The Annunciation Church in Klevan is a Roman Catholic church in the early Baroque style, one of the oldest masonry structures in the settlement. It stands near the Czartoryski castle, thus forming, together with it and the Tunnel of Love, a half-day itinerary.
The Czartoryski Foundation
The founder of the first, wooden church was Prince Yurii Czartoryski — originally Orthodox, in 1590 he issued an endowment for a church in Klevan. In 1598, the prince was the first in his family to change his rite, and moved his court from Lutsk to Klevan. To prove his devotion to the new faith, he began building a brick church. Construction was completed around 1610, or according to other sources, only after the prince's death in 1630. Prince Mykola-Yurii Czartoryski is named as the founder of the masonry church.
The Image of Our Lady of Klevan
Even in the first third of the 20th century, the main altar was adorned with a large miraculous image of Our Lady of Klevan, attributed to the 17th-century Bolognese master Carlo Dolci.
What to See
An early Baroque church with massive walls and a restrained facade. It is best viewed while strolling through Klevan from the castle to the church.
Klevan of the Czartoryskis
The church is part of the grand history of Klevan as the residence of the Czartoryski princes. It was they who built the castle above the Stubla here, and Prince Yurii moved his court from Lutsk to Klevan. Therefore, the castle, the church, and the old streets of the town should be viewed together: they show what a small princely capital of Volhynia looked like at the beginning of the 17th century. After the castle and the church, you can head to the Tunnel of Love — it is only a few kilometres away.
How to Get There
Klevan is 25 km from Rivne. More details can be found in the article Klevan Castle.
