Aglona Basilica

Aglona is the spiritual heart of Catholic Latgale, a twin-towered white baroque basilica beside a lake, home to a venerated icon of the Virgin. On the Feast of the Assumption on 15 August, tens of thousands of pilgrims fill the great square before it in one of the largest religious gatherings in the Baltics.

History

Dominican friars from Vilnius came to Aglona at the end of the 17th century, founded a monastery in 1699 and built a wooden church, which housed an icon of the Virgin painted after the icon of Trakai. After the wooden church burned, the present brick church and monastery were built in 1768-1780 in the late Baroque style, with two towers 60 metres high, and the church was consecrated in 1800 by Bishop Jan Benisławski. From 1920 to 1924 it was the seat of the bishop of Riga, Antonijs Springovičs, who was consecrated here on 22 August 1920. The Holy See recognises it as one of its international shrines, and in 2011-2013 the roof was covered in copper and the interior repainted in warmer marble tones (Wikipedia, Basilica of the Assumption, Aglona).

What to look for

• The basilica - the white twin-towered baroque church above its lakeside square.
• The pilgrimage square - the vast open space built to hold the August crowds.
• The miraculous icon - the venerated image of the Virgin inside.
• The lakeside setting - the church looks over a quiet Latgale lake.

When to go

Around 15 August for the pilgrimage and its atmosphere, if you want the spectacle; any other time for a quiet, near-empty church and lake. The interior is open daily.

Before you go

Outside the August feast it is a calm, rather remote parish church - moving in its setting but quiet, so time your visit for the experience you want. It is a long drive into Latgale for a single stop, so pair it with the lakes or Daugavpils. It remains an active place of worship, so dress and behave accordingly.

Nearby

Lake Razna and Daugavpils fortress are both within a manageable drive across Latgale.

Key facts