The church was originally a collegiate church before being elevated to cathedral status in 1972.
The Chapel of the Piasts is one of the few surviving monuments dedicated to the Silesian Piast dynasty.
The church towers are among the tallest structures in Opole, visible from most points in the city.
It contains a silver-plated altar dating back to the 17th century.
The relic of the Holy Cross was a gift intended to serve as a palladium for the city.
The building was constructed on a three-aisle floor plan without a transept.
The Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Opole is a Gothic hall church featuring two prominent 103-meter-high towers that define the city's skyline. The current structure, dating primarily to the 14th and 15th centuries, replaced earlier Romanesque predecessors on the site. It houses the miraculous relic of the Holy Cross, donated by Duke Władysław of Opole in 1381. The interior contains the Renaissance-era sarcophagus of the Piast dukes of Opole in the Chapel of the Piasts. Major architectural renovations in the late 19th century gave the exterior its current Neo-Gothic character. The cathedral serves as the main seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Opole.
From the Piast Tower or the nearby Bolko Island bridge for a full perspective of the towers.
Visit the Piast Chapel carefully to view the intricately carved sarcophagi of the last Opole dukes.
Walk around the perimeter of the cathedral to observe the transition between original Gothic brickwork and 19th-century Neo-Gothic restoration.
Check the cathedral website for seasonal organ concert schedules.
Do not attempt to enter or walk through the nave during active religious services.
Avoid visiting during Sunday morning liturgies when tourist access is restricted.
Maintain silence; modest attire covering shoulders and knees is expected.
