"WrocLove - you'll love this city !" Wroclaw by AgnusRafferty

Wroclaw (Latin: Vratislavia, German: Breslau, Czech: Wretslaw) is the capital of Lower Silesia, south-western province of Poland. The city, with its 640 000 citizens (over 800 000 in metropolitan area), is fourth largest in Poland. It also is one of the oldest.

First people inhabited Oder river banks in Bronze Age. Archaeologists found some evidence of rural settlements from Unetice (1800-1400 B.C.) and Lusatian (1300-400 B.C.) cultures. It is hard to say when first permanent settlement was founded, but we know that many different tribes lived were todays Wroclaw is located. In first years of X century (915-921) Bohemian (Czech) duke Wratyslaw I attached this unnamed settlement to his lands. Duke died in year 921 and expansion of Piast dynasty put Wroclaw in Polish hands.

The history of the city of Wroclaw begins at the end of the 10th century. At this time the city was limited to Ostrow Tumski (the Cathedral Island). In the year 1000 king Boleslaw I of Poland establishes the first bishopric of Silesia.

In later years city went from hands to hands many times, it was Czech, Polish, Hungarian, German and Polish again. After World War II Wroclaw was resettled by Poles either from small towns and villages of central Poland or from Polish lands annexed by the Soviet Union in the east. Many of them had come from Lwow (today Lviv, Ukraine), Wilno (today Vilnius, Lithuania), and Grodno (today Hrodna, Belarus).

In communist era Wroclaw was neglected by central government. Many buildings which survived war, was disassembled and bricks sent to rebuild capital city of Warsaw. Fortunately, after fall of communism, city went under massive restoration plan. Wroclaw is now a unique European city in present-day Poland, with its architecture under Bohemian, Austrian, and Prussian influence. Wroclaw's Gothic style is originally Silesian, its Baroque style owes much to court builders of Habsburg Austria. Wroclaw still has a number of buildings by eminent German modernist architects, with Hala Stulecia (Centennial Hall) being the most notable.

In July 1997, the city suffered from a flood of the Oder River, the severest flood in the post-war Poland. Wroclaw citizens stand arm to arm to protect their beloved city.

For those interested in history of Wroclaw, I recommend book: "Microcosm. Portrait of a Central European City." by Norman Davies and Roger Moorhouse.

Wroclaw Cathedral

Wroclaw is an important transportation node with 3 international roads, 2 big railway stations, 2 river navigation ports and an international airport, connection to the Central European system of inland roads over the rivers of Odra and Szprewa as well as the largest number of bridges after Venice, Amsterdam and St. Petersburg. It is located near the border with Germany and the Czech Republic and approximately the same distance from three European metropolises: Berlin, Prague and Warsaw as well as close to Dresden.

Key factor that makes Wrocław special as meeting place, is its young population, which counts over 135 000 students per 640 000 permanent inhabitants. The students are very active in the cultural life of the city and they frequently act as volunteers in the local events. Wroclaw is universally perceived as a centre of tremendously rich cultural activity, which often takes place in such historical locations as city squares, churches, municipal buildings and city halls. I hope you will have fun and good memories from your visit in my city.

Wroclaw Pergola & Centennial Hall

Official web site of Wroclaw:
www.wroclaw.pl

Wikipedia web site of Wroclaw:
wikipedia.org/wiki/Wroclaw

GPS coordinates:
51°06'27"N 17°02'18"E

Local time:
Central European Time
wwp.centraleuropeantime.eu

Climate:
Wroclaw has intermediate climate, with 4 seasons (chilly winter and hot summer). Best time to visit is from May to September.

Currency in Poland is Polish Zloty (PLN).
1,00 PLN is approximately 0,24 EUR or 0,35 USD (September 2009)

Visa requirements: citizens of European Union do not need visas to Poland, all other visitors should check Ministry of Foreign Affairs site: www.msz.gov.pl

• In a nutshell:WrocLove - you'll love this city !