The Bridgettine Monastery is an architectural landmark of national importance located at 16 Katedralna Street within the "Old Lutsk" preserve. It is the monastery of the first female Catholic order in Lutsk. The massive building stands next to the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul and Lubart's Castle, making it easy to spot during a walk through the old town.
History
The Bridgettine order enjoyed strong support among the nobility and townspeople in Lutsk. The monastery was built in the first half of the 17th century and received generous donations: for instance, in 1644, Marianna Hulevychivna donated 1,000 zlotys to the cloister. A school for the daughters of the nobility and wealthy townspeople operated at the monastery. Anna Stanishevska, the daughter of Lutsk key-holder and royal secretary Jan Stanishevsky, studied here, and Anna Hulevychivna, the daughter of Jerzy Hulevych, took the monastic vows of the Bridgettines.
Fires and Prison
The monastery burned down several times. Following a major fire in 1845, the building was converted into a prison: the tower was dismantled, the decor was knocked down, and the windows were altered. As a result, the original church architecture has hardly survived — today the monastery looks stern, like a fortress. Beneath it lie dungeons that tour guides of old Lutsk tell stories about.
What to See
From the outside, the monastery looks austere: thick walls, small windows, and minimal decor — the traces of its conversion into a prison. Yet it is precisely for this reason that it strikes a chord: it is hard to imagine that this was once a women's cloister with a school. The most fascinating features are the underground passages shown during tours of old Lutsk. Tickets and tour times should be checked with the "Old Lutsk" preserve.
The Bridgettine Monastery is part of the cohesive ensemble of Katedralna Street: nearby are the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, the former Jesuit Collegium, and the castle. Together they reveal what Catholic Lutsk of the 17th century was like.
How to Find It
The monastery is located on Katedralna Street, just a few minutes away from Lubart's Castle and the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. Read more about the city in the article Lutsk.
