Wrocław is the third largest city in Poland in terms of population, after Warsaw and Krakow, with approximately 675,000 inhabitants in an area of 292 square kilometers. A few years after the creation of the Polish state (966 CE) by Prince Mieszko I, Wrocław joined the newly established state. In 1000, the first Polish king, Bolesław I the Brave, founded one of the first four Christian metropolises here. In 1241, for fear of a Tatar invasion, the city was destroyed.
Shortly thereafter, its inhabitants rebuilt it, and as a result, in 1261, Wrosław acquired city rights under Magdeburg law.
In 1335, after the death of Prince Henry VI the Good and after 350 years of rule over Wrocław by the Polish Piast dynasty, it came under the rule of the Czech Republic of Luxenburg. This meant the city's incorporation into the Holy Roman Empire (German nation), which was confirmed by Emperor Charles IV in 1348.
After the death of Louis II Jagiellon in 1521, Wrocław came under the rule of the Habsburgs and consequently became part of Austria.
In 1741, during the Silesian Wars, the city and most of Silesia were captured by the Kingdom of Prussia, Frederick II. Since 1871, Wrocław has been part of the German federal state created as a result of the unification of Germany in 1866-1871 by Prussia under the rule of King Otto von Bismarck.
Wrocław returned to its original roots, i.e. to Poland, in 1945, as a result of agreements between the superpowers after the end of World War II.
In the last two months before the end of this devastating war, fierce battles took place between the Soviet and Nazi armies, which resulted in the destruction of 70% of Wrocław. Fortunately, most of the monuments of ancient art were only partially destroyed, and some were destroyed altogether, so the city authorities were able to erect them within a few years, preserving their old original structure and at the same time their archaeological value.
Wrocław is also known as "Northern Venice" due to the fact that near the old town on the Oder River, which runs through the city, there are several islands that are connected to each other by bridges and give the impression that you are in Venice. In total, there are about 200 bridges in this fantastic city. In the Old Town Square, in the basement of the Town Hall, there is the oldest restaurant in Poland and one of the oldest in the world called "Piwnica Świtnicka", which is considered to have been established in 1273.
Visitors to this wonderful city feel immersed in an ocean of monuments, especially colorful Gothic and medieval buildings, on a journey back to a truly fairy-tale era. Each of us who will be in this city can easily understand that all the dynasties of different nationalities that ruled the city were truly proud of it.