Worst Renovation Ever: Lida Castle
02.10.2012 / 16:27
Renovation is definitely much better than building needless sport complexes as it makes good investments in country’s tourism. Yet, do you still think that renovation of Belarusian historical sites is good? Ok, even if we may excuse builders for plastic windows in Mir Castle and a dome from another epoch in Niasvizh Castle, rudely laid plain non-historic bricks drowning in the tons of concrete in Lida Castle cannot be excused.
The castle looks good from big distances...
...until you take a closer look.
The great job has been done! Just look at the ticket office: experienced hot dog sellers able not to freeze in winter unsheltered are required here.
If in European museums you get a colourful ticket telling the museum’s history, in Lida Castle you’ll get a tiny white receipt with several digits printed on it. Thanks Lord, it’s not handwritten!
The museum exposition cannot leave anyone indifferent. Just look at these door-stopping stones: they must have fallen out of the walls.
Amazingly authentic staircase will lead you on the first floor. Sorry, no handrails.
The display itself resembles amateur school museum.
The candles seem to be lit not for atmosphere, but for economy — it is awfully dark in the museum.
A cheap map from souvenir store nearby framed with birch crust makes a rich input to the collection.
As it is said, built without a single nail.
Ok, let’s walk the gallery: maybe this will help us to unsee. However, the floor seems to be made of the leftovers from the scaffolding.
The country must be experiencing the deficit of small flags.
Look at the wondrous window openings. Have all worthy masons left for Russia seeking for bigger wages?
Such a castle cannot but stand for a thousand years more.
The builders were responsible ones and did not save on concrete.
Despite this, some bricks can be taken as souvenirs.
The construction technologies seem to have significantly deteriorated throughout within last centuries.
It’s good they did not forget about effective chaotic ventilation ending nowhere. At least someone collected enough bricks to build a house.
One of the drawbacks is contractors’ inability to tell the shades of red.
Where there is no fantasy, there is plain concrete.
Funny, yet the building to the right is not depicted on a single engraving.
Considering the size, the President himself must have put this stone.
Wooden stairs in a stone castle? Oh, come on! Only concrete!
The result is much better than in the Middle Ages.
The XXI century street lamps make a good fit.
That window was unnecessary. Economy again.
A reminder: 2011, the year of castle renovation, was announced The Year Of Quality in Belarus.
Some spare stones wait for their time.
Hotel Lida completes the ensemble.
If you demand entertainments, you may shoot bow...
...or take a photo in a cage.
The size of donations wonderfully corresponds to the castle itself.
The locals use the walls as a public toilet. The man on the photo, when asked why he had done this, answered that it could not be any worse.
The only hope is that the budget money will end long until the moment our builders start renovating something else. Have a nice trip!