Wroclaw

One of the hosts of next month's Euro 2012 Football Championships is Wroclaw in Poland.  What a beautiful place to stay. Sitting by the River Oder Wroclaw is the historic capital of Silesia and can trace its history back to the 10th Century.  The British historian Norman Davies, noted for his histories of Europe and Poland called Wraclaw "the flower of Europe".  Not only is it culturally and architecturally interesting but it has had a turbulent and action packed history, over the centuries being part of Poland, Bohemia, Austria, Prussia and Germany. As part of Germany it was known as Breslau, changing its name after World War Two back to Wroclaw in 1945 when it once again became part of Poland.

The card shows top row L to R - 1)  The Town Hall (Ratusz) built and developed from the 13th-16th Century; 2)  Centennial Hall (formally the People's Hall) constructed in 1911-13 when Wroclaw was part of the German Empire it is an early example of reinforced concrete architecture and listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site;  3) Town-houses from the 16th and 18th Century much photographed and called  Hansel and Gretel because of the archway linking them is like a couple holding hands.

Bottom row L to R - 1) The Market Place;  2) The Raclawice Panorama contains a cycloramic painting of the battle of Raclawice. Stand in the middle and apparently you will experience many optical illusions;  3) The Japanese Garden designed by Mankichi Arai in 1909-1912 and located in Szczytnicki Park.  It was restored in 1996/7 but soon after it was under water after flooding, despite 70% of the planting having to be replaced it reopened again in 1999.       

The card came with some

Polish Cities stamps. The first two showing the facade of the All Saints Collegiate Church in Sieradz, the other stamp shows the coffin of St Adalberg in the cathedral in Gnienzno.

Thank you Monitorka for showing me your city in this card.