The Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas in Bielsk Podlaski

The Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas in Bielsk Podlaski is a historic Roman Catholic parish church, with a history dating back to the 15th century. Initially a wooden structure, it was destroyed by fire several times. The wooden church, rebuilt in 1674, was transformed into a brick building in the second half of the 18th century. The main financier of the new church, completed in 1784, was Izabela Branicka née Poniatowska, and its design was developed by Szymon Zug. The church, built in the Neoclassical style, was consecrated by Bishop Jan Szyjkowski on October 9, 1796. Architecturally, it is distinguished by its characteristic façade with a portico and twenty Doric columns inside. The church features a main altar adorned with a painting of the Virgin Mary visiting St. Elizabeth, created by Sylwester Mirys, who was the court painter of the Branicki family. Another valuable artifact is the painting "Crucifixion" from 1622, associated with the epitaph of Hanna Kadłubowska, the wife of Bielsk scribe Stanisław Kulesza. The painting was restored in 1995 and placed in the main nave. The church is equipped with a 14-register organ from 1902 and has held the status of a minor basilica since 1996. The church is a significant element of the region's culture and history, serving as a place for gatherings, prayers, and local traditions.