Wrocław

city in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, southwestern Poland, and historical capital of Silesia
(Redirected from Breslau)

Wrocław (Polish: [ˈvrɔt͡swaf] (audio speaker iconlisten);[a] German: Breslau,[b] pronounced [ˈbʁɛslaʊ̯] (audio speaker iconlisten); Lower Silesian: Brassel)[4] is the biggest city in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in the southwest part of Poland. The German name of the city is Breslau, and the Czech name is Vratislav. The Oder River goes through the city. There are also 4 other small rivers which connect with the Oder River in the territory of the city: Bystrzyca, Oława, Ślęza and Widawa. Before World War II there were 303 bridges in the city; now there are about 220. In Latin it is called "Vratislavia".

Wrocław
Piasek Island and Ostrów Tumski
Old City Hall
Puppet Theater
Market Square and St. Elizabeth's Church
Monopol Hotel
Wrocław Główny railway station
University of Wrocław
Flag of Wrocław
Coat of arms of Wrocław
Motto: 
Wrocław: miasto spotkań  (Polish for "Wrocław – The Meeting Place")
Wrocław is located in Poland
Wrocław
Wrocław
Wrocław is located in Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Wrocław
Wrocław
Wrocław is located in Europe
Wrocław
Wrocław
Coordinates: 51°06′36″N 17°01′57″E / 51.11000°N 17.03250°E / 51.11000; 17.03250
Country Poland
Voivodeship Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Countycity county
Established10th century
City rights1214
Government
 • City mayorJacek Sutryk
Area
 • City292.92 km2 (113.10 sq mi)
Highest elevation
155 m (509 ft)
Lowest elevation
105 m (344 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2021)
 • City672,929 (4th)[1]
 • Density2,190/km2 (5,700/sq mi)
 • Metro
1,250,000
 • Demonym
Vratislavian
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
50-041 to 54–612
Area code+48 71
Car platesDW, DX
Websitewww.wroclaw.pl

History

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Breslau

Wrocław is over 1000 years old. It was originally a Slavic town. During the Middle Ages it became a German city, but before that Wrocław was a Czech city. It was called Breslau for a long time. During the Second World War the city was badly damaged. About 70% of the buildings were damaged. Many of them were rebuilt. After the war, the city became Polish, and the German citizens were forced to leave. It has been called by its Polish name Wrocław ever since.

Johannes Brahms wrote his Academic Festival Overture to thank the University of Breslau in Wrocław. This was for an honorary doctorate he was awarded by the university.[5]

Modern Wrocław

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Its population in 2004 was 638,000. There are 10 universities in the city. It is famous for its beautiful historical town square (Polish rynek) and cathedral (large church).

In 1997 the Oder River flooded, causing a lot of damage.

Nobel Prize winners from Wrocław

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10 people from Wrocław have won the Nobel Prize. They are:

  1. English pronunciation:
  2. Latin: Vratislavia or Wratislavia.

References

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  1. "Local Data Bank". Statistics Poland. Retrieved 10 July 2022. Data for territorial unit 0264000.
  2. "Wrocław". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2021-09-12.
  3. "Wrocław". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  4. Gedicht A Gebirgsmadla ei Brassel, in H. Tschampel: Gedichte in schlesischer Mundart. 5th eddition. Schweidnitz, p. 62.
  5. "Academic Festival Overture". Los Angeles Philharmonic. Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2016.

Other websites

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  Media related to Wrocław at Wikimedia Commons