Basilica of St. James and St. Agnes, Nysa, Poland

The Basilica of St. James and St. Agnes is a basilica minor in Nysa. It is the largest sacramental building in the town, and historically cultural site of the town. The basilica was built on the turning point of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, in the area known as the New Town. It was the first parish church, raised in between 1195 and 1198, consecrated by Wrocław's Jarosław Bishop in 1198.

The current church was built in two phases. The first stage was built before 1392, when the six-span church was built. The second stage was built between 1424 and 1430, when the chancel and ambulatory were built. St. James's Church was the highest building in the town at that time, with its rooftop surpassing all of the town's structures; taking part in an exceptionally historic part of town.

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Religious sites in Poland

User Reviews

Lewis O'D (2 years ago)
Nice architecture looking forward to seeing it after renovations are completed

Pav (2 years ago)
Really nice looking building, there should be some medieval attractions and not church...

Henrik Hansen (2 years ago)
Big and beautiful church with a high ceiling. At the moment (June 19) it's being taken care of, so that it looks a bit like a construction site. And if you go there in the summer, you should bring something warm, unless you just go inside to cool off. Where I was sitting it was easy enough to hear what the priest said during the mass, even though he was very soft spoken. ( I don't understand polish, but I didn't expect any translation)

Amator P (2 years ago)
Third largest roof area church in Europe. Magnificient cathedral and beautyfull city with lake!

Liam Irish Duncan British Irish . (2 years ago)
It is a very historic church and it is a worth a visit just for that, I am not a religious person!

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

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Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba

The Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba, also known as the Great Mosque of Córdoba and the Mezquita is regarded as one of the most accomplished monuments of Moorish architecture.

According to a traditional account, a small Visigoth church, the Catholic Basilica of Saint Vincent of Lérins, originally stood on the site. In 784 Abd al-Rahman I ordered construction of the Great Mosque, which was considerably expanded by later Muslim rulers. The mosque underwent numerous subsequent changes: Abd al-Rahman II ordered a new minaret, while in 961 Al-Hakam II enlarged the building and enriched the Mihrab. The last of such reforms was carried out by Almanzor in 987. It was connected to the Caliph"s palace by a raised walkway, mosques within the palaces being the tradition for previous Islamic rulers – as well as Christian Kings who built their palaces adjacent to churches. The Mezquita reached its current dimensions in 987 with the completion of the outer naves and courtyard.

In 1236, Córdoba was conquered by King Ferdinand III of Castile, and the centre of the mosque was converted into a Catholic cathedral. Alfonso X oversaw the construction of the Villaviciosa Chapel and the Royal Chapel within the mosque. The kings who followed added further Christian features, such as King Henry II rebuilding the chapel in the 14th century. The minaret of the mosque was also converted to the bell tower of the cathedral. It was adorned with Santiago de Compostela"s captured cathedral bells. Following a windstorm in 1589, the former minaret was further reinforced by encasing it within a new structure.

The most significant alteration was the building of a Renaissance cathedral nave in the middle of the expansive structure. The insertion was constructed by permission of Charles V, king of Castile and Aragon. Artisans and architects continued to add to the existing structure until the late 18th century.

Architecture

The building"s floor plan is seen to be parallel to some of the earliest mosques built from the very beginning of Islam. It had a rectangular prayer hall with aisles arranged perpendicular to the qibla, the direction towards which Muslims pray. The prayer hall was large and flat, with timber ceilings held up by arches of horseshoe-like appearance.

In planning the mosque, the architects incorporated a number of Roman columns with choice capitals. Some of the columns were already in the Gothic structure; others were sent from various regions of Iberia as presents from the governors of provinces. Ivory, jasper, porphyry, gold, silver, copper, and brass were used in the decorations. Marvellous mosaics and azulejos were designed. Later, the immense temple embodied all the styles of Morisco architecture into one composition.

The building is most notable for its arcaded hypostyle hall, with 856 columns of jasper, onyx, marble, granite and porphyry. These were made from pieces of the Roman temple that had occupied the site previously, as well as other Roman buildings, such as the Mérida amphitheatre. The double arches were an innovation, permitting higher ceilings than would otherwise be possible with relatively low columns. The double arches consist of a lower horseshoe arch and an upper semi-circular arch.

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Basilica of St. James and St. Agnes

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