Wroclaw
The Historic Capital Of Silesia, With Poland'S Second Largest Market Square, A Cathedral Island On The Oder, The Centennial Hall (UNESCO, 2006) And Hundreds Of Small Bronze Dwarf Statues Hidden Across The Old Town. Rebuilt After The Siege Of 1945 · Wroclaw, Lower Silesian
Wroclaw is the historic capital of Silesia, a city of islands and bridges on the Oder that was German Breslau until 1945 and was largely rebuilt after the siege that year. The Market Square, one of the largest in Poland, is ringed by coloured gabled houses with the Gothic Town Hall standing in the middle. A short walk east is Ostrow Tumski, the cathedral island, with Gothic brick churches and gas lamps still lit by hand at dusk. Out in the suburbs, the Centennial Hall of 1913, a ribbed concrete dome, is a UNESCO site, and the huge painted Panorama of Raclawice is shown in a rotunda nearby. Hundreds of small bronze dwarfs are scattered through the streets, which turns any stroll into a hunt. The city has a large student population, so cafes and bars are lively after dark. It is a good base for a weekend, but the old centre is smaller than Krakow's and parts of it are postwar reconstruction.
Market Square and Ostrow Tumski cathedral island, on the Oder river in south-western Poland, Wroclaw, Lower Silesian, Poland
The Market Square, Ostrow Tumski, the bridges and the dwarfs are outdoors and free at all hours. Churches are normally open in daytime but close to sightseers during services. The Panorama of Raclawice runs on timed entries and is commonly closed on Mondays; the cathedral tower and the Town Hall museum also keep seasonal hours and reduced winter times. Many city museums are free on one weekday, which varies, so check. The Centennial Hall grounds, the fountain and the Japanese Garden are open outdoors most of the day, but the garden and fountain show stop out of season. Restaurants stay open late and the student bars on the square run past midnight. Confirm all opening times and closing days close to your date.