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when talking about poland, most people only think of warsaw. little do they know that the greater charm of this small country in central europe is hidden in the southwest.wroclawmiddle.

this city with a somewhat difficult name is not only the capital and cultural center of the lower silesia province, the fourth largest city in poland, but also the second largest financial center after warsaw.

△the oder river flows through wroclaw. (photo/unsplash)

the four tributaries of the oder river flow slowly through the city, dividing the neighborhood into several small islands. the city grows quietly in the river valley plain with gurgling water.

poles often say: "wroclaw has the best weather in poland." under the sunlight, this "venice of the north" attracts every traveler who is lucky enough to come here with its fairy-tale city temperament.

01

islands, bridges and dwarfs

wroclaw originated from the ostrów tumski on the oder river. twelve small islands were connected by more than 100 bridges to form the old town of wroclaw we see today.

like many european cities, the market square is the center of wroclaw, with bars and restaurants among the colorful houses.street artists performed one show after another, and everyone on the street was full of energy.

△the old town square is the main place for people to relax and have fun. (photo/unsplash)

although it is now very low-key on the international stage, wroclaw is a city with a thousand-year history. it was once the capital of the duchy of silesia, and it experienced the rule of austria and prussia, and finally became part of poland after world war ii. therefore,a large number of prussian, austrian and even bohemian-style buildings are preserved in the city.

the tallcathedral of st. john the baptistthe tall and thin gothic style is fully displayed.university of wroclawit is a representative work of the complex and exquisite baroque style. in a small block, there are four church buildings of different denominations. the spires, arched windows, stained glass windows and vines decorated on the adjacent buildings complement each other, making the ancient city beautiful in various ways.

△ street scene in wroclaw. (photo/unspalsh)

in addition to admiring the buildings, there is another hidden and interesting way to play in wroclaw, that is——pick up a cone from one of the ubiquitous ice cream shops, then wander the city in search of gnomes.this is a city game unique to wroclaw.

in fairy tales, dwarfs are magical elves. they are not even as tall as a pen, but they are always synonymous with intelligence and bravery. they may live in the gardens and bushes around us, working, living and reproducing like humans.

△dwarfs on the streets of wroclaw. (photo/unsplash)

in wroclaw, in order to commemorate a protest movement many years ago in which citizens dressed up as dwarfs, the government set up a group of dwarfs throughout the city, and they are very popular among the people.since then, citizens have spontaneously created many dwarfs of various shapes and forms in the streets and alleys. each of them has his own name and occupation, and has interesting stories with the buildings and areas around him.

△comparison chart of some dwarves. (photo/visitwroclaw.eu)

the dwarf near the bus stop is called the traveler (traville), and he is getting off the bus with his luggage; the dwarf wearing glasses and reading a book near the university is called the professor (professor); three disabled dwarfs gather together to chat in the old town square; next to the most ordinary stone pier, there are two sisyphus pushing stones.

the palm-sized brass dwarf statues blend perfectly with the city landscape and become the most distinctive scenery in the streets and alleys.only by slowing down can you encounter them; there is also a legend: if a couple can find all the dwarfs, they can live a stable and happy life.

△ partial map of wroclaw dwarves. (photo/visitwroclaw.eu)

today, the number of dwarfs has increased from the original 11 to nearly 700, and it is not easy to check in all of them. but following the official "dwarf map" or randomly encountering a dwarf is still the best way to measure wroclaw with your feet.

02

an oasis of tranquility on the oder river

the exquisite buildings and cute dwarves in the city seem to have built a beautiful fairy tale world, while wroclaw's long history brings people back to the real world from the fairy tale in a second.

statues dedicated to slaughtered animals and walkways commemorating major historical events in the streets and alleys all show the city's humanistic care.if you can spend a few hours visiting the stunning polish national treasure "panorama of the battle of racławice", you may have a deeper understanding of the bravery and tenacity of the polish people.

△the slaughterhouse built since the middle ages has now become a studio and gallery for local artists. (photo/unsplash, visitwroclaw.eu)

the magnificent centennial hall shows every visitor the past of wrocław. this cylindrical building, listed on the unesco world heritage list, is a milestone in the history of reinforced concrete architecture.

right in front of the building, a needle-shaped metal sculpture commemorating the polish people's regaining of territory reaches straight into the sky, contrasting with the largest multimedia fountain in poland. it not only attracts tourists from all over the world, but is also a treasure place for locals to take a walk and relax.

if you want to enjoy the view, you can climb the steep stairs to the 83-meter-highst elizabeth church tower, overlooking the entire city from the sky, the red-roofed and white-walled houses are closely connected with the green tower tops, and a fairy-tale kingdom is in sight.

△overlooking wroclaw from a high place. (photo/unsplash)

the japanese garden, covered with greenery, is a great place to find peace and quiet in a bustling city. wroclaw also has the largest and oldest zoo in poland, where scenes of people and animals living in harmony can be found everywhere.

in addition to its inherent classical temperament, wroclaw is also filled with a distinct youthful atmosphere.

the city with a population of more than 600,000 is home to 11 national universities and a total of about 150,000 students. it can almost be called a "student city."there are many museums, theaters, concert halls, and art galleries in the city. jazz festivals, film festivals, food festivals and other events are held every year to fully meet the spiritual needs of young people.

△wroclaw philharmonic orchestra concert hall. (photo/unsplash)

perhaps it is precisely because of this ubiquitous academic and artistic atmosphere that the nobel prize has been favored repeatedly. it is rare in poland or even in the world for a province to produce ten nobel prize winners.

as you explore this city more deeply, you will find that the poetry of wrocław lies in the cultural life that interweaves classic and modern elements, and the traditional customs that have been preserved to this day.

located in the center of wroclaw, slodowa island, also known as malt island, is the oldest island in wroclaw and the first choice for students to have a picnic on the first day of spring every year. you can spend a leisurely afternoon watching a movie in the open air and listening to a concert organized by classmates.

△the waterside, the island, the lamplighter, the atmosphere is quiet and peaceful. (photo/unsplash)

when night falls, the lighting ceremony of the cathedral island is not to be missed.20 to 40 minutes before sunset, lamplighters dressed in black will light the island's original gas lamps one by one by hand, rain or shine, so that the light can illuminate everyone's way home.following the footsteps of the lamplighter, everyone has a share in the credit of leading the city into a dream tonight.

perhaps because many local residents were once travelers themselves, the citizens of wroclaw are very welcoming to strangers. historically, wroclaw has been a fusion of the cultures of many nationalities, and the city is extremely friendly and tolerant to travelers, both in terms of language and food.

pierogi (polish dumplings) are like the epitome of cultural fusion. different from the boiled dumplings popular in northern china, polish dumplings are fermented with sour cream. when the slightly sour dough is wrapped with dense mashed potatoes, it is boiled, fried or deep-fried, and in a moment, a unique polish carbohydrate delicacy is created.

△ the dumplings eaten in the local chain restaurant can be filled with sauerkraut, blueberry jam, strawberry jam, etc. (photo/jiu xing)

dumpling fillings can also include meat, cheese, jam, mushrooms, etc. it can be used as a staple food or a dessert. paired with different sauces or cream, every bite can open up a new world for dumpling lovers.

the poland we know from literature and film and television works is always inseparable from the word "quiet". but when you really step on the uneven cobblestone road of the old town square in wroclaw, walk on the roadside where squirrels jump around, and see the lights of the church all lit up under the blue-purple sky, you will be instantly enveloped by the warm atmosphere.

△wroclaw old town. (photo/unsplash)

it has a modern city appearance, but always integrates traditional temperament into urban life; it accommodates every traveler who passes by, and always makes them unforgettable every fairy-tale minute and every second in wroclaw.

together with the increasing number of dwarfs in the streets and alleys, the fascinating wroclaw is constantly emitting double the fairy-tale charm to travelers from all over the world.