Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Ortel Królewski

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Ortel Królewski is a Roman Catholic parish church with a rich history dating back to 1660. Initially, a Uniate church stood here, which in 1875 came under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church. After World War I, in 1922, it was taken over by the Roman Catholic Church and reconsecrated. The architecture of this wooden log structure, built in the regional tradition, features an oriented layout, clapboard siding, and dovetail joinery. The main part of the church consists of a rectangular nave with a narrower chancel, both covered by a hipped roof. A controversial yet striking element is the onion-domed turret and the two-story square bell tower topped with a small dome. Inside the church, Baroque and Rococo altars have been preserved, and during renovations in 1994, historic Uniate paintings from 1720 were discovered on the chancel arch. The history of the church is a significant cultural element for the local community and a valuable example of regional sacral architecture. An interesting fact is that next to the church lies a Roman Catholic cemetery, which previously served as both a Uniate and Orthodox cemetery, bearing witness to the centuries-old religious history of the place. The foundation inscription of the former church, which has survived to this day, is a crucial element testifying to its original purpose, adding further historical value to this site. The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary not only serves a religious function but is also an important landmark in the cultural and social landscape of Ortel Królewski.