Szlaki województw śląskiego i opolskiego

The church under the invocation of St. James the Greater Apostle and St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr, towering over the town market square, is the former, representative temple of the bishops of Wrocław. Modeled on the architecture of the Gniezno Cathedral, the facility, which was created in stages from the end of the 14th century, stands on the site of a Romanesque temple destroyed in the first half of the 13th century. The Nysa parish church possesses one of the steepest roofs in Europe with an area of 4 thousand square meters. Upon entering inside, a sequence of high, slender pillars strikes the eye. The temple houses 16 side chapels, and the most historic element of the furnishings is the Gothic-Renaissance triptych from the 16th century placed in the presbytery as the main altar, called the Passion Altar. In turn, the oldest element of the interior decor is the statue of the so-called Beautiful Madonna with Child from 1410, originating from the non-existent Nysa church of Maria in Rosis. In the church, there are tombs of eight bishops of Wrocław, as well as sarcophagi and epitaphs of other clergy, knights, and burghers. Next to the temple stands a belfry, whose construction began at the end of the 15th century. Currently, an exhibition, the Treasury of St. James, is arranged in it with a collection of liturgical equipment and other works of goldsmith art, made mostly by Nysa goldsmiths. According to legend, a pagan place of worship was located on the site of the church. Around the year 1000, a resident of the Nysa settlement, Jakub, together with his wife Agnieszka, built a medium-sized wooden church in its place. Simultaneously, the founders became the patrons of the temple. Practical information: Independent sightseeing is possible during the opening hours of the Basilica: from Monday to Saturday from 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM, on Sunday from 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM (between masses). It is possible to rent audio guides in the parish office. If you wish to visit the Basilica with a guide, this fact should be reported in the office or to the parish priest. Free admission. Paid parking spaces on Piastowska Street.