Wroclaw

Wrocław (Breslau in German, Vratislav in Czech) is the largest city in the historical region of Silesia and lies on the banks of the River Oder, roughly 350 km from the Baltic Sea to the north and 40 km from the Sudeten Mountains to the south. The population of Wrocław in 2019 was 641,607, making it the 4^th largest city in Poland.

The history of the city dates back over a thousand years, with a heritage that combines almost all the religions and cultures of Europe. At various times, it has been part of the Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Kingdom of Hungary, the Habsburg Monarchy, Prussia, and Germany.  Wrocław became part of Poland again in 1945.

Ostrów Tumski, formerly an island, is the oldest part of the city of Wrocław and features the Wrocław Cathedral, built originally in the mid 10th century.

The Main Market Square (Rynek) from the 13^th century features e.g. the Old Town Hall, St. Elisabeth’s Church, the Salt Square flower market. Close to the square you also find the 13th century St. Mary Magdalene Church.

St. Vincent and St. James’ Cathedral and the Holy Cross and St. Bartholomew’s Collegiate Church are burial sites of Henry II the Pious and Henry IV Probus.

The city is known for its many bars and nightclubs in or near the Market Square and in the Niepolda passage on the Bogusławskiego street.

In the basement of the old City Hall houses you can also find one of Europe’s oldest restaurants – Piwnica Świdnicka (said to have opened around 1275).

Wrocław has a good public transport system, including bus lines and 23 tram lines. Tickets can be bought in kiosks and vending machines, located at the stops and in the vehicles.

Some interesting historical and some more recent facts:

• The city is believed to be named after Duke Vratislav I of Bohemia who ruled the region between 915 and 921.
• There was a place called Budorigum, at or close to Wrocław, already mapped in AD 142–147, and settlements in the area existed from the 6th century onward during the Barbarian Invasions aka Völkervanderung aka the Migration Period.
• In 1241, during the First Mongol invasion of Poland, the city was abandoned and burnt down for strategic reasons.
• People born or resident in the city are known as “Vratislavians” (in Polish: wrocławianie).
• Wrocław is a large university city and since the beginning of the 20th century, the University of Wroclaw, previously Breslau University, has produced an impressive 9 Nobel Prize winners.
• The currency used is Polish Zloty (PLN).