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The city was destroyed (1945) in the 60%, and the entire Market Square except for the town hall. what you see, these colorful tenement houses were rebuilt in a new style, as it should look according to historians. Poland paid a lot of attention to this. Poles rebuilt former German cities better than the Germans. Just go to Stuttgart, Cologne, or Berlin. Centennial Hall - the last part of "The Hunger Games" was filmed there,
Wrocław is a weird place in terms of influences. It was originally a Polish city in the middle ages. Then it got robbed and burned during the Tatar invasion. Then the Polish king started inviting the German settlers here to repopulate the city. They basically built a new city, on the ruins of the old one. Then the area with Wrocław was sold to Chechia and later became part of Prussia (~Germany). So since the middle ages up until WWII Wrocław was basically a German city with Polish history. But after WWII the borders changed again and this area became part of Poland again. At that time 60% of Wrocław was in ruins so the Poles had to rebuild it, but they were purposefully trying to base the new architecture on the old Polish style, to make it feel less German. Plenty of people who came to inhabit Wrocław have been relocated from the Lwów area (then Poland, now Ukraine). So they also brought some influences from that region. And the rebuilts were happening under the Soviet rule so of course there's also a lot of the typical Soviet architecture. It's like the history of the city has come full circle.
point was not "invitation" but fact that Łokietek did not manage to get Silesia back after fragmentation of the Realm even if Silesian dukes were from Piast dynasty.
Poles purposefully have rebuilt the market square in German style so I have no idea what are you talking about (check architecture in Lublin, Kazimierz Dolny or Kraków for example, totally different). Another buildings were rebuilt differently not because we wanted to make the feeling less German but because our country was totally devastated and we had to live somewhere so cheap block of flats has been established everywhere else. We didn't want them, we had to build them. Rebuilding the city centre in German style was a totally dumb idea as now a lot of Germans scream in social media about giving back their land and their nazi attitude is supported by some members of AfD
@@tomaszk9210 I live in Kraków, I know the difference. The thing is that outside the market square or Ostrów Tumski etc. most of "German" Wrocław was hardly rebuilt at all. One reason is that Soviet-style blocks were cheaper, but when deciding which buildings to renovate, which to preserve, and which to demolish and replace with new ones, there was a lot of ideological thinking involved. For example, Baroque tenements were deliberately left unattended, to fall apart, because the Baroque period was already associated with German rule. In contrast, medieval Gothic buildings were being taken care of because they represented the times of the Piasts. Yeah, I'm aware of some German nationalists who preach redrawing the borders. We also have them- they want to get Lwów back. They're all equally stupid and unimportant outside of their internet campaigns.
@@tomaszk9210 "the german style" is the only thing which make this city pretty. And as the "germans screem" about giving back the Wroclaw, we are screaming about getting back Lviv.
big Korean population is there due to all the Korean business facilities located in the area, there is a Korean business hub around Wroclaw, you can fly directly to Seul from Wroclaw
Lviv is similar because it was polish city since 1387 to 1772, later on again polish since 1918 . So you can find similarities everywhere in poland because , poland is and was on the crossroads of cultures from west and east. Additional thing, Poland was huge country reaching smolensk, tallinn, kiev and many other places, so there was strong polish influence in this region as well. So many cultures here was exchanging styles of architecture among themselves, that's why every polish city and other countries in central europe looks familiar somehow but in the same time so different. So don't be surprise by Gdansk or Poznan or even Lublin if you will find something familiar again :)
Just got back last week after 3 days there in Wrocław to send off my son who’s staying for his Erasmus year. The parks are fabulous, clean and felt very safe. The University of Wrocław Museum was beautiful and totally worth the visit if only to see the top floor balcony that show a 360-degree view of the city. The Panorama Musuem was also worth visiting. The city has a diverse choices of restaurants that were delicious and top notch but also cheaper in price in comparison to Berlin’s where we just came from prior. I was pleasantly surprised, amazed and know that my son will have the grand time. I’d love to visit again soon.
@@WheresWes Try to visit Hel peninsula very close Gdansk, places like Jurata. Best natural sandy beaches in Poland, no hotels on beach, just forest, nature and fresh breeze from Baltic Sea. You can catch a train from Gdynia, sister city to Gdańsk.
03:50 - this type of building is called "Kamienica" in polish. Wrocław spent centuries under polish, czech, austrian and german rule respectively, and it certainly shows in it's architecture.
Silesia was mixing pot of Polish, Czech, Jewish and German influence. Modern Wrocław population stands from students from around the Poland (and World). The local population is mostly from people forcefully moved by Soviets from Lviv when it was Polish Lwów. So all of your comments are on point. If anyone watching want to visit one Town in Poland I highly recommend Wrocław.
@@thadashley2911 it’s a long process. But the country is perfect! Everything is nice and respectful and the country is clean and very safe! Food is crazy good so many varieties. I think the bigger cities are where everyone is going. I’m not there but will visit soon.
Most of the Polish population of Lviv and institutions (Ossolineum library and printing house, University & Polytechnic staff etc.) moved to Wrocław after WWII, so culturally Wroclaw is a continuation of prewar Lwów. I'm a citizen I'm aware of that but hearing that from a visiting foreigner without that background knowledge is amazing.
But also - the forced resettlements of Poles after WW2 ended were mostly lateral. Further waves were from all over, so ie we usually have a mix of 2-4 holiday traditions from (great)grandparents, but big Lviv impact. And separately, much like Gdańsk, the Wrocław University was also kickstarted by Lvovian academics.
I came to visit my family that lived in Wrocław and stayed for good - for me it is the best city to live in Poland :) Plus you stayed in an apartment so close to me, I was shocked ;)
Some similarities between Wroclaw and Lwów can be derived from the common history of these cities. After WW2 when Poland lost Lwów, yet gained Wroclaw, the elites from Lwów University were moved to Wroclaw to set university here. Wroclaw (or back then actually Breslau as that’s how Germans called it) was fortified during WW2 and hence mostly destroyed. Therefore, I believe, the influence of Germans (not everything was destroyed) and eastern Poland (Lwów etc) can be found (since the elites that were moved probably influenced greatly the style of Wroclaw while it was being rebuilt.
Wroclaw is also called second Amsterdam because so many bridges. Im glad you like I used live here before move to San Francisco and now moving slowly to Thailand
I'm a Warsawer but paid many visits to Wrocław, and perceive it as one of the most attractive Polish cities. The city is as diverse and widespread as I really needed many visits to see the most of its attractions. A good guide is recommended there! Wrocław is an academic city with several Universities, making the city full of young people. There was a huge Greek immigration to Wrocław in 1970s, and it still shows even nowadays (the abundance of Greek restaurants!)
Really great vlog Wes! I did also pronounce Wro Claw in the English way too! My Gf and I also like Wroclaw more and the small sushi shop before the river bridge is really good! - Somehow Califonia rolls in Poland are really good standard! I heard the Korean population our age do IT here - as I have been mistaken it! I also seen a Japanese garden in Gdansk, Oliwski Park- Very clean- defo worth a visit! Look forward watching your next video!
Thanks for the video! Wroclaw has quite lots of Korean companies such as LG and LG's partner companies. That's why there are many Korean people. That city has Korean school as well for those Korean people's chlidren.
Hurry up with visiting Gdansk. July is a peak season - try to visit in July in the weekend - it should be fun then! Gdansk is connected with 2 other great spots: Sopot and Gdynia. We call it tri - city (these 3 cities connected with each others). Sopot is a must visit!! Main Street in Sopot „Monte Cassino street” full of restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs. Down the street there is a cool beach and pier. Saturday during the summertime is the best day to spend in Sopot - many locals and tourists hit on Sopot that time and it’s intensive, full of life, fun! I live in Gdansk so I know what I’m saying. Enjoy.
I've been living in Wrocław since 2017 and there's still something to do and explore here. Aside from Park Szczytnicki there are more beautiful parks such as Park Grabiszyński or Park Wschodni. I can show you around if you ever come back haha
After WW2 most of the Lwów's polish population was deported to the Wrocław. That's why it may be influenced by that. Also Germans were deported from Wrocław in that time.
Oh, that's a good point! It's like Lwów has the remanants of Poland in it while Wrocław has the vibe that Lwowians (no idea how they should be called) brought. I also thought that it might be because most of Wrocław was destroyed so it had to be rebuilt under the Soviet rule and obviously with some Soviet influences- that are very tangible in Lwów as well.
Every Major Polish city have a different vibe. Gdansk for example will feel more Dutch/Northern German. Warsaw will feel more like a mix between Poland and America. Lublin will have an Eastern Feel to it, Poznan is a mix of Polish and German.
1. All cities in central-east Europe: Poland , Czechoslovakia , Hungary , Transylvania , Baltics in middle ages untill middle 1800's were mostly German. 2. Wroclaw was establish by Czech king Vratislaw ( Wroclaw get name after him ) , in 990 became part of Poland , in 1340 became part of Czech again. Then Czechia and Wroclaw became part of Habsburg Austria. In 1744 Prussia grabbed Wroclaw from Austria and in1871 Wroclaw became a part of German Empire untill 1945.
Next to the Wrocław you have very large battery production plant LG Chem so a lot of Koreans live here. So many that Wrocław has direct flights to Seoul and you have "Korean" town with Korean restaurants, shops, etc. near Wrocław.
The reason Wroclaw looks like Lviv (Lwow jn Polish) is because many of the Polish people and most of the Polish intellectuals who were thrown out of Lviv ( which before 1939 was part of Poland) by the Soviets moved to Wroclaw after WWII.
Polish cities like Wroclaw, Krakow and Poznan were granted "Magdeburg rights" in 13th century, it was a set of urban planning like square market and city privileges in Europe (economical and custom reliefs). I think the most similar looking city to Wroclaw is Leipzig in east germany. Also similar laws were granted to Lviv and Kyiew, Minsk, Vilnus, Praga etc. Apart from german ancestors and being part of Bohemian Crown we also have an impact of jewish architects, around 1850 jews were 7-8% of city population.
I like Wrocław, I feel more relaxed than in Kraków. Wrocław is an academic city, there are many students and when the academic year begins, Wrocław grows significantly in population. And it is not as crowded as in Kraków, which is besieged by tourists.😄
3:58 not suprising that in very popular city in this part of Europe there are a lot of tourists from nearby countries.. Wrocław the longest belonged to Poland and Czech Republic, then Austria, Prussen and Germany
Wrocław is a city of secrets, hidden gardens and parks, and the mixed history of different nations. Wrocław is also famous for its number of bridges - it has the largest number of bridges in Poland and the surrounding area - only Venice has a comparable number of bridges. You should visit Wrocław again with a good guide. Regards! :)
Wrocław was German and Polish and Czech in past hence much of their original influence, but it has also Polish Lviv heritage. After WW2 Lviv people and resources incl. universities, doctors, architects, staff, basically all people and their culture and know-how was moved to Wrocław. Wrocław is kind of heir of Polish Lviv in that sense. But as born-in-Wroclaw citizen I must say that is very good coverage of Wroclaw, although some places and flavours are still missed, but I guess not all is possible to be covered in one short video. But I liked it, thanks!
Wrocław was destroyed so was Gdansk but they were rebuilt and now have similar buildings. Wrocław is Polish and have Polish vibe. Why not try Polish food for once? You go to Italy and eat sushi? And this bakery is ? Georgian oooo that’s why it is so good. What do you mean? Go to Tibilisi and try😂 why don’t you stay at some nice hotel in the center not much more than this 90ish apartment you got there. Feels strange seeing my beloved city changing so much with all the people also.
It might be similar to Lviv because many people were forced to move here from there and as Wrocław was rebuilt they probably based it on what they knew.
I don't know why people are more attracted to Krakau than Wroclaw, Wroclaw has more sightseeing and is on 12 green islands and more fun to be there. But of course people visit Krakau in combination with Auschwitz and Birkenau for historical reasons 🤔
You said Wrocław was a German city. Ok, it was, but have you ever seen Wrocław just right after the WWII? Who rebuilt the city? Germans? No? :| Sorry for my ignorance, but I didn't see your vids about Lviv/Ukraine (tried to find it, but cos lack of time I haven't). Did you mentioned there that was a Polish city?
take it easy dude, German past of Wrocław is part of the Wrocław's definition. In terms of XIX century architecture Wrocław looks like Berlin. Actually Wrocław played at least once Berlin in a movie.
Wroclaw has a strange history. First it was proto-Czech, say in 1000-1100, then it was German, then it was part of Hungary in the 1400s (under King Matthias Corvinus who also had an illegitimate son with a woman from WRO who was of Germanic origin). Then it was pretty much German until the 19th century, as a part of Prussia. At the end of WWII the Germans were expelled, some did remain, but the majority left and it became a part of Poland. The Germanic influence of centuries has been erased. Even the cemeteries. The German tombstones were removed. There are still some hints here and there that it was a German city, but it's not really promoted. Most people who visit say the same thing as you do. Very Germanic influence and architecture. Love it though. Went there first in 2004 and it was sooooooooo cheap. Now it's expensive big time but has everything. I know where that chimney is....
If we are not talking about architecture, then it is not a German influence, there are many Ukrainian entrepreneurs who made the city more comfortable in many aspects, compared to other cities in Poland, where the percentage of Ukrainians is smaller.
To make things funnier, Japan was the only country against which Poland declared war in the 20th century - on December 11, 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor and Great Britain's declaration of support for the USA. However, Japan did not accept the war declaration (before World War II, both countries were friends as anti-Russian), formally the "war" lasted until 1957, when peace was signed and diplomatic relations were re-established. During this "war" there were no direct clashes between Polish and Japanese military formations, individual Polish soldiers, such as pilot Witold Urbanowicz, hero of the Battle of Britain, took part in the fighting, but as part of American or British units.
We Wrocławiu jest najlepsze azjatyckie jedzenie z powodu wielkiej ilości firm z krajów Azji - jak np. LG z Korei z największą fabryką baterii do aut elektrycznych, ale jest także dużo Wietnamczyków, Hindusów, obywateli Bangladeszu, ostatnio pojawili się także obywatele Palestyny, Syrii i Gruzji, ale najwięcej jest Ukraińców - obecnie we Wrocławiu jest najwięcej obywateli Ukrainy ze wszystkich miast w Polsce - obecnie to aż 40% ogólnej ludności zamieszkującej Wrocław
It's interesting that you mention Lviv. Lviv was actually Polish and build by the Poles hence the Polish looking architecture. Then the Soviets took it from Poland and moved all it's Polish citizens to... Yes, You guesed it: Wroclaw! (They took Wroclaw from the Germans and gave it to the Poles.) Many of the great grand parents of today 's Wroclawians were actually born in Lviv.
Some time ago Wroclaw was the most dangerous cities in PL. As You mentioned, some time ago it was in hands of Germans, that's why it's so well build. If it would be Polish... well... probably it would look like more like Siedlce or other Polands eastern cities. And as it ususally is in PL cities, one step outside downtown and it's a completley different world, more Polish i would say - ugliness, poverty, grime. Oh, and another fund fact. There is no "central europe". Europe was divided to two blocks (western and eastern) by Berlin Wall. Everything east of the wall is considered as eastern europe, everything else, western. "Central europe" is an "invention" of Poles and other ex soviet union countries in order to not be identified with Russia in any matter.
Did you feel like in Ukraine? It is estimated that over 80,000 Ukrainians live in Wroclaw due to the war. It is also the city with the largest number of Koreans in Poland. Interesting mix. 😎 Great trip!
I don't know how in Poland, but here in Czechia, most of "chinese" and "korean" restaurants are run by Vietnamese people, but maybe they have real Koreans in Poland, I don't know. 😀 I visited many places in Poland, but Wroclaw feels the most as home for me as Czech, you can see all those influences, it was ours before 1742 and Czech lion is still even in city coat of arms. Poles are really good in combining old and modern architecture, we can't do that here properly and it mostly ends terribly. But after I visited Vienna, I realized that it's still pretty good here in Czechia in this case, in Vienna, they just do random stuff like building completely different building next to gothic church and stuff like that, everything totally random, no care about history. Our post communist countries are for some reason better in this.
great u visited our city but i lived in Kraków and Wrocław is much better:) ps. and yes here live many Koreans becouse we have many Koreans Factories and my niece got married by Korean guy:)
I lived in Wroclaw for 15 years and in my opinion it's best city in Poland. But Poznan and Gdansk are really great as well! Krakow is average and I really dont like Warszawa.
After II world war, Wrocław (Breslau) was left by Germans i populated by Poles, deported form east part of Polend incorporated to Soviet Union, a lot of them was form polish before war Lwów :). So todays Wrocław is real child of german Breslau and polish Lwów. But at first is old Silesian city with rich an multicultural history.
That's interesting that you'd call the outskirts of Wrocław "less developed". Like, how would you define development, then? There are some older buildings, some post-industrial stuff, the buildings may be a bit run down if they are empty for one reason or another, so I get that they may not be the most attractive (just like the outskirts of literally any other big city), but "less developed? Weird. There are roads, water, electricity, internet connection, gps signal and roadsigns and all the good stuff that the developed world is known for. So would you care to explain what you meant, exactly? Oh, and the buildings you didn't know the proper name of are just townhouses.
Hate Airbnb, with a passion. Taking away nice apartments and bringing up prices for buying property 🤬 Wrocław is beautiful city though, let's hope they follow Barcelona and get rid of them.
