Wroclaw, Poland
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,
(pronounced Vroths-Wahf), is a located on the banks of the , and is part of the country’s . is the fourth largest in with a population of roughly 640,000, and is by far the demographically youngest in the country, due largely to the presence of the ‘s renown . is a with an , much of which is due its location at the crossroads between major European powers, as well as its position as ‘s most fertile agricultural region. These geographical features made for a that saw integrated into almost every major power in at one point or another. While much of the was unfortunately destroyed during , restoration and reconstruction has restored much of ‘s façade, featuring stunning as well as several major landmarks across the . Today’s is a cultural and intellectual hub, with a vibrant nightlife scene, and a flourishing café and restaurant culture.
Early and Middle Ages
Early settlement in the area surrounding traces back as early as the 2nd century AD, with the area intersecting a junction along trade routes travelling between the Roman Empire in Western , and the Baltic and Black Sea regions to the east. Following the ensuing period of large European migrations, the region was settled by a Western Slavic group known as the Slezans, for which the ‘‘ region would later be named. The ‘s origins in first accounts around the 10th century AD were Bohemian, with its name being owed to the Bohemian Duke Vratislav I, for whom the was his stronghold. Following the conquest of the territory by the Kingdom of around 1000 AD, the name was changed to the Polish variant of Vratislav’s name, Wrotizlava, an early version of today’s . Following Polish conquest, the was designated as a Bishopric, and centred around the ‘‘ or , located in today’s .
Polish rule in the region persisted for several centuries, and despite intermittent warfare with the nearby German states, became quite prosperous during this time. However, this era came to an abrupt end with the invasion of the Mongolian Golden Horde around the mid 13th century, whereby the was razed and abandoned as part of a scorched earth campaign against the invading forces. This, in combination with the devastating effects of the Black Death, left the largely abandoned, until it was again resettled by German settlers, and came to be known more commonly as ‘‘. From this point until the end of , the became increasingly characterised by its large German population, though it remained a highly multicultural commercial hub throughout its . exchanged ownership between , Bohemia, and Hungary between the 14th and 15th centuries, and even joined the -state network of the Hanseatic League for a duration, before falling under the rule of Habsburg Austria in the early 16th century.
Early Modern and Renaissance Era
Habsburg rule in the was an era with a mixed legacy. Much of this time period was marked by the struggle between the reformation and counter-reformation in at the time, with remaining an entrenched Protestant , despite being ruled over, and surrounded by numerous Catholic powers. The landscape of the was marked by this struggle, with religious edifices springing up across the , and defining much of its architecture and landmarks until their destruction in the 20th century. also saw devastation in the wake of the Thirty Years War, as well as an outbreak of plague which nearly halved the ‘s population. Despite this, remained an important and prosperous state, due in no small part to the region’s agricultural importance, serving as the bread-basket of at the time. next same into the possession of Prussia in the year 1742, which conquered the province from Austria during the War of the Austrian Succession. This conflict marked a major turning point in European , solidifying the ascent of Prussia as a Great Power under the famous Frederick the Great, as well as the decline of Habsburg Austria as the leading German power in .
The Napoleonic wars had a visible effect on the landscape of in the early 18th century, with its occupation under the Confederation of the Rhine seeing the razing of the ‘s existing fortifications. Ironically, this served mostly to aid in developing and expanding beyond its original limits, becoming more populous and productive throughout the period of industrialization. For the remainder of the 18th and 19th centuries, continued to grow and prosper, becoming an important industrial , as well as a centre of intellectual and cultural life, eventually becoming the sixth largest in Germany upon Prussia leading its formation in 1871.
The World Wars and their legacy
Following Germany’s loss in the First World War, and the re-emergence of as an independent state, nationalistic tensions grew in the Silesian region, particularly in the majority Polish Upper-. As mandated by the Treaty of Versailles, a plebiscite was to be held in the area to see whether the area should pass to the newly independent , or remain under German control. Following the failure of plebiscite, armed Polish insurrection in the region followed, which was violently put down. This marked the beginning of a period of increasing ethnic, and anti-Semitic tensions. As Nazism grew, persecution intensified in the region, until the conflagration of saw the area play host to the horrors of labour camps and other atrocities. The eventual fall of in 1945 lead to dramatic changes that transformed both the geography and demography of the area, which had seen roughly 70% of the destroyed in the conflict. Into this devastated area, the Soviet Union began to forcibly relocate Poles and Germans in line with new territorial borders set out at the Potsdam Conference. Following this, tens of thousands of Poles dispossessed of land in the Soviet annexed east were forcibly relocated to the west, whereas ethnic Germans were forcibly resettled in East Germany. In the subsequent years the has been able to reclaim its long lost Polish identity, and reclaimed its former name . Reconstruction and restoration saw numerous historic buildings re-emerge, and the is once more a prosperous and thriving hub of activity.
Travelling to
is an incredible to visit on your to , with a bounty of sights and places ideal for an easy , or for a short out into the surrounding region. is an objectively , with an abundance of natural beauty along the , as well as its historic punctuating the cityscape. A will generally take you to some of the ‘s most famous attractions, and is a good way to situate yourself in the before exploring off on your own. A will likely set you off in ‘s historic , here you can find the market , which at 3.8 hectares is one of the largest in all of the Hall, which dates all the way back to the 13th Century; once inside you can find a , as well as one of the oldest restaurants in . Near to the you can also wander across to the , or ‘‘, this site is where some of ‘s oldest originates, dating all the way to the tribal Silesians during the European Migrations. , as you might guess, features a large number of churches, including the of St. John the Baptist, and is the perfect for a scenic walk, with its picturesque scenery along the .
Another sight along the Odra is , featuring an incredible baroque design, the university doubles as one of ‘s most famous museums, with its extravagant decoration making for a memorable and awe inspiring scene that harkens back to the enlightenment era. Also from this era is the Raclawice Panorama, located nearby the cathedral, the Panorama depicts the 18th century Kosciuszko uprising, highlighting and valorising the centuries long Polish struggle for independence. Originally located in Lviv, the Panorama was hidden during much of the Soviet Era, due largely to its expression of Polish nationalism, this eventually came to an end in 1985 as Poland transitioned away from its communist past. Lastly, if you’re looking for a change of pace, be sure to visit Szczytnicki Park. Featuring an elegant Japanese Garden, and located just beside the UNESCO heritage site Centennial Hall, the park is a great way to take a moment and enjoy a more relaxed day. Also nearby is the Wroclaw fountain, which features enormous multimedia displays and nightly shows running from May to October. One of the best way to take in ‘s sights and amazing is with a small group , Odyssey specialises in this kind of , offering a tailored and familiar , ideal for the discerning traveller.
