Description of the attraction
The Polotsk Bernardine Monastery is an ancient architectural monument. Unfortunately, very little has survived to this day: the ruins of a church and a residential monastery complex.
The monastery was founded on the initiative of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander Jagiellon in 1498. The first Bernardine monastery in Polotsk was built of wood. In 1558 Polotsk was conquered by the Russians, the Catholics were expelled from the city and the monastery was closed. In 1563, a severe fire broke out in the city and all the wooden monastery buildings burned down.
In 1696, a new attempt was made to found a Bernardine monastery in Polotsk. The monks were invited by the governor of Polotsk Alexander Slushka. The Polotsk authorities were interested in strengthening Catholicism in the city, so a lot of money was allocated for the construction of the Bernardine monastery.
In 1695, the monastery was moved to the left bank of the Western Dvina, and in 1769 the Church of St. Mary and living quarters for monks were built of stone. At the end of the 18th century, the monastery complex expanded. There were: a smithy, a bakery, a brewery, a stable. The monks had their own garden and vegetable garden.
In 1832, after Russians came to Polotsk, the Catholic monastery was closed, the church was re-consecrated into an Orthodox church.
Unfortunately, numerous wars have not spared this beautiful architectural monument, once built in the Baroque style. One can only guess, looking at the ruins, how beautiful the church was, and by the remains of the living quarters - how great the monastery was once. Some of the fruit trees planted by the monks in their garden have also survived to this day.
