Description of the attraction
Novogrudok Castle is a defensive structure built on the Zamkovaya Gora of the ancient city of Novogrudok. According to legend, the castle was erected in the 13th century by Prince Mindovg, who became the first Grand Duke of Lithuania.
The first to be erected on Zamkovaya Gora was a stone square tower, called the Shield or Central. The castle was built of stone, on the site of a previously built wooden castle with earth embankments and a deep moat. The favorable location of the castle on a hill made it possible to observe the territory up to 15-20 kilometers from its towers in clear weather.
At the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, additional defensive towers - Kostelnaya, Malaya, Brama, Posadskaya, were erected in the Novogrudok castle, and the Well tower was built over the spring flowing on the western slope. All towers were interconnected by high stone impregnable walls. Novogrudok Castle successfully resisted the attack of the Teutonic Order of Knights-Crusaders.
XV-XVI centuries were marked by frequent raids of the Tatars. Further strengthening of the Novogrudok castle was required. The north-western Watchtower and the Meskaya Brama Tower were built on the slope, which complemented Malaya Brama on the hill. The walled towers formed two lines of impregnable fortifications with an outer wall at the foot of the hill and an inner wall at the top of the hill.
The Tatar raids Novogrudok castle withstood, but could not withstand hostilities during the Russian-Polish wars and the Northern War. Its main defensive towers were destroyed. The castle was abandoned and continued to collapse. Some of the towers were dismantled for building materials. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Polish authorities tried to reconstruct or at least partially preserve the castle, however, the outbreak of hostilities of the Second World War interfered with their plans.
The modern Republic of Belarus has decided to reconstruct the ancient Novogrudok castle. Archaeologists are optimistic. They believe that even what remains of the towers and walls of the castle is enough to accurately reproduce it in all its former grandeur and splendor. Knightly medieval festivals and reenactments of battles held on the Castle Hill near the ruins of Novogrudok Castle have already become popular.
