Wrocław was first recorded in Thietmar's chronicle: John, bishop of Wrocław, a newly established Polish diocese, is mentioned in the year 1000 (Johannem Wrotizlaensem) as was later the city itself (as Wortizlawa). The first municipal seal says: Sigillum civitatis Wracislavie, and a simplified city name is given in 1175 as in Wrezlawe.

Early records show that the medieval city name was Wrocisław in Polish and Vratislav in Czech, which means Wrocislaw/Vratislav's town. The Polish name was later phonetically simplified in two stages: Wrocisław->Wrotsław->Wrocław, and this simplified name has been used since the 12th century. The Czech spelling was used in Latin documents, Wratislavia or Vratislavia, but Polish pronunciation was also influential as shown in the spelling of Wracislavia. Later a Germanized version of the city's name was created—Breslau—which was used as the official name when the city was a major city in eastern Germany. For example, in November 2004, the warehouse Feniks (built in 1904) on the city's townsquare (Rynek) showed old pictures of the building. The pictures were described in Polish but retained original names, such as Warenhaus Gebrüder Barasch, Breslau.

Area 292,9 km²
Population
 - city  633,700 2004 est.
 - urban
 - density  2181/km²
Founded 10th century
City rights 1262
Latitude 51°07' N
Longitude 17°02' E
Area code +48 71
Car plates DW

HISTORY
To understand a city, whether we live there every day or see it for the first time, it is helpful not only to visit its places of interest but also to know essential facts about its history.  more....

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