10 Things to Do and See in Wrocław

Wrocław or Breslau (you choose which is easier to pronounce) is a beautiful Polish town that for many centuries belonged to Germany.

From this combination, something interesting had to arise, considering that the two peoples never really liked each other. A tourist destination that was relatively unknown until a few years ago, with the opening of a low-cost route by Ryanair, it has become a weekend getaway.

Yet, just a few steps in the Old Town will reveal that a few hours are not enough to appreciate the architectural harmony and relaxed atmosphere of Wrocław.

An atmosphere that becomes particularly romantic and evocative in the evening, thanks to the efforts of a lamplighter who lights 103 gas lamps, one by one, and then extinguishes them at dawn.

Wrocław is small and easily explored on foot, especially since the most important tourist monuments are concentrated within a few meters: Market Square, the Town Hall, and the Cathedral, while just a few bus stops will take you to the Centennial Hall, the Panorama of Racławice, and some unique attractions like the Monument to Passersby.

With the second largest university in Poland, after that of Kraków, Wrocław also boasts a vibrant social life, thanks in part to a young population that gathers in the streets at all hours of the day and night. On this page, we will highlight 10 must-see attractions during a visit to Wrocław.

1

The great Market Square (Rynek) of Wrocław has been the central point of economic life in the Polish city for centuries and is one of the most beautiful and largest squares in Europe.

Dominating the square is the Gothic silhouette of the Town Hall (see point 3), while at the center it is divided by the Cloth Hall.

Rynek, which in Polish means Market Square, is surrounded by beautiful bourgeois palaces, among which stand out the ones "Under the Sign of Seven Electors" and "Under the Sign of the Golden Sun".

Very special are the pair of small buildings at the northwest corner, which the residents of Wrocław call Jaś and Małgosia (Hansel and Gretel).

These are two old medieval buildings, joined by a door that served for many centuries as an entrance to the cemetery (noting the plaque Mors est ianua vitae, "Death is the door to life").

Next to Rynek is the small plac Solny, the Salt Square, which for many centuries was the site for the sale of salt but is now home to a flower market, running uninterrupted every day of the year.

2

An endless series of red roofs, brick houses, and colorful facades, make the historical center of Wrocław a small architectural gem.

Looking closely, one struggles to believe it was almost completely destroyed by bombing during World War II and rebuilt by residents with meticulous patience.

The heart of the Old Town is the Rynek, the Market Square (see point 1), a meeting and crossing point for citizens and tourists.

The Gothic spires of the Town Hall (see point 3) are a reassuring landmark for first-time visitors to the city, as is the bell tower of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (see point 6), the most important religious monument in the city.

In the Old Town, there are also less touristy and more hidden corners, like the romantic Tumski Bridge, also known as the Lover's Bridge for its romantic view over the Oder river and the ancient atmosphere aided by the old gas lamps still in operation.

Don't be surprised: even in Wrocław, the trend of padlocks on bridges has arrived. The best way to admire the Old Town is from the bell tower of the Church of St. Elizabeth, which is located at a corner of the Market Square. Of course, if you can face the 300 steps...

3

The Town Hall of Wrocław (Wrocławski Ratusz) located in the Rynek square, is a masterpiece of Gothic art in Europe. Built over a period of more than 300 years, the complex construction of the Town Hall began in 1242.

The palace served as a covered market, cellar, administrative center, and then as the seat of the council governing the city.

A turning point occurred between the 15th and 16th centuries when Wrocław became a wealthy and powerful city, leading to the realization of the facade, the civic tower and the arrangement of the interior halls.

After various vicissitudes, linked to wars and changes of "nationality" of the city, today, the Town Hall houses the Muzeum Miejskie Wrocławia, the "Civic Museum of Wrocław" and hosts mainly cultural events.

Opening hours and ticket price for the Town Hall

Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday 11-17 Ticket price: full 15 PLN, students and seniors 10 PLN. Family ticket (up to two adults and up to 5 children) 30 PLN. On Thursdays, entry to the permanent exhibitions is free. How to get there: the town hall is located in the historic center and is accessible on foot.

4

The Panorama of Racławice is Wrocław's most interesting attraction, even if not all tourists visiting the Polish city remember to visit it.

In an anonymous circular building, there is an extraordinary work of art that has no equivalents in the world: it is a diorama, a scaled setting that reproduces the battle fought on April 4, 1794, between the Polish army and that of the Russian Empire near the village of Racławice.

The diorama is extraordinarily large: 114 meters long and 15 meters high, created with painting, stones, carts, trees, and lights. A 3D setting that gives viewers the impression of being in the center of the battle.

Opening hours and ticket price for the Panorama of Racławice

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9-17:30, Saturday and Sunday 9-18:30. Ticket price: full 15 PLN, students and seniors 10 PLN. Free for ages 0-7. The ticket includes a visit to the National Museum of Wrocław, the Ethnographic Museum, and the Four Dome Pavilion. How to get there: the panorama is located at ul. JE Purkyniego 11. It is reachable by car, tram (2 and 10), or bus (A and N).

5

The building housing the Centennial Hall is considered one of the most beautiful examples of 20th-century architecture in Europe. It was built between 1911 and 1913 to commemorate the German victory in the Battle of Leipzig against Napoleon Bonaparte.

The hall is the most famous example of Modernism in Poland and has a reinforced concrete dome, a material common today but extraordinary for the time it was built as it was the largest in the world back then.

Not surprisingly, architectural historian Peter Rayner Bahnam stated that "its reinforced concrete structure must be regarded as one of the most perfect applications of this material for its time".

In 2006, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Today, the Centennial Hall mainly hosts exhibitions, conferences, and events. From May to October, don't miss the multimedia fountain, open from 10:00 to 22:00, with shows created using lasers, projectors, and fireworks.

Opening hours and ticket price for the Centennial Hall

Opening hours: from April to October - Tuesday to Sunday 10-18. From November to March: Tuesday to Sunday 10-17. Ticket price: full 25 PLN, children and students up to 26 years and over 65 20 PLN. Free for ages 0-3. Family ticket for 2 adults and up to 3 children up to 16 years 20 PLN per person. How to get there: the center is located at ul. Wystawowa 1. It is reachable by car, buses 115, 145, 146, 701, and trams 1, 2, 4, 10, 16 -> Biskupin / Sępolno.

6

The Cathedral of Wrocław is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and is one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic architecture in Poland. Built starting from the year 1000, it has undergone additions and renovations over the centuries, but this does not detract from the beauty of this massive yet elegant red brick church.

The exterior portrays two tall bell towers and two shorter towers flanking the apse, which is surrounded by three large chapels.

The interior is divided into three long naves with 20 chapels, among which stand out the Gothic chapel of St. Mary and two Baroque chapels of St. Elizabeth and the Corpus Domini (also known as the Electoral chapel).

Opening hours and ticket price for the Cathedral

Opening hours: the Baroque chapels are currently closed. The terrace is open Monday to Saturday from 10 to 17 and Sunday from 14 to 16. Closed in case of bad weather. Ticket price: entry to the cathedral is free. The ticket for the terrace costs a full 10 PLN, for those up to 25 years and over 60 8 PLN. How to get there: the cathedral is located in the center of the square of the same name and is accessible on foot.

7

In the 1980s, when Poland was still under the domination of the Soviet Union, sculptor Tomasz Moczek decided to support the resistance movement known as the Orange Alternative with a very particular project.

He dispersed hundreds of graffiti depicting mocking dwarfs on the walls of the historical center of Wrocław.

Of course, the targets of the mockery were the powers of the regime.

Communism is over, but the city administration thought it would be a good idea to transform the dwarfs into a tourist marketing operation: the dwarfs came off the walls and became metal figures, scattered in the most unexpected places and poses.

At the junction of Świdnicka and Piłsudski streets lies another incredible and highly photographed monument of Wrocław: the bronze statues by artist Jerzy Kalina, dedicated to the memory of the missing persons during martial law in effect in Poland from 1981 to 1983.

The 14 statues, 7 on each side, seem to sink into the street pavement, recalling all citizens and ordinary people imprisoned by the Communist Regime.

8

Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island), an ancient island on the Oder, is now connected to the mainland, is the oldest, most picturesque, and tranquil part of Wrocław.

It is here that between the 9th and 10th centuries the first Slavic colonizers built their fortress, giving rise to the first settlement of the city. With the construction of the Cathedral around the year 1000, Ostrów Tumski became the center of Wrocław's religious life.

Following the relocation of the city core to the other bank of the Oder, the Island fell under church jurisdiction, transforming into a place of exclusive religious importance, as evidenced by the presence of beautiful buildings of sacred architecture (Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross).

In addition to the churches, Ostrów Tumski preserves the look and charm of the medieval village with its enchanted atmosphere and cobblestone streets like ulica Katedralna and ulica Idziego. If you want to fully enjoy the magic of this place, we recommend an evening walk along ulica Idziego, illuminated by the lights of the gas lamps.

Unlike other cities where gas lighting is activated electrically, in Wrocław, the ancient profession of the lamplighter persists, who at dusk still lights each gas lamp on the Island just as was done in the past.

9

On the tables of Wrocław, simple and hearty ingredients abound: meat, soups, dumplings, and potatoes, the latter cooked in various ways (boiled, fried, baked, or mashed).

Among the typical dishes stand out: żurek, a soup made with beef or chicken broth, onions, mushrooms, bacon, sour cream, and rye flour, often served with sausage or boiled eggs; chłodnik, a cold soup based on red beets, chives, and sour cream of a strange pink color.

Very popular are the pierogi, a kind of dumpling that can be fried, boiled, or baked, filled with various fillings including mushrooms, meat, cheese, potatoes, ricotta, and sauerkraut.

Other popular dishes include bigos, the famous stew of meat, cabbage and sauerkraut, dried plums, and spices, and kotlet schabowy, or breaded pork chops.

Among desserts, the pierniki deserve mention, delicious honey and spice cookies glazed or covered in chocolate. The most commonly enjoyed beverage is beer, produced according to the old Silesian tradition, usually served at room temperature.

10

Wrocław has an excellent offering of hotels, hostels, and apartments at relatively affordable prices.

With the tourist success of the city, prices are slowly rising, but are still reasonable. For a double room in the historic center in a 3-star hotel, prices range from 40 to 80 euros per night.