The castle stands in the small town of Mir, not far from the capital Minsk. Its five towers are each slightly different, giving the castle a wonderfully lopsided, storybook look. The walls are made of red brick and light stone that glow orange and gold in the evening sun.
Over the centuries Mir Castle was owned by several noble families who each added their own style. Some parts look like a stern fortress built for defence, with thick walls and arrow-slit windows. Other parts look like an elegant palace, with arched doorways and decorative stonework — two very different styles sitting side by side.
A moat — a wide water-filled ditch — surrounds the castle, and in summer the water reflects the towers perfectly, making the castle look like it is floating. The surrounding park has an orchard, gardens, and old lime trees that are hundreds of years old.
The castle was restored carefully over many years so that visitors today can walk through the same rooms, climb the same spiral stairs, and look out from the same battlements that people stood on 500 years ago.