St Anne's Basilica in Lubartów

Above the main entrance of Lubartów's parish church hangs a black cartouche with a Latin inscription naming the man who paid for it – Prince Paweł Karol Sanguszko. The Baroque Basilica of St Anne was built in 1733–1738 to a design by Paweł Antoni Fontana, and the hearts of the founder and his wife are still kept in the right-hand aisle. Together with the Sanguszko Palace and its park, it forms the most important historic ensemble in Lubartów, a small town north of Lublin.

History: the Sanguszkos' parish church

Construction was overseen by Tomasz Rezler, and the church was consecrated in 1738 by Józef Michał Karp, Bishop of Samogitia. It has been restored many times, especially after a fire in 1792 that partly destroyed it. The facade features two towers with domed caps, pilasters and cornices, while the interior surprises with an octagonal central nave, plenty of curves and arcades opening onto the side aisles. The church complex is listed in the Lublin region's heritage register under number A/116.

What to see

• The 1738 portal of black Dębnik marble with light dolomite details, resting on two columns and crowned with a cartouche bearing the foundation inscription.
• The epitaph with the hearts of Paweł Karol Sanguszko and Barbara Sanguszko née Dunin in the right-hand aisle.
• The painting of St Anne with the Virgin and Child from the late 17th century in the high altar – St Anne holds the infant Jesus on her lap, with Mary beside them.
• The organ from 1742, with a case of three pipe towers, rebuilt in 1928 by Antoni Homan; today it has 15 stops.
• The Baroque bell tower from 1748 in the south-west corner of the churchyard, with the bell of St Michael, cast in 1748 and recast in 1927.

Interesting facts

The painting of St Anne, believed to be miraculous, was crowned on 26 July 2003 by Archbishop Józef Życiński of Lublin. Exactly five years later, on 26 July 2008, the church was given the title of minor basilica. Three bells now hang in the bell tower: St Anne from 1984, the 18th-century St Michael and John Paul II from 1985. The oldest, St Michael, was cast in the same year as the bell tower was built and recast in 1927. In 2016 all three bells were restored and fitted with new drives.

Tripto tip

The basilica stands at ul. Słowackiego 6, a few steps from the Sanguszko Palace and park – allow about an hour for the church, the bell tower and a stroll around the palace. It's best to visit outside Mass times. The parish runs a parish museum and, as part of an ongoing project, is introducing a virtual tour and a multimedia kiosk. The highlight of the year is the feast of St Anne at the end of July. Check the current service times on the parish website, annalubartow.pl. Lubartów is also close to the Zamoyski Palace in Kozłówka.