Ruins of Novogrudok castle description and photos - Belarus: Novogrudok (Topic)

Ruins of Novogrudok castle description and photos - Belarus: Novogrudok. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

Novogrudok Castle is a defensive structure built on the Castle Hill in the ancient city of Novogrudok. According to legend, the castle was erected in the 13th century by Prince Mindaugas, who became the first Grand Duke of Lithuania.

The first stone square tower was erected on Zamkovaya Gora, 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 ditch. 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 a well tower was built over the spring flowing on the western slope. All towers were interconnected by high stone impregnable walls. The Novogrudok castle successfully resisted the attack of the Teutonic Order of Knights-Crusaders.

The 15th-16th centuries were marked by frequent raids of the Tatars. Further strengthening of the Novogrudok castle was required. The north-western Watchtower and the Meskaya tower-brama on the slope were built, which complemented Malaya Brama on the hill. The towers connected by the walls 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.

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.

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Topic: Ruins of Novogrudok castle description and photos - Belarus: Novogrudok.