In the old days, fortifications were often intended not only for defensive actions. Let's say even more, many of these castles were originally built as prisons, which were dangerous to society personality. It is about this Ostrog on the territory of Belarus, built in the XIX century, and will be discussed in this article.
There are various legends about the Pishchalausky castle in Minsk, but often it is strongly embellished fairy tales. The story brings us back to the seventeenth century, had founded the territory of Minsk. Near the river Nemiga and Svisloch built a huge wooden castle, which sometimes reached a height of fifteen meters. However, by the eighteenth century poor walls quickly came in depressive condition. The local government transferred him to the care of the landowner Rudolf Pischalo, who decided to rebuild a new fortress, already stone, modern model. It was then, in 1821, that the history of the Belarusian Bastille began.
The architect of the new project, chose Casimir Hrdinova. Now Volodarsky street, where the building is located, is the center of the capital, but at the time of large-scale construction it was the outskirts, an ideal place for the construction of such a project. The works lasted four years, until in 1825-m lock is not put into operation.
The architecture of Pishchalausky castle combines Gothic essays, classicism and defensive architecture, which makes it unique in its kind. This strong building with massive towers in the form of a cylinder, the perimeter of which is securely guarded by a high wall of stone. The fortress originally had two floors and a basement, chambers, kitchens, workshops and other necessary facilities.
As for purpose – it was originally the residence of the official Rudolf Pishchala (actually, hence the name). But after a short period of time the castle was bought by the authorities, who were afraid that he could become the center of the uprising in troubled times. The Governor proposed to the king to reclassify the building in jail. Since that time, the castle has not changed its purpose, remaining a prison in revolutionary times, in the civil war, during the Nazi occupation and even in our years.
At first, the conditions were quite good. Prisoners fed themselves, prepared, earned a living, working at public work, funds for maintenance were partially allocated from the Treasury. Within the castle walls repeatedly flashed the whole of the epidemic diseases that decimated the prisoners. Before the revolution, the prison served sentences for various violations. The suppression of the rebellion headed by Kalinowski in the castle were the rebels. Most of them were executed by the authorities in the same territory.
Vincent Dunin-Marcinkiewicz, who spent more than a year in prison, was also brought here. Rumor has it that it was in one of the chambers that the idea came to him to create his famous play "Pinskaya shlyakhta". Since 1908, the poet Yakub Kolas, who was sentenced for three years for teaching the Belarusian language at school, also served his term here. Here Kolas worked on the poem "New earth" and wrote dozens of poems.
In 1917, the year the Serpukhov street was renamed in honor of Moses Volodarsky. It was since then that the fortress got its unofficial name "Volodarka".
During the great Patriotic war, the fortress was useful to the Nazis. Considering that such a strong structure could be useful, the Germans did not destroy it, but used it as their own prison. Stalin's repressions also left their traces within its walls. In Sochi concluded writers, publicists and other figures and we can say that during this time of repression have been here most of the creative society in Belarus.
From 1960 prison Pishchalausky castle becomes a prison №1. In our time, the locals and officials see the fortress as a Museum of history or a hotel rather than a prison where executions are carried out. In modern times such transformation of prisons is quite common (take the famous Alcarras or Nizhny Novgorod Ostrog). Moreover, the castle is located in the heart of Minsk and the tourist himself will be willing to visit the 200-year-old walls and learn more about their history.
And while authorities are thinking of re-forming the prison fortress, the building gradually falls into decay. In 2008, one of the four towers collapsed, respectively, confirmed the accident of the building. Historical fortress requires not superficial, and capital repair works. Let us hope, that all -??? in his walls someday Yes will open Museum.
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