Corpus Christi Church in Niasviž, Catholic church in Niasviž, Belarus
The Corpus Christi Church in Niasviž is a three-nave domed basilica with a single apse, built of stone in the late 16th century. Its pale pink and cream facade has a tall central section flanked by lower wings, a dark wooden double door, a round window above the entrance, and two arched niches with standing figures. The nave rises 17.8 m, and the dome almost twice as high.
The church was founded in 1593 and represents early baroque architecture outside Italy. Giovanni Maria Bernardoni's design brought Italian architectural ideas to this region.
The church is the burial place of the Radziwiłł family, and the last burial was Anthony Radziwiłł's ashes brought from London in 2000. The parish is dedicated to Corpus Christi, and the church's name in Belarusian is Касцёл Божага Цела. The organ, built in the 19th century by Vishnevsky of Vilnius, survived World War II after the priest Grigoriy Kolosovsky bribed a train accountant to recover it and the organist Edvard Girdo buried the pipes.
The church functions as part of the National Historical Museum Reserve of Niasviž and also serves as an active Catholic worship space with regular services. Visitors can explore the chapels and rooms in appropriate attire.
The Radziwiłł crypt holds the family's remains, including those of Mikołaj Krzysztof "the Orphan" Radziwiłł, the church's founder. The last burial was on June 8, 2000, when the ashes of Antoni Radziwiłł were brought from London. In 2018 the crypt was damaged by flooding.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,789 contributors worldwide.
