About Wroclaw
Wroclaw (municipal commune with poviat rights) is the capital city of Lower Silesia. Located on the Oder River, the city is unique in that it has 12 islands and 112 bridges. The very heart of the city attracts visitors with its Old Town Promenade (running along the former city moat) and Botanical Gardens (in Ostrów Tumski). Visitors can also admire the leafy waterfront from cruisers and gondolas, which are one of Wroclaw's many tourist attractions. Another key attraction is the fantastic multimedia fountain to be found in Szczytnicki Park.
Wroclaw is also a business-friendly city. Wroclaw Airport is constantly expanding its network of connections while improving the quality of its services. Direct railway connections with cities in the Czech Republic, Germany and Ukraine are also available. The city's favourable location at the crossroads of European transport routes and its attractive infrastructure, which has lately been expanded with the Regional Business Tourism Centre, attract academic and business conferences and congresses.
The city has been visited many times by crowned heads and country leaders, and it also attracts numerous sports events and European or global congresses.
Some of the momentous events in the city's history:
- World Congress of Intellectuals in Defence of Peace (1948),
- 46. International Eucharistic Congress (1997)
- Wroclaw Millennium (2000),
- Weimar Triangle Summit (2003),
- European Regions and Cities Summit (2005),
- Futurallia International Entrepreneurs' Forum (2006),
- Eurobasket (2009),
- Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championship (2010)
- Global Forum (2010),
- European Culture Congress (2011),
- European Football Championship Euro 2012,
- European Volleyball Championship Euro 2014,
Throughout 2016, Wroclaw, together with the Spanish city of Donostia-San Sebastian, is holding the prestigious title of European Capital of Culture. This is the most recognisable EU cultural initiative. In 2017, Wroclaw will be hosting The World Games, an international tournament series in non-Olympic sports held under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee, a year after each edition of the Summer Olympic Games.
- location: centre of the Silesian Lowlands 51 07 ' northern lat. 17 02 ' eastern long.
- number of inhabitants: 612 373 people (as of 31.12.2015)
- surface area:
- highest point in the city 155 metres asl (Maślice)
- lowest point in the city 105 metres asl (Pracze Odrzańskie)
- moderate climate with oceanic influences
- annual rainfall: 620 mm
- annual mean temperature: 9.1 0C
- maximum temperature: 35.4 0C
- minimum temperature: -21.7 0C
- mean cloudiness (in octants): 5.7
- mean wind speed: 3.1 m
- length of the Oder within the city: 26 km