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Nyasvizh

Coordinates: 53°13′N 26°40′E / 53.217°N 26.667°E / 53.217; 26.667
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General view of Nesvizh.

Nesvizh (Cyrillic: Нясьві́ж, IPA: [nʲa'sʲvʲiʐ]; Lithuanian, Nesvyžius; Polish: Nieśwież; Russian: Не́свиж; Latin: Nesvisium) is a city in Belarus. It is the administrative center of the Nesvizh District (rajon) of Minsk Province and location of a UNESCO World Heritage Site entitled Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh .

Nesvizh was first documented in 1223. Shortly it fell under the rule of a powerful neighbouring state, later known as Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In the 15th century, while still a minor town, it passed to the Radziwiłł princely family. Since then and until 1939, the foremost branch of that illustrious family developed Nesvizh as its family nest. In 1562, shortly before Grand Duchy of Lithuania joined the Kingdom of Poland in personal union to create Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the first book in Belarusian language was allegedly printed there (no Belorussian language in conventional sense existed at that time).

The Corpus Christi Church (1587-93) was one of the earliest (if not the earliest) Jesuit church in the world and the first (after Jesuit church in Lublin) baroque structure in Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth. Its Italianate design exerted immense influence on architecture of Belarus, Poland and Lithuania.

Nesvizh Castle complex was inscribed on the World Heritage List UNESCO.

External links

53°13′N 26°40′E / 53.217°N 26.667°E / 53.217; 26.667