At the festival in Golshany Castle
With so much to amuse, there was something for everyone at the event: traditional knights’ tournaments, master classes on pottery, theatrical performances, fire shows and folk music concerts. Tournaments of archers and of medieval fighting enjoyed the greatest popularity, as did classes on historical and folk dancing.
The Festival has been growing annually in size, attracting guests from Belarus and abroad.
Events took place beneath the ruined walls of 17th century Golshany Castle, which is known to boast many secrets and legends, including the ghosts of the Black Monk and the White Lady, who roams the ruins of the monastery. Unsurprisingly, the site is popular with tourists.
Golshany Castle is in need of renovation, having originally been a magnificent triple-storey stone building, with a chapel and gates, bastions and earthworks. Last year, preservation works were completed and reconstruction was launched, financed by the Culture of Belarus programme. The Head of the Oshmyany District Executive Committee’s Department on Ideology, Culture and Youth Affairs, Lyudmila Kokhanovskaya, tells us that complete restoration is impossible, due to lack of funding. She notes, “Conservation works are planned and, in future, the Castle’s northern tower will be restored and a museum opened. The public can contribute to the restoration of the Sapegi family’s legendary home, via a special account at Grodno’s regional branch of the Belarusian Peace Fund JSC.”
By Gennady Gil
