Mir Castle Project of the Year: restoration of the Italian garden

2025-03-19

Mir Castle, one of the most iconic architectural monuments of Belarus, continues to amaze and inspire. After a large-scale restoration of the castle in 2010, which restored it to its former greatness, the museum complex did not stop there. Today, a new ambitious project is being implemented here – the restoration of the Italian garden. It was founded in the late XVI – early XVII centuries. Nicholas Christopher Radziwill the Orphan.

The revival of historical heritage

The Italian garden created a unique atmosphere of the magnate's residence and was an integral part of the castle complex. His composition consisted of 25 squares, alleys, trellises of trees and shrubs, greenhouses and outbuildings. Today, thanks to the painstaking work of historians, architects and restorers, this masterpiece of landscape art is coming back to life.

The restoration project of the Italian garden began with in-depth research. The museum staff worked closely with the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Ministry of Culture to recreate the garden in its historical form. The analysis of landscape art in Italy, France and Holland, which influenced the creation of the garden, was carried out, as well as archival documents and inventory of the XVIII century. It is for this period that the Italian garden is being recreated.

Stages of the project implementation

The restoration of the garden started in April 2024. The key stages have already been completed: the laying of engineering networks, the strengthening of the shoreline of the reservoir, the vertical layout of the territory and the installation of grilles for hedges. A gazebo for relaxation will appear on the east side of the garden, offering a picturesque view of the entire park.

The Italian Garden will become not only a place of historical reconstruction, but also a real oasis for tourists. Walking along the alleys filled with the aromas of flowering trees and shrubs, a lake with a fountain, flower beds and hedges will create an atmosphere of comfort and harmony. The museum is confident that this project will make Mir Castle even more attractive to guests from Belarus and abroad.

Currently, the financing of the work is carried out at the expense of extra-budgetary funds of the museum, which means that every tourist, by purchasing a ticket, contributes to the further development of the Mir Castle.

The significance of the project

It is symbolic that the project dedicated to the improvement and preservation of cultural heritage is being implemented in 2025, which has been declared the Year of the Country's Improvement.

The restoration of the Italian garden is not just a return to the historical appearance of the castle complex, it is a step into the future that reminds us of the importance of caring for the past. And this project perfectly reflects the spirit of the Year of Landscaping, combining history, culture and modernity.