Breslau – Vue Prise de la Tour Sainte-Elisabeth

Title

Breslau – Vue Prise de la Tour Sainte-Elisabeth

A beautiful hand-coloured view showing the view from the Sainte-Elisabeth Tower onto the Polish city of Wrocław, with a view of the Church of St. Elisabeth. At the top center is the city coat of arms of Wrocław.

ca. 1885

Artist

Malte-Brun (1816-1889)

Victor Adolphe Malte-Brun was a french Georapher and Map maker.Victor Adolphe Malte-Bruns' father, Conrad Malte-Bruns, was the founder of the Société de Géographie.

Historical Description

Breslau, located on the Oder River in present-day Poland, has a history spanning over a thousand years. As early as the 10th century, a Slavic settlement was established, later becoming part of the Piast dynasty’s Poland. In the 13th century, Breslau was granted city rights under Magdeburg law and developed into an important trade and cultural center in Silesia. The city was a member of the Hanseatic League, which boosted its economic growth. Breslau later came under Habsburg rule and, for periods, Prussian control, remaining an important center for trade, education, and culture. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Breslau was part of the German Empire, undergoing industrialization and modernization. The city was heavily destroyed during World War II. After the war, Breslau became part of Poland and was renamed Wrocław. Most of the German population was expelled and replaced by Poles from the eastern territories. Today, Wrocław is a modern, vibrant city, known for its historic old town, bridges, universities, and cultural events.