Mir
Mir is a town in the KareliΔy region of Grodno Oblast in Belarus. Prior to the 2nd World War it was known as an international centre of Jewish learning (Mir yeshiva).
Get in
The place has no railway station, so you will have to look for a bus from Minsk. There are several buses a day, from Minsk main autobus station. There is a bus from Nesvizh to Mir (costs 1.92 rubles) in the afternoon. The buses stop at π Mir bus station.
Get around
Mir is a rather small town and it will take you about 10-15 minutes to walk to the Mir Castle from the middle of the town where the bus stop is located. The bus stop is in Market Square - where the local market, a bank and a hotel can be found.
See
- π Mir Castle, β +375 01596 2 82 70, +375 01596 2 82 90, info@mirzamak.by. 10:00-18:00. This late medieval castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The ticket into the castle and the chapel-crypt behind it can be bought at the entrance - 100 m away from the castle gate tower. M-F 14 Belarus rubles; Sa Su 16 rubles.
- π Saint Nicolas' Church.
Buy
Not far from the castle - at the parking lot - there are several souvenir kiosks with hand-made pottery and wood products. The vendors show prices on a calculator.
Eat
Within a walking distance from the castle there is a Mirum Cafe with good cuisine and modern design. Beside the red St. Nicolas Church there is another restaurant, but the interior is rather shabby. Inside Mir Castle on the ground floor, there is a cafe called Mir Castle that serves national cuisine.
Sleep
There are at least two hotel staying options in Mir. One of them is in the basement of the castle - a three-star hotel complex that includes a superb restaurant.
- π Mir castle hotel (Inside the castle). Note that it provides discounted price (but not free admission) to the castle. 140 to 220 rubles for double occupancy. Extra 20% added during Christmas holidays.
A more budget option that would fit an individual traveler is located in the center of Mir, near the bus station. Since this is a province hotel that is state-owned it has no web-site.
Go next
- Nesvizh, around 27 km away, is home to another UNESCO World Heritage site. It is possible to do both sites in one day. There is a bus from Nesvizh at 14:26 which arrives at Mir at 15:05. Vice versa the connection leaves at 13:52. Otherwise consider a taxi between Mir and Nesvizh