Poland Guide
Lower Silesia
Wrocław
Lower Silesia's historic capital, Wrocław is the fourth-largest city in Poland, with an exhilarating big city feel to it. However, behind this animated appearance lies an extraordinary story of ruin and regeneration. Its special nature comes from the fact that it contains the souls of two great cities. One of these is the city that has long stood on this spot, Slav by origin but for centuries German (who knew it as Breslau). The other is Lwów (now L'viv), capital of Polish Ukraine, which was annexed by the Soviets in 1939 and retained by them in 1945. After the war, its displaced population was encouraged to take over the severely depopulated Breslau, which had been confiscated from Germany and offered them a ready-made home.
Part re-creation of Lwów, part continuation of the tradition of Breslau, postwar Wrocław has a predominantly industrial character. However, there's ample compensation for this in the old city's core. The multinational influences which shaped it are graphically reflected in its architecture: the huge Germanic brick Gothic churches that dominate the Old Town are intermingled with Flemish-style Renaissance mansions, palaces and chapels of Viennese Baroque, and boldly utilitarian public buildings from the early years of the twentieth century. The tranquillity of the parks, gardens and rivers – which are crossed by more than one hundred bridges – offers a ready escape from the urban bustle, while the city has a vibrant cultural scene, its theatre tradition enjoying worldwide renown.
Read more ▼
- Practical Information ▼
- Sight(s) ▼