Located on the Odra River, Wroclaw is in the southwestern part of Poland, in the region of Lower Silesia. Wroclaw is about 170 miles southwest of Warsaw, and with a population of more than 600,000 it is the fourth largest city in Poland.

Wroclaw was established in the 10th century at the intersection of major trade routes between the Baltic Sea and the Roman Empire, and between the Black Sea and Western Europe. The city was ruled by many dynasties throughout its long history, including the Bohemians in the 1300s, the Hapsburgs in the 1500s and the Prussians in the 1700s. Each of these dynasties left its mark on the city, creating a blend of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classic architecture throughout the city. The people of Wroclaw are also a blend; after World War II, the German population was largely replaced by people from all over Poland, especially those from the regions of Poland taken over by the Soviet Union.

Given its history as a transportation hub, it is no surprise that Wroclaw continues this tradition today. Five European capitals are located within 250 miles of Wroclaw. The city is serviced by easy access to major highways, multiple train connections to major cities, a river port and Copernicus Airport. The airport is located about 7 miles outside of the city, and serves about 2 million passengers per year with an ultimate goal of serving 7 million per year.

Wroclaw has a number of historical and cultural sights and attractions. Market Square is the city center with many restaurants and shops located by picturesque buildings. Cathedral Island is the oldest part of Wroclaw and is the location of St. John the Baptist Cathedral and the Holy Cross Church. The city has 200 bridges and is known as the Venice of Central Europe.

One-third of Wroclaw is parks and open spaces and the Botanical Garden and Japanese Garden are notable attractions. Wroclaw has become a world capital of avant-garde theater thanks to Jerzy Grotowski's Laboratory Theater, Henry Tomaszewski's Pantomime Theater and the International Open Theater Festival. The city also hosts a number of cultural events throughout the year, including Wroclaw Non Stop, a weeklong, city wide festival; Creamfields, an international music festival; and KAN, a festival of amateur and independent movies.

In the region surrounding Wroclaw there are more attractions, including castles and palaces; spas and health resorts; active tourism such as hiking, kayaking, fishing and hunting; and agrotourism.

As the fourth largest city in Poland, Wroclaw is a dynamic business and academic center. More than 3,000 companies withCourtyard of the Ossolinski National Institute foreign capital are located there. The city's motto is “The Meeting Place” because of the many meetings and large events that have been hosted there. Wroclaw hosted a papal visit in 1997, the Weimar Triangle Summit in 2003 and will host games for the 2012 Euro Cup. The city contains a number of venues for hosting meetings and conferences, including Centennial Hall and academic lecture halls at its universities. Industries include metalworking, electronics, chemicals and textiles.

Wroclaw has over 20 higher academic institutions and a student population of about 135,000. Universities located in Wroclaw include the University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences and Wroclaw University of Economics.