Vitebsk Plans to Restore the Zaruchauskaya Gate of the Lower Castle

The new General Plan of Vitebsk provides for the allocation of a plot for the construction of a fortification on the embankment of the Western Dvina. The discussion concerns the possible restoration of one of the towers of the Lower Castle, destroyed in the 18th century, while preserving medieval construction technologies.

As reported by the "Vitbichi" publication, within the framework of developing a detailed plan for the historical center of Vitebsk on the 1000th Anniversary Square, near the Annunciation Church, a special zone for historical development has been allocated. According to the document, a site with the designation of public specialized development has appeared in the recreational green zone of the embankment, where a fragment of the Lower Castle can be restored.

Denis Yurchak, chief specialist of the Culture Department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee and candidate of historical sciences, considers the restoration of the Zaruchauskaya Gate – one of the three gate towers of the historical castle complex – to be the most realistic project. He emphasizes that Vitebsk was once a powerful fortress, consisting of the Upper, Lower, and Uzgorsky Castles, with the first two being stone-built and surpassing in area even the castles in the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vilnius.

The restoration of the historical object will face a number of strict restrictions. The embankment area is located in a zone with the most stringent urban planning regulations, which prohibit new construction and allow exclusively scientifically justified restoration of what was previously lost. Furthermore, construction must be carried out strictly using medieval technologies, employing boulders, bricks, and tiles.

Before any construction work can begin, extensive archaeological excavations will be required. The Lower Castle of Vitebsk is known for its rich cultural layer, which reaches 5-8 meters. In 1959, it was in this very area (the modern Svaboda Square) that the first birch bark manuscript in the history of Belarus was discovered. If authentic foundations are found during new excavations, they will have to be preserved.

Павялічыць

At the same time, according to the representative of the regional executive committee, the restored tower does not necessarily have to serve only a museum function. The historical object can be commercialized by привлеченными инвесторами (attracted investors), for example, by opening a cafe. In such a case, the creation of additional underground premises is permitted, provided they do not disrupt the visual perception of the historical monument. Denis Yurchak also suggested using multimedia screens inside the object with a 3D reconstruction of 14th-century Vitebsk to create a contrast with the modern city outside the window, as well as restoring part of the castle moat and the entrance bridge.

Павялічыць

The history of the Lower Castle in Vitebsk dates back to the first settlements of the Bandserovskaya culture. During its heyday, its defensive line was 1256 meters long and included 12 towers. The complex, which housed the Annunciation Church and the Oginski Palace, finally burned down in 1757. Currently, the only architectural reminder of the Vitebsk castles is the "Dukhovsky Kruglik" exhibition hall – a modern sarcophagus-like building erected over the historical foundation of one of the castle towers.

• 5
• 0
• 1
• 1
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0