One of Poland’s largest and most beautiful cities, Wrocław (pronounced Vrots-wahf) does not receive the attention from tourists it deserves. This can only be good news for the prospective visitor, as it means you will be treated to a more genuine representation of everyday life in Poland, and will not be forced to battle the crowds of other European cities. Wrocław’s Main Market Square is comparable to Krakow’s famous square both in size and beauty, and its Old Town is equally impressive. With the ever-growing number of budget airlines in Europe Wrocław is now more accessible than ever, and its large number of students make it one of Poland’s most eclectic, most cultural cities.

Sightseeing

Wrocław was comprehensively destroyed during one of the Second World War’s worst battles. This makes its present Old Town all the more impressive. With the picturesque Odra River weaving its way through the city, Wrocław boasts more bridges that almost any other city in Europe. With a population of 700,000, and a very condensed Old Town, most of Wrocław’s highlights are within easy walking distance of each other. Highlights of Wrocław include:

• The vast Main Market Square with a Town Hall dating back to the 14th century. Market Square is the largest and most beautiful in Poland. Surrounded by historical buildings. The most valuable houses are preserved in the west frontage. The most impressive sight is the market hall – the pearl of Gothic and Renaissance architecture.

• Cathedral Island-Ostrów Tumski is the oldest part of Wrocław, with the first constructions appearing as early as the 10th century. Complex is the largest complex church in Wroclaw, the seat of the Archbishopric. The main building is the Gothic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the other monuments Ostrow are two-storey Gothic church. Cross and St. Bartłomieja, the Romanesque-Gothic church of St. Marcina and St. Idziego, chapter house

• St Elizabeth’s Church is one of the tallest structures in the old town. The interior hosts impressive Gothic and Renaissance alters, as well as over 100 tombs. If you can brave the 300 plus narrow steps to the top you’ll have one of the most spectacular views of Wrocław.

• Church of Sts. Cross – is on the Cathedral Island, was founded by Henry Probus 11.01.1288 years the cathedral became the second church in the hierarchy of churches in Wroclaw. The Gothic church was built on a cruciform plan. In the lower church was used cross-ribbed vaulting in the upper stellar. Both towers of the church from the fourteenth century.

• The Racławice Panorama – Panorama Racławicka – this immense panoramic painting measures a colossal 15 × 120 metres. The panorama was executed over 9 months in 1893-94 as a homage to the victorious Battle of Racławice which occurred during the Kościuszko Uprising 100 years earlier.

• Centennial Hall – Hala Ludowa was constructed in 1911-13 while the city was part of the German Empire. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and regularly hosts sporting events.

• Grunwald Bridge – was built in 1908-1910 according to the design engineers, Meyer, Weyraucha, Scholtz and Bender. He received the name of the first bridge of the Imperial, then Liberty. Crossing span is 216m, the length of the bridge 112.5 m. The architecture shows influences of Art Nouveau pylons.

• Town Arsenal – also called Mikolajski. The Gothic building was designed in the granary in 1459 in the year immediately north of the western ramparts. From the beginning, represented the type of architecture, a simple, uncomplicated, serving strictly utilitarian purposes. At the arsenal has been rebuilt in the sixteenth century and during that period dates back to the creation of the north wing. A unique building in Europe. The eastern wing is open and the northern branch of the Historical Museum.

• University of Wroclaw – a baroque building with well-preserved interiors of high artistic value

• Szczytnicki Park – Old Forest Szczytnicki already in the middle of the eighteenth century, enjoyed a popularity among the inhabitants of Wroclaw. In 1783 Frederick Hohenlohe-Engelfingen bought that forest and transformed it into the prince’s garden – one of the first parks on the European continent decorated in English style. Was devastated by Napoleon’s troops during the siege of the city. The park has a Japanese Garden was founded in the years 1909-1912, which was enlarged and rebuilt in 1997.

• Japanese Garden – Japanese Garden in Wroclaw Szczytnicki Park was founded in 1913 at the Centennial Exhibition, as part of the Garden exhibition

History and Geography

Wrocław is the capital city of the province (Voivodeship) of Lower Silesia. Located in the south-west part of Poland, Wrocław is one of Poland’s warmest cities. The surrounding area is a mixture of low-lying rural landscapes to the north, and the popular Sudetan Mountains to the south.

Wrocław has been subjected to an incredibly convoluted past, having belonged to five different countries and taken four different names.

• The first records of the city are from the 10th century when it was confined to Cathedral Island (Ostrów Tumski). At this time it assumed the name Vratislavia, most likely after the Bohemian duke Vratislav 1.
• During the early days of the city it changed hands several times resulting in a very multi-ethnic population. In 1241 the city was destroyed by the Mongol Invasion of Europe and then reformed by Germans. It was at this time that the city took the German name Breslau.
• The city became protestant in 1518 as a result of the Protestant Reformation. A Counter Reformation followed, resulting in much of the architecture that remained until 1945. The city became a centre of German Baroque literature.
• During the Napoleonic Wars the city was at the centre of the German Liberation movement against Napoleon.
• In 1919 the city, still named Breslau, became the capital of the province of Lower Silesia, then part of the Free State of Prussia.
• For the majority of World War II the city was free of fighting. But the Siege of Breslau in 1945 levelled half the city and left close to 40,000 inhabitants dead.
• Breslau became part of Poland after World War II, and within four years most German inhabitants had left the city. The restoration of the city was completed in the 1980s.