CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 01/2016

SAVOIR VIVRE WEEKENDER
Das Panorama Raclawicka
zeigt eine Schlacht während
des polnisch-russischen
Krieges im 18. Jahrhundert
(links und unten).
The panorama Raclawicka
shows a battle of the
Polish-Russian war in the 18th
century (left and below).
INFO
Im Zentrum der Stadt: der
Marktplatz Rynek.
In the center of the city: the
market square Rynek.
Theater, Film, Ausstellungen, Performances und vieles
mehr. Am Eröffnungswochenende Mitte Januar
gab es einen „Zug der Geister der Stadt“ mit Lichtinstallationen,
Happenings und Feuerwerk. Eine Theaterolympiade
wird stattfinden und die Stadt wird
Schauplatz der Verleihung des Europäischen Filmpreises
sein. Das Theaterstück „Der Tod und das
Mädchen“ der österreichischen Literaturnobelpreisträgerin
Elfriede Jelinek wird aufgeführt. Es wird einen
Carneval Cubano geben und ein „Jazz an der
Oder“-Festival. Und weil Breslau in diesem Jahr außerdem
auch noch die UNESCO Welt-Buch-Hauptstadt
ist, ein geballtes Programm an literarischen
Events.
„Städte, die den Titel der Europäischen Kulturhauptstadt
tragen“, lesen wir im Programm, „genießen
ein Jahr lang die Aufmerksamkeit von ganz Europa“.
Einerseits. Andererseits öffnet das
Kulturhauptstadt-Jahr auch ein Fenster: hinaus aus
einer nationalistischen Enge in eine multikulturelle,
wilde, spannende, dynamische Welt. Breslau 2016,
so steht es weiter im Programm, „schafft einen offenen,
dynamischen und freundlichen Raum.“ Und so
konnte das Timing diesmal gar nicht besser sein.
By deciding to appoint the Lower Silesian city
of Wroclaw to one of two European Capitals
of Culture in 2016 (the other is the Basque
city of San Sebastián), the EU Commission made a
pretty wise choice.
„The basis of the European Capital of Culture
project,“ they say, „is the idea of getting to know one
another, a closer approach and intercultural dialogue
between Europeans“. Wroclaw has always been a
juncture of cultures. But the past has not always been
kind, we soon discover. Wroclaw has seen many
come and go: Germans, Austrians, Bohemians, Hungarians,
Poles, Catholics, Jews and Protestants, the
Hanse, the nobility, Soviet socialism and the Civil
Rights Movement Solidarity. They all left their mark.
After the end of World War II, the population was
almost completely exchanged. The Germans left and
displaced and homeless people from western Ukraine
and from eastern Poland moved in. When Wroclaw,
the city whose present population was once
dominated by refugees, is appointed European Capital
of Culture during a period when we are witnessing
mass migrations that has gripped Europe
and the Middle East, then that is a sign, a signal.
Today, Wroclaw is a confident, independent and
unconventional city. With its 640,000 inhabitants, it
is the fourth largest city in Poland including more
than 100,000 young and energetic students.
Wroclaw must always have been a beautiful city.
Its nickname, earned over time, leaves no doubt:
„Europe‘s sacred flower, the beautiful ornament
among cities“. One might not necessarily be a fan of
such embellished descriptions, however, one thing is
for certain – Wroclaw is definitely a town well worth
visiting.
It is a city that quickly evokes a comparison with
Venice. Therefore, it is also often called „Venice of
the East“, owing to the fact that the Odra river has
many tributaries which form numerous islands, interconnected
by bridges. One of these islands is
home of the Gothic St John the Baptist Cathedral, a
landmark and one of the outstanding sights. Wroclaw
originated more than a thousand years ago on
this so-called Cathedral Island.
The Rynek, the main and medieval market square,
is an impressive place and certainly one of the most
beautiful squares in Europe. It’s not without reason
that many visitors feel that it is reminiscent of close-
PHOTOS: POLISH TOURIST ORGANISATION, PANORAMA RACLAWICKA
BEST IB DIPLOMA PASS RATES in
AUSTRIA
2013 – 98%
2014 – 100%
2015 – 100%
by Kraków. Other attractions include the neo-classical
Opera House, Art Nouveau style built houses, the
town hall with design elements of the Renaissance,
the Baroque university, the modernist Centennial
Hall. A fascinating blend of architecture. Visitors
should not miss the Raclawicka panorama, a 114
metre long and 15 metre high circular painting, depicting
a battle during the Polish-Russian war in the
18th century. A walk through the city‘s history can
be enjoyed in the former royal palace on the edge of
the old town. The Baroque building was temporarily
the residence of the Prussian King Frederick II. Today,
it houses the Muzeum Historyczne, the Historical
Museum (muzeum.miejskie.wroclaw.pl).
The most famous restaurant is Piwnica Świdnicka
(strona.piwnicaswidnicka.com), which is located at
the Old Town Hall and where allegedly Chopin,
Goethe and Emperor Wilhelm I. including Bismarck
already drank their beer.
So now Wroclaw is European Capital of Culture
in 2016. The programme is filled: More than 1,000
events will be available throughout the months, theatre,
films, exhibitions, performances and much
more. On the opening weekend in mid-January, a
„ghosts of the city parade“ with light installations,
happenings and fireworks took place. Theatre olympics
will be carried out and the city will host the
award ceremony of the European Film Awards. The
play „Death and the Maiden“ by the Austrian Nobel
Prize winner Elfriede Jelinek will be performed. A
Carnival Cubano and the „Jazz on the Odra“ festival
is included in the programme. And because Wroclaw
is also the UNESCO World Book Capital this year, a
wide-ranging programme of literary events is on the
agenda.
„Cities that bear the title of European Capital of
Culture,“ as written in the programme, „enjoy the
attention of all of Europe for a year.“ On the one
hand. On the other hand, the Capital of Culture year
also opens a window of opportunity from a nationalistic
narrowness to a multicultural, wild, exciting,
dynamic world. “Wroclaw in 2016,” the programme
continues to write, „creates an open, dynamic and
friendly space.“ The timing could not be better.
‘striving for
EXCELLENCE, by
ENGAGING minds,
EXCITING learners,
acting ETHICALLY and
showing EMPATHY’
Wrocław 2016
Mit mehr als 1.000
Veranstaltungen wird das
Kulturhauptstadtjahr
begangen. Informationen
zum Programm und zu
allen Events findet man
unter:
More than 1,000 events
are held throughout the
Capital of Culture year.
Information about the
programme and all events
can be found at:
wroclaw2016.pl
poland.travel
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Cercle Diplomatique 1/2016 87