How many things do you really know about Wroclaw? To begin with, did you know such a beautiful city existed in the heart of Poland? Or did you know that its name is also Breslau, or that its canals with 120 bridges make it the « Fourth Venice of Europe » (after Venice itself, Amsterdam, and St. Petersburg)? Or … did you know that it has Poland’s oldest Town Hall, or that continental Europe’s very first travel agency opened here (after Thomas Cook, which, however, was founded in England)… ? There is truly so much to discover in Wroclaw that a trip to this city becomes an experience to be enjoyed with curiosity. Especially in spring, the perfect season to be here.
Getting to Wroclaw
Wroclaw has its own international airport Copernicus (WRO), which handles such traffic that it is Poland’s fifth-largest airport. Well served by roads and railways, and conveniently located almost at the center of Europe, Wroclaw is easily accessible by any means of transport from every corner of the continent. You can also enjoy the city by bicycle or by taking advantage of our convenient chauffeur-driven taxi services.
The heart of Wroclaw
The heart of Wroclaw is called Rynek, an entire historic neighborhood named after the main square. This square is lined with incredible Gothic buildings that have remained intact since the Middle Ages. Their names recall the markets (« Salt Square ») that once took place here daily.
Walking along the streets of Rynek, you’ll admire the Old Town Hall, the House of the Seven Electors, the Old Pharmacy, the Basilica of St. Elizabeth, and the many pastel-colored façades that make the neighborhood seem almost fairytale place. In the heart of Wroclaw’s historic center lies « Cathedral Island » (Ostrów Tumski), a veritable island surrounded by the water of the Oder river. It houses the original old town and the cathedral dedicated to Saint Magdalene. This Gothic church towers over the city with its two spectacular pointed towers, connected by a 45-meter-high suspension bridge (the Witches’ Bridge), open to tourist visits!
Other interesting places to see in the city center include the Hansel and Gretel Houses (two medieval buildings joined by an arch), Szczytnicki Park, the Centennial Hall and the nearby Multimedia Fountain with its fabulous multicolored jets, the Italian Cemetery (where the soldiers who fell at Kobarid in 1917 are buried), and the Water Tower.
What to see nearby
Near Wroclaw there are… other nations! Thanks to its central location, the city is a crossroads of transport routes that connect it directly to places such as Czestochowa (the city of the Marian shrine so beloved by pope John Paul II), Krakow, Poznan, Prague in the Czech Republic, and Dresden in Germany.
For those who love the outdoors, excursions near Wroclaw may be done at the Table Mountains, specifically along the trails of Góry Stołowe National Park, or exploring the Krkonoše (Giant Mountains) National Park. Locals love hiking through the green meadows of the Ślęża Mountains, which are not a protected nature reserve but are treated with love and respect as if they were.
Fun facts about Wroclaw
What you may (still) don’t know about Wroclaw is that the streets of its historic center are dotted with adorable bronze « dwarvies ». These statues represent funny gnomes or animals and literally accompany visitors on walking tours.
A well-hidden treasure, however, is the Raclawice Panorama. Enclosed within the walls of an anonymous circular building in the city center, a spectacular diorama (a small-scale reproduction) depicts the battle fought on April 4, 1794, between the Polish and Russian armies. If you want to admire it, you must follow a circular route – 114 meters long by 15 meters high – immersing yourself in a 3D experience that will leave you completely astonished! You’ll leave the experience feeling like soldiers who have just escaped a massacre!
If you get hungry during your city tour, stop for a bite to eat at Piwnica Świdnica. This isn’t just any restaurant; it’s perhaps one of the oldest restaurants in the world, having been serving menus to foreigners since 1275! Even today, you can enjoy here pork dishes prepared according to medieval recipes and taste the famous Wroclaw beer, which, despite changing its name and flavor in years, follows an ancient and… naturally… secret recipe!
