Cathedral of SS James and Agnes

There's no mistaking Nysa's powerful Cathedral of SS James and Agnes, with its imposing blackened bulk and fine stone double portal. Built in 1430, it was remodelled after a fire in 1542, but hasn't changed much since then. The cathedral's 4000-sq-metre, roof supported by 18 brick columns inside, is one of the steepest church roofs in Europe.

The vast interior, much of it dating from the late 19th century, looks distinctly sober and noble, its loftiness being the most arresting feature. On closer inspection, however, you'll see that its side chapels (a total of 18) boast wonderful stained glass and a wealth of tombstones, funeral monuments and epitaphs, making up the largest collection of funerary sculpture in any Silesian church.

The freestanding block next to the cathedral is the bell tower (dzwonnica), which was begun 50 years after the church was built and originally intended to be over 100m high. Despite 40 years' work it only reached half that height, and consequently looks truncated and odd, especially with the tiny turret tacked on to it.