Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: St. Jakob

Nysa was probably founded in the 10th century. The name of the Nysa river, from which the town takes its name, was mentioned in 991 when it was part of the Duchy of Poland under Mieszko I. A Polish stronghold was built in Nysa in the 11th and 12th centuries due to the proximity of the border with the Czech Duchy. From the 14th century on it was administered by the Bishopric of Wrocław. Nysa was granted town rights around 1223 and attracted Flemish and German settlers. In 1241 it was ravaged by the Mongols during the first Mongol invasion. In 1245, it was granted staple right and two yearly fairs were established. Nysa became an important trade and craft center of Poland before it passed under the suzerainty of the Bohemian Crown in 1351, under which it remained until 1742. The town's fortifications from 1350 served to defend against the Hussites in 1424. During the Thirty Years' War, it was besieged three times. It was looted by the Saxons and Swedes. During the First Silesian War in 1741, it was captured by Prussians. In 1758 it was unsuccessfully besieged by the Austrians and stayed Prussian. Towards the end of WWII, about 80% of the city center was destroyed. Most affected were the houses on the Rynek (Market Place) and the houses along the main streets. - There has been a Romanesque church at the site since the first was built between 1195 and 1198. This church was destroyed during the first Mongol raid in 1241. The rebuilding process started immediately, but in 1249, during a dispute between Bolesław II the Horned and Henry III the White the church burned down. After the reconstruction, the church survived for about 150 years, despite the damage caused in 1285 by the forces of Henryk IV Probus (aka "Henry the Just"). The first stage of the new Gothic church was built before 1392. The Gothic choir with an ambulatory and the nave with six bays were built, but it burned down in 1401. In 1424 the master-builder Peter Frankenstein was commissioned to continue. He built a Gothic three-nave hall church from bricks on the model of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and St. Adalbert in Gniezno. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the interior was remodeled in the Baroque style, covering the wall and ceiling paintings with stucco and removing many Gothic items. The church suffered significant damage in 1741 during the Silesian Wars and again in 1807 during the artillery bombardment by the Grande Armée. In 1889-1895 the church was thoroughly renovated The baroque interior was replaced by a neo-Gothic one. Just before WWII, an attempt was made to restore the original appearance of the church, but during the fighting in 1945 the interior burned down, and the western gable collapsed. Meanwhile, the restoration is done. The new roof structure was made of steel to avoid fire hazards. In medieval times this church was a halt on the way to Santiago. And it is again!

The capital of one of the pillars next to the "Puerta Santa", the center of the ambulatory, shows a row of mermaids and angels. A very prominent place for mermaids.

The peninsula was a celtic sacred spot. The whole area was resistant to conversion to Christianity and was only converted in the 1100s, when christian pilgrims from all over Europe headed to nearby Santiago already. The legend connected to this church "Nosa Senora da Barca" - and the area "Santuario da Virxe da Barca", may be connected to this late conversion. It tells, that St. James tried hard, to christianize the pagans here, but failed - and so was very disappointed. Virgin Mary (Virxe = Virgin) came to St. James on a boat from stone, to comfort him. The stones near the church are now said to be remains of that stone boat. When this legend got popular lots of pilgrims continued from Santiago via Fisterra to Muxia.