Pishchalauski Castle

The Minsk Detention Center No. 1 (SIZO No. 1, Russian: СИЗО №1, informally known as Valadarka (Belarusian: Валадарка)) is the central prison of the Republic of Belarus located in Minsk.

Pishchalauski Castle
Пішчалаўскі замак (Belarusian)
Пищаловский замок (Russian)
Alternative namesPischalauski Castle
Piszczalauski castle
General information
LocationValadarskaha Street
Minsk, Belarus
Coordinates53°53′56″N 27°32′52″E
Completed1825
Design and construction
ArchitectPishchala

Modern usage

Operated by the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs, SIZO No. 1 is also the only facility that houses death row inmates. The execution of death row inmates occurs at the prison.

It is also a pre-trial detention centre where arrested political activists are held.[1]

The building

The historical building is known as Pishchalauski Castle (Belarusian: Пішчалаўскі замак), also spelled Pischalauski Castle. The castle is also sometimes called the Belarusian Bastille.[2] It is a registered state architectural monument.[3]

The castle was built in 1825. It formerly served as a prison. The architect was named Pishchala.[3][2]

A portion of one the castle's four towers collapsed in April 2008.[2]

Famous inmates

See also

References
  1. Charter97.Org news 4/20/2008
  2. "Tower collapses in "Belarusian Bastille"". BelePAN. April 22, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2009.
  3. Pischalauski Castle, at BelarusGuide.Com
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