Nysa, Poland

Nysa
Main Square
Nickname(s): 
Śląski Rzym
(Silesian Rome)
Nysa
Coordinates: 50°28′17″N 17°20′2″E / 50.47139°N 17.33389°E / 50.47139; 17.33389
Country Poland
VoivodeshipOpole
CountyNysa
GminaNysa
Established10th century
Town rights1223
Government
  MayorKordian Kolbiarz
Area
  Total
27.5 km2 (10.6 sq mi)
Elevation
195 m (640 ft)
Population
 (2019-06-30)
  Total
43,849
  Density1,600/km2 (4,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
48-300
Area code+48 77
Car platesONY
Websitehttp://www.nysa.pl

Nysa [ˈnɨsa] (German: Neisse or Neiße) is a city in southern Poland on the Eastern Neisse (Polish: Nysa Kłodzka) river, situated in the Opole Voivodeship. With 43,849 inhabitants (2019), it is the capital of Nysa County. It comprises the urban portion of the surrounding Gmina Nysa. Historically the city was part of Upper Silesia.

One of the oldest cities in Silesia, most possibly founded in the 10th century, Nysa was historically one of the leading cities in the region, and from 1290 to 1742 the capital of an episcopally-ruled eponymous duchy. In early modern times it became a center of printing and education, place of study of several notable individuals, including King of Poland Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki. In the 19th and 20th centuries it was the location of German-operated prisoner-of-war camps for soldiers of various nationalities, including future leader of France, Charles de Gaulle. Nysa contains several notable heritage sights in Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles, most notably the Basilica of St. James and St. Agnes, a Historic Monument of Poland.