Wroclaw was founded in the 10th Century. Its name probably derives from the Polish prince Wrotislaw. The city became member of the Hanseatic League, and was ruled during the Middle Ages by the dukes from the Piast dynasty. In 1335 Silesia was incorporated in the Kingdom of Bohemia. From 1526 it came under the Habsburg dynasty, and much of the population was German in language and Lutheran Protestant in confession - that is, until the Catholic Reformation when the city was converted forcefully back to Catholicism. With the unification of Germany in 1871, Wroclaw became its sixth largest city, a center of textile industry. As a German city it was called Breslau, and was renamed Wroclaw only after WWII when it was given to Poland and repopulated with Poles from Lwow as many of the surviving Germans were expelled.

World War II led to the destruction of 70% of the urban area and 90% of the industrial area. The city was restored from the ruins with loving care, and its architecture strongly resembles that in Prussia, Bohemia or Austria.

The central square (Rynek) in the old town is vast and lively. The restored buildings are freshly painted, and no two are alike. There are many open-air cafes. On the square's southern side is the Town Hall, a 14th-century building with beautiful Gothic interior, one of the few public buildings to survive WWII. It houses the Museum of Burgher Art.

Close to the Rynek is the church of St Elizabeth. Its tower is the highest in the city, rising to nearly 100 metres

Panorama Racławicka is one of the city's most popular attractions. The immense 360-degree painting by Jan Styka and Wojciech Kossak, measuring 120 by 15 metres, depicts the Battle of Racławice during the Kościuszko Uprising against Russia  in 1794. Although heavily outnumbered by the Russian forcs, the Poles managed to win a tactical victory. The painting was originally installed in Lwow but was moved to Wroclaw after WWII.

The University of Wroclaw was founded in 1702 and has today about 47,000 students. Its main building is crowned by the Mathematical Tower which used to be an observatory in the 19th Century, and includes a music hall with remarkable acoustics (Oratorium Marianum) and a magnificent Baroque hall, the Aula Leopoldina.

An interesting modern building is Hala Ludowa, one of the first reinforced concrete structures in Europe, with a dome that is 65 metres in diameter.

Salt Square lies right next to the Rynek on its southwest. Once a salt market, it is now full of florists' stalls.