Basilica of the Visitation in Sejny

The Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sejny (SAY-nih) is one of only two churches in Poland built in the Vilnius Baroque style, and it is well worth a stop if you are exploring far northeastern Poland. Its twin-towered facade rises over the town square of Sejny, a small borderland town just a few miles from Lithuania, and the church is also a pilgrimage shrine to Our Lady of Sejny. If you are looking for things to do in Sejny, start here.

Where it is and how to get here

Sejny lies in the Podlaskie region, in a part of Poland called Suwałki Region, very close to the Lithuanian border. It is roughly 300 km from Warsaw, usually reached by car via Białystok and Augustów. The nearest large airports are in Warsaw and Vilnius, Lithuania, and public transport is limited, so a rental car is the easiest option. Parking is available near the square beside the church.

A short history

Dominican friars came to Sejny from Vilnius in 1602, and the church was built between 1610 and 1619. It was consecrated in 1632. The look you see today dates from a rebuilding in 1760-1779, funded by a noblewoman, Róża Strutyńska (née Platerówna), which gave the church its two-tower Baroque front.

After Prussia dissolved the monastery in 1804, the church became a parish church. In the early 19th century a school operated in the monastery, and Sejny was nicknamed the "Oxford of the North". From 1818 the church served as the cathedral of the Augustów diocese, with a seminary next door that trained many Lithuanian priests and national activists. That diocese was abolished in 1925. The church was elevated to a minor basilica in 1973.

What to see

• The twin-tower facade, a hallmark of the Vilnius Baroque, with towers among the biggest in the region.
• Our Lady of Sejny, a Gothic wooden Madonna and Child in the form of a triptych cabinet, venerated since the 17th century. Sources date the figure differently (15th century or about 1540), so we state it cautiously. It was crowned in 1975.
• Baroque altars and paintings from the second half of the 18th century, plus chapels from 1661 and 1881.
• A neo-Baroque organ from 1907, used each year by a festival of young organists.

How long to plan and who it suits

Allow 30-45 minutes for the church, and more if you want to see the former monastery next door, which houses a diocesan and ethnographic museum. It is a working church, so visit outside services, dress modestly, and keep quiet. It suits anyone interested in architecture, religious history, and Polish-Lithuanian borderland culture. Stairs lead into the building, so wheelchair users should ask the parish about access.

Practical information (as of October 2026)

We could not confirm opening hours or any fees from an official source. Entry to the church is customarily free, but check the parish website (sejny.diecezja.elk.pl) or call the parish office. Please note that signs and services are mainly in Polish, and the currency is the Polish zloty (PLN).

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you are traveling between Lithuania, the Augustów Primeval Forest and the Wigry area. It is a quick, rewarding stop with a story that you will not find in the better-known Polish cities.

Nearby

Lake Hańcza, the deepest lake in Poland, and Wigry National Park with its former Camaldolese monastery are both within reach. The church in Różanystok has a similar Vilnius Baroque design.