Wrocław

Wrocław (Polish: [ˈvrɔt͡swaf] (listen);^[a] German: Breslau,^[b] pronounced [ˈbʁɛslaʊ̯] (listen); 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
Left to right: Piasek Island and Ostrów Tumski with Wrocław Cathedral Old Town Hall Puppet Theater Market Square and St. Elizabeth's Church Monopol Hotel Wrocław Główny railway station University of Wrocław
Flag Coat of arms
Motto:  Wrocław: miasto spotkań  (Polish for "Wrocław – The Meeting Place")
Wrocław Show map of Poland Wrocław Show map of Lower Silesian Voivodeship Wrocław Show map of Europe
Coordinates: 51°06′36″N 17°01′57″E
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Lower Silesian Voivodeship
County	city county
Established	10th century
City rights	1214
Government
• City mayor	Jacek Sutryk
Area
• City	292.92 km2 (113.10 sq mi)
Highest elevation	155 m (509 ft)
Lowest elevation	105 m (344 ft)
Population  (31 December 2021)
• City	672,929 (4th)[1]
• Density	2,190/km2 (5,700/sq mi)
• Metro	1,250,000
• Demonym	Vratislavian
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	50-041 to 54–612
Area code	+48 71
Car plates	DW, DX
Website	www.wroclaw.pl

History

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

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

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

• Theodor Mommsen (1902)
• Philipp Lenard (1905)
• Eduard Buchner (1907)
• Paul Ehrlich (1908)
• Gerhart Hauptmann (1912)
• Fritz Haber (1918)
• Friedrich Bergius (1931)
• Otto Stern (1943)
• Max Born (1954)
• Reinhard Selten (1994)

Notes

1. English pronunciation:

   • UK: /ˈvrɒtswɑːf/ VROT-swahf^[2]
   • US: /ˈvrɔːtslɑːf/ VRAWT-slahf.^[3]
2. Latin: Vratislavia or Wratislavia.