WROCŁAW
THE MEETING
PLACE
Wrocław
Wrocław was the historical capital of
Silesia, and today is the capital of the Lower
Silesian Voivodeship. Over the centuries, the
city has been part of either Poland, Bohemia,
Austria, Prussia, or Germany, and has been
part of Poland since 1945 as a result of border
changes after World War II. According to
official figures for 2010, its population is
632,996, making it the fourth largest city in
Poland.
Etymology
The city's name was first recorded, in Latin, in the
form "Wrotizlava", in the chronicle of Thietmar of
Merseburg, which mentions it as a seat of a newly
installed bishopric in the context of the Congress of
Gniezno. The first municipal seal stated Sigillum
civitatis Wratislavie. A simplified name is given, in
1175, as Wrezlaw, Prezla or Breslaw. The Czech spelling
was used in Latin documents as Wratislavia or
Vratislavia. At that time, Prezla was used in Middle
High German, which became Preßlau. In the middle of
the 14th century the Early New High German (and later
New High German) form of the name Breslau began to
replace its earlier versions.
History
The city of Wrocław originated as a
Bohemian stronghold at the intersection of
two trade routes, the Via Regia and the Amber
Road. The name of the city was first recorded
in the 10th century as Vratislavia, possibly
derived from the name of a Bohemian duke
Vratislav I. Its initial extent was limited to
Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island, German:
Dominsel).
Economy
Wrocław's major industries were traditionally the
manufacture of railroad cars and electronics. In recent
years the City Council has run an active policy to attract
foreign investors from the high-tech sector. This resulted
among others in the location of LG Electronics production
cluster in Kobierzyce near Wrocław. After 1989, Wrocław
became a significant financial centre and houses the
headquarters of several nationwide financial institutions
such as Bank Zachodni WBK, Lukas Bank, Getin Bank, and
Europejski Fundusz Leasingowy. As of the end of 2008,
Wrocław enjoyed a very low unemployment level of just
3.2% compared with the national level of 8.7%.[35] In 2008,
per capita gross domestic product in Wrocław came to
27755$ (in Poland 17625$).
Transport
Wrocław is skirted on the south by the A4
motorway, which allows for a quick
connection with Upper Silesia, Kraków and
further east to the Ukraine, and Dresden and
Berlin to the west. The A8 motorway
(Wrocław ring road) around the west and
north of the city connects the A4 motorway
with the S8 express road (under construction)
that leads to Łódź, Warsaw and Białystok
The city is served by: Wrocław
International Airport; a river port; the main
rail station Wrocław Główny; and, adjacent to
the mail railway station, a central bus station
with services offered by Przedsiębiorstwo
Komunikacji Samochodowej.
Public transport in Wrocław includes bus
lines and 22 tram lines operated by Miejskie
Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne (MPK, the
Municipal Transport Company)
Sports in Wrocław
Śląsk Wrocław — men's football team (Polish Championship in
Football 1977, 2012; Polish Cup winner 1976, 1987; Polish
SuperCup winner 1987, Polish League Cup winner 2009) (Now in
Ekstraklasa (Polish Premier League).
Śląsk Wrocław — (previous names:BASCO Śląsk Wrocław,
ASCO Śląsk Wrocław, Bergson Śląsk Wrocław, Era Śląsk Wrocław,
Deichmann Śląsk Wrocław, Idea Śląsk Wrocław, Zepter Idea Śląsk
Wrocław, Zepter Śląsk Wrocław, Śląsk ESKA Wrocław, Śląsk Wrocław,
CWKS Wrocław) men's basketball team, 17 times Polish Champion,
6 times runner-up, 14 times third place; 12 times Polish Cup winner.
Now in Polish 2nd league (the league after PLK and Polish 1st
League)
Śląsk Wrocław — men's handball team (15 times Polish
Champion)