Bystrica. Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

The first wooden church in Bystrica was built in the 14th century. King Jagiello himself donated money for the construction of the church. There was a monastery of the Catholic Augustinian Order near the church. At the beginning of the 16th century, a new church was built with money from King Sigismund the Old. In the middle of the 18th century, during the late Baroque era, the church was significantly rebuilt according to the design of the famous Belarusian architect Johann Christoph Glaubitz (1700 – 1767). During the Russian Empire in the 19th century, the Catholic church was handed over to Orthodox believers. During the Polish era, the church was again returned to Catholic believers.

The church has a single nave with a pentagonal apse. The main facade has two towers. The towers are multi-tiered, with through window openings. Between the towers there is a triangular shield. The interior of the temple is decorated with paintings of the 19th century. The main altar is two-tiered, decorated with decorative moldings and sculptural images of the apostles. The two side altars are also made in the Rococo style.

The church is active, but is not always open, only on holidays and during services. In front of the church there are several private houses of local residents. You need to ask the locals near the church to open the temple for tourists, and they will tell you who has the key.