Description of the attraction
The Roman Catholic Church of St. Louis in Kraslava is a prominent representative of Baroque architecture. In 1755, according to the project of the Italian architect Paraco, the construction of a stone church began. The church under construction (the Polish name for a Catholic church) was planned to be the residence of the bishop of Inflantia, but since Latgale joined Russia in 1772, this did not happen. The construction of the church was completed in 1767. It was named after the French king Louis, who was proclaimed a saint in 1297.
The Church of St. Louis is characterized by the presence of a reckless facade crowning a high and wide gable. The grandiose double portal (entrance) emphasizes the idea of triumph and apotheosis inherent in the picturesque thought of the Baroque. In the Baroque era, it was believed that evil was defeated by the sacrifice of Golgotha, and a person experiences great joy while eating the fruits of salvation. Upon entering the church, this feeling increases even more. This is facilitated by the high vault of the central nave, pilasters and columns that encourage visitors to gaze upward, evoke high spirits and give rise to thoughts about the high destiny of man. This celebration can also be seen in the altar, executed in a manner typical of the great Italian baroque masters Pozzo and Bernini. The altar is striking in its size, the majesty of the composition and the generosity of the colored material.
In the semicircle of the vault, you can see a canvas depicting a kneeling figure of the French king Louis IX, created in 1884 by the great Polish artist J. Matejko “Saint Louis goes on a crusade”. Hidden behind the painting is a fresco by the Italian artist Gastoldi, which originally adorned the altar. It depicts King Louis IX in military armor, seated on a throne. The walls of the cathedral were also decorated with frescoes. Over time, they crumbled. Then it was decided to order an altar painting.
In the choir, you can see two paintings from the 1860s. These are images of the founders and founders of the church, Constantine Ludwig Plater and his wife Augusta Plater (nee Oginskaya). The creator of the portraits is the Italian artist Filippo Castadi who worked in Poland. He is famous as the author of the murals of the Church of St. Louis.
In 1986, a new organ was installed in the choir of the church, which replaced the burnt organ during the Great Patriotic War.
Talking about the Catholic Church of St. Louis and its significance, one should pay special attention to the relics of the martyr St. Donatus, which attract pilgrims and make Kraslava the second most important place of pilgrimage in Latvia, after Aglona. With the mediation of Pope Pius VI, in 1790 the feast of St. Donatus was approved with complete absolution, celebrated on the first Sunday after St. Peter's Day.
Due to the influx of a large number of people wishing to visit the church of St. Louis on the day of St. Donatus, it became necessary to build a separate chapel. Funds for its construction were donated by Countess Augusta Plater. The chapel was installed in the eastern part of the church. In the summer of 1941, when the Red Army was retreating, local atheists set fire to the church. The altar of St. Donatus and the organ were destroyed, but thanks to the efforts of the community members, the fire in the chapel was extinguished, as a result of which it was possible to save the main altar of the church with a special altar picture.
The church's spacious courtyard is surrounded by majestic trees. The courtyard has long been turned into a park, in the silence of which you can relax, think about your own, watching the rays of the sun illuminate the figure of the Virgin Mary filled with peace.
The Roman Catholic Church of St. Louis in Kraslava is a majestic building, striking in its power and beauty, and of course, deserves the attention of tourists and guests of the city.
