Wrocław

Sister cities

• Breda
• Lviv
• Vilnius
• Vienne
• Charlotte
• Guadalajara
• Kyiv
• Dresden
• Wiesbaden
• Lille
• Skopje
• Kaunas

History

In ancient times, there was a place called Budorigum at or near the site of Wrocław. It was already mapped on Claudius Ptolemy's map of AD 142–147. Settlements in the area existed from the 6th century onward during the migration period. The Ślężans, a West Slavic tribe, settled on the Oder river and erected a fortified gord on Ostrów Tumski. Wrocław originated at the intersection of two trade routes, the Via Regia and the Amber Road. Archeological research conducted in the city indicates that it was founded around 940. In 985, Duke Mieszko I of Poland conquered Silesia, and constructed new fortifications on Ostrów. The town was mentioned by Thietmar explicitly in the year 1000 AD in connection with its promotion to an episcopal see during the Congress of Gniezno. During Wrocław's early history, control over it changed hands between the Duchy of Bohemia (1038–1054), the Duchy of Poland and the Kingdom of Poland (985–1038 and 1054–1320). Following the fragmentation of the Kingdom of Poland, the Piast dynasty ruled the Duchy of Silesia. One of the most important events during this period was the foundation of the Diocese of Wrocław in 1000. Along with the Bishoprics of Kraków and Kołobrzeg, Wrocław was placed under the Archbishopric of Gniezno in Greater Poland, founded by Pope Sylvester II through the intercession of Polish duke (and later king) Bolesław I the Brave and Emperor Otto III, during the Gniezno Congress. In the years 1034–1038 the city was affected by the pagan reaction in Poland. By 1139, a settlement belonging to Governor Piotr Włostowic (also known as Piotr Włast Dunin) was built, and another on the left bank of the River Oder, near the present site of the university. While the city was largely Polish, it also had communities of Bohemians (Czechs),…

Geography

Wrocław is located in the three mesoregions of the Silesian Lowlands (Wrocław Plain, Wrocław Valley, Oleśnica Plain) at an elevation of around 105–156 metres (Gajowe Hill and Maślickie Hill) above sea level. The city lies on the Oder River and its four tributaries, which supply it within the city limits – Bystrzyca, Oława, Ślęza and Widawa. The Dobra River and many streams flow through the city. The city has a sewage treatment plant on the Janówek estate. There are 44 city parks and public green spaces covering around 800 hectares. The most notable are Szczytnicki Park, Park Południowy (South Park) and Anders Park. In addition, Wrocław University runs an historical botanical garden, founded in 1811, with a salient Alpine garden, a lake and a valley. In Wrocław, the presence of over 200 species of birds has been registered, of which over 100 have nesting places there. As in other large Polish cities, the most numerous are pigeons. Other common species are the sparrow, tree sparrow, siskin, rook, hooded crow, jackdaw, magpie, swift, martin, swallow, kestrel, mute swan, mallard, coot, goosander, black-headed gull, great tit, blue tit, long-tailed tit, greenfinch, hawfinch, collared dove, wood pigeon, fieldfare, redwing, common starling, grey heron, white stork, common chaffinch, blackbird, jay, nuthatch, bullfinch, cuckoo, waxwing, lesser spotted woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, middle spotted woodpecker, white wagtail, blackcap, black redstart, spotted flycatcher, collared flycatcher, goldfinch, marsh harrier, little bittern, common moorhen, reed bunting, penduline tit, great reed warbler, little crake, little ringed plover and white-tailed eagle. The city is periodically plagued by the brown rat, especially in the Market Square and in the vicinity of eateries.…

Most-observed species

• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,249
• Hooded Crow

  Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,238
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,102
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,049
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  926
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  820
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  779
• Great Spotted Woodpecker

  Dendrocopos major (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  769

Most recent

• M 4.3 — 2026-08-12
  5 km N of Polkowice, Poland
• M 3.9 — 2026-07-18
  4 km N of Polkowice, Poland
• M 4 — 2026-07-18
  0 km E of Polkowice, Poland
• M 4.9 — 2026-07-11
  2 km W of Polkowice, Poland
• M 4.2 — 2026-05-03
  6 km E of Radwanice, Poland
• M 4.2 — 2026-01-21
  5 km E of Polkowice, Poland