Come explore these four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Belarus.
Last updated: July 1, 2025
Belarus
The 13th largest country in the continental Europe and the 84th largest country in the world, Belarus is off the radar of the majority of international travelers. Language barrier and the country’s lesser-known natural wonders keep the area secreted from regular crowds.
But ask European history and art and architecture lovers what they know about Belarus, and they can’t stop raving about the country’s charming historic towns, medieval castles, and Ruthenian Gothic churches and monasteries. A few of these historic structures, including one national park, became UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Several others are on the list of tentative sites.
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN BELARUS
Cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Belarus
1. Mir Castle Complex
Mir Castle Complex was the first cultural monument in Belarus to attract global attention. It was inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. The castle represents a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural styles.
Its construction started at the end of the 15th century. Initially, the Mir Castle complex included only elements of the Gothic style. Later other architectural styles paved their ways into the project.
Location: Located in the town of Mir in the Grodno Region, roughly 100 km (1 hour 10 minutes) west of Minsk, the capital of Belarus, Mir Castle is one of the most visited UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Belarus.
2. Nesvizh Castle
Officially known as The Architectural, Residential, and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family, Nesvizh Castle was home to the prominent Radziwill Family until 1939. The complex was built in the 16th century. For years, it had served as a source of architectural inspiration for many new structures erected in Central Europe and Russia.
Radziwills were also known for their love for sciences and art. On many occasions, their abode opened the doors to artists, architects, and craftsmen. These events catapulted the spread of new ideas and trends from Western Europe to Central and Eastern Europe.
Nesvizh Castle features a residential castle and the Mausoleum Church of Corpus Christi. The entire complex encompasses ten interconnected buildings that form a six-sided courtyard.
The first time I visited Nesvizh Castle, the historic complex wasn’t listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Belarus yet. But it was only a matter of time until the nomination for the World Heritage List would be accepted and the iconic structure would become one of the four UNESCO Sites of Belarus.
Location: Nesvizh Castle is located 32 km (approximately 30 minutes) south of Mir Castle. This close proximity allows you to visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Belarus in one day.
3. Struve Geodetic Arc
Similar to Nesvizh Castle, the Struve Geodetic Arc was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Belarus in 2005.
The Struve Geodetic Arc is a separate element in a chain of survey triangulations spread over ten countries. The Struve Arc played a significant role in astronomy. It represented the first accurate measuring of a long segment of a meridian, which later helped establish the exact size and shape of Earth.
Natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Belarus
4. Belovezhskaya Pushcha
The Belovezhskaya Pushcha or Białowieża Forest is a large primeval forest located on the border between Poland and Belarus. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992 as an extension of the Białowieża National Park in Poland.
The only natural World Heritage Sites in Belarus, the Białowieża Forest encompasses 141,885 hectares of land. It’s home to endangered species of European bison and other protected mammal species, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. With all its unique animals and plant world, the area entices the visitors as one of best safari destinations in Europe.
Read Next
If you want to learn more about Belarus, check out the following articles.
- NATURAL WONDERS: The Other “Blue Lakes” in Belarus You Should Visit
- SALT MOUNTAINS: Potash Mountains in Belarus
- BELARUSIAN CUISINE: Vegan Belarusian Draniki Two Ways
- WORLD’S LIBRARIES: Inside the 7 World’s Most Remarkable Libraries
