Brzeg

Brzeg is a town in southwestern Poland, the seat of Brzeg County in Opole Voivodeship. It lies on the Oder River and is part of the historic region of Silesia. The town’s urban core preserves a medieval market square and a castle complex that has long served as the seat of local rulers.

Brzeg’s earliest records date from the late Middle Ages, when it developed around a castle that became the seat of the Dukes of Brzeg, a branch of the Silesian Piasts. In the following centuries the town was ruled at times by Poland, Bohemia, and the Habsburgs. After the War of the Austrian Succession, Brzeg became part of Prussia, and in 1871 it joined the German Empire. Following World War II, borders shifted westward and Brzeg became part of Poland again; the town experienced population changes as German residents were replaced by Poles.

Today Brzeg is known for Brzeg Castle, the former ducal residence, which is a major historic landmark and houses a regional museum. The town center features the Market Square with historic civic buildings and several churches that reflect architectural styles from the Middle Ages through the 19th century.

The local economy combines services, small-scale manufacturing, and agriculture in the surrounding area. Brzeg is connected by road and rail to larger cities in Opole and the wider region, supporting both local life and regional travel.