St. Sigismund and St. Hedwig of Silesia Church in Kędzierzyn-Koźle

The Church of St. Sigismund and St. Hedwig of Silesia in Kędzierzyn-Koźle is a significant historical landmark, founded by Baron Jan von Oppersdorff and consecrated in 1570. It is one of the oldest buildings in the city, constructed in the Neo-Gothic style using brick. Its architecture features a main nave with a presbytery and two side chapels, as well as a soaring main tower in the Gothic-Renaissance style, which houses the Santa Maria bell. The interior of the church is characterized by ribbed cross vaults, numerous stained-glass windows by Bernhard Latazky, and richly decorated altars, including the main altar and two side altars. The main altar is adorned with biblical scenes and figures of angels, while the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus contains paintings depicting the Passion of Christ. The church also has a crypt with tombs of the Oppersdorff family and the resting place of the parish's last pastors. An interesting feature is the installation of a 1929 Rieger organ, which serves as an important cultural element of the parish. Surrounding the church are remnants of former cemeteries, and a statue of Christ and a missionary cross add to its symbolic significance. Also preserved is the inaccessible Holy Cross crypt, one of the oldest burial sites, underscoring the church's rich history and its importance in the region.