviet power. The landscape areas of the complex are united by the Wild, Castle and Bernardinsky ponds.

Currently, the palace and castle complex of Nesvizh is under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture of Belarus.

The second attraction of Nesvizh after the castle in terms of historical significance is the Farny (Body of the Lord) Church. The former Jesuit church is an architectural monument of the early Baroque, built at the end of the 16th century. in complex with the Jesuit college (college). It took 6 years to build the temple. The model for the building of the church was the cathedral church of the Jesuit Order Gesu (Church of the Holy Name of Jesus), in which the founder of the order, Ignatius of Loyola, is buried. The main altar of the church is decorated with the painting “The Last Supper” by Xavier Gesky the Elder (1752-1754), who worked a lot on the design of the entire interior of the church.

The Radziwills paid special attention to the church: after all, it was the tomb of the family, the family necropolis. There are more than seventy burials there.

Today, city residents are employed in serving tourists or working in small enterprises, mainly in the food industry.

general information

Location : center of Belarus.
Administrative affiliation : Nesvizh district, .
First mention : 1446
Languages: Belarusian, Russian.
Ethnic composition : Belarusians, Russians.
Religions: Orthodoxy, Catholicism.
Currency unit : Belarusian ruble.
River: Usha.

Numbers

Population: 15,434 people (2016).
Average altitude : 200 m.
Dimensions: palace - 135x88 m, complex within the moat - 190x150 m.
Park area: about 1 km 2 .
Remoteness: 122 km southwest of Minsk.

Climate and weather

Moderate, transitional from marine to continental with sufficient moisture.
Average January temperature : -4.5°C.
Average temperature in July : +17.5°C.
Average annual precipitation : about 700 mm.
Relative humidity : 70%.

Economy

Industry: chemical, construction (brick), food (oil making, dairy).
Services sector: tourism, transport, trade.

Attractions

Historical

Radziwill Castle, with a palace, tower, park and Castle Pond (founded in 1583, rebuilt after 1726), Baroque town hall (1596, rebuilt in 1752), Slutsk Gate (gate, 17th century), printing house (1562), house of the priest-pleban (XVIII century).

Cult

Baroque Church of the Corpus Christi (Farny, 1584-1593, painted 1752-1754), St. George's Church (XVII century), synagogue (XVII century).

Architectural

Separate buildings of the Benedictine (1593-1596) and Bernardine (1598) monasteries, the House on the Market (1721), shopping arcades (18th century), a former visiting courtyard (1897-1903).

Cultural

Museum-reserve "Nesvizh".

Curious facts

    The origin of the city's name is not precisely known. The most common version claims that once upon a time there was Mount Invisible near Nesvizh, because of which nothing could be “seen” (not visible). Allegedly, the mountain was subsequently washed away by rainfall into several small hills, and the name Nesvizh remained outside the city.

    In buildings built under the Radziwills, there is often an image of the coat of arms of an ancient family. The bizarre image in the center of the coat of arms on the knight's shield is a stylized image of a triskel or triskelion: three running legs connected at one point. The sign is presumably of Greek origin, and translated from this language means “three-legged.” Subsequently, the triskele became a symbol of the course of history (“the run of time”), the interweaving of the elements - Fire, Water and Air, stretching into Infinity.

    In Belarus, the memory of Nikolai Radziwill the Black is honored, who has done a lot for the prosperity of Belarusian cities and the education of the population. A postage stamp was issued in 1996, a sculpture was installed on the Brest Millennium Monument in 2009, and 1 ruble coins were issued in 2015. and 20 rub. with his image.

    According to legend, Nikolai Christopher Radziwill received the nickname Orphan in early childhood. They say that the Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund Augustus (1520-1572) saw an unattended child in one of the rooms of his palace in Krakow. The Grand Duke, a lover and patron of the fine arts, was characterized by sentimentality. He took the child in his arms, saying with emotion: “Oh, you, my poor, forgotten orphan!”

    Nikolai Christopher Radziwill Orphan gave the townspeople of Nesvizh privileges in trade and crafts on one condition: each trader will erect about 5 m of the city defensive rampart, and artisans will build entry gates in two places on the city border.

    Back in the 17th century. The Radziwills opened the first permanent theater “Comedyhouse” in Nesvizh. First - amateur: the first known performance took place in 1696, then - professional, who gave performances in other cities.

    Since 1576, the first cannon foundry workshop on the territory of present-day Belarus, the Ludvisarnya, operated in Nesvizh.

    In the 18th century In Alba, a suburb of Nesvizh, a school for officers of the Radziwill personal army was opened. Princely privileges also included the right to have his own army, but maintain it at his own expense. The number of the Radziwills' private army was 15 thousand people.

    (Italian architect Giovanni Maria Bernardoni is a Jesuit monk who built the first Baroque buildings in Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Bernardoni was working in Italy when Prince Nicholas Radzivil Sirotka literally begged him for himself from the order to erect a castle and a Jesuit church in Nesvizh In 1583, Bernardoni, at the behest of the order, went to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, reached Lublin, but arrived in Nesvizh only three years later: he was literally seized by force by the rector of the Lublin Jesuit College. In Lublin, Bernardoni spent three years doing work for the Lublin College. churches in Poznan and other cities. Having tired of begging the order to release the master, Prince Radziwill turned to threats, and only then Bernardoni ended up in Nesvizh.

    The last representative of the Nesvizh line of the Nesvizh family and ordinates, Dominik Hieronymus Radziwill (1786-1813), took the side of Napoleon during the war of 1812 and even rose to the rank of imperial adjutant. After the defeat of France, he fled, was seriously wounded, and died. By decree of Emperor Alexander I, Nesvizh Castle was transferred to new owners - also the Radziwills, but Prussian.

    The last owner of Nesvizh was Leon Vladislav Radziwill (1886-1959), XVI rank of Nesvizh. In 1935-1939 - officer of the General Staff of the Polish troops. A participant in the war between Poland and Soviet Russia in 1920. At the beginning of World War II, in September 1939, when Nesvizh was occupied by the Red Army, the prince was arrested and taken to Moscow. Radziwill's fate was decided by his acquaintance with Italian aristocrats: the prince was exchanged for prisoners of the Mussolini regime. Subsequently, Leon Radziwill lived in exile and died in Paris.