Breslau

Breslau, known in Polish as Wrocław, is a city in southwestern Poland on the Oder River. It is the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship and is one of Poland's largest and oldest cities, with a long history as a regional center of trade, learning, and culture.

The city traces its origins to a medieval settlement and received town rights in the 13th century. It grew under the Piast dukes of Silesia, then passed to the Bohemian Crown and later to the Habsburg Monarchy. After the War of the Austrian Succession, it became part of Prussia in 1741 and later the German Empire in 1871. The 18th–19th centuries brought industrial growth and urban development.

In 1945, following World War II, Breslau became part of Poland and was renamed Wrocław. The German population was largely expelled and Polish citizens, many from areas annexed by the Soviet Union, settled in the city. The postwar years saw extensive rebuilding and modernization.

Today Wrocław is a major cultural and academic center in Poland. It hosts the University of Wrocław (founded 1702) and several other higher education institutions. The city has a renowned market square with the Town Hall, an historic cathedral island, and notable 20th-century architecture such as the Centennial Hall. Wrocław was the European Capital of Culture in 2016 and remains an important regional hub for science, industry, and tourism.