Breslau, the capital of Prussian Silesia, 150 miles SE. of Frankfort-on-Oder by rail, is situated at the confluence of the Ohlau and Oder, which divides it into two parts, connected by numerous handsome bridges. The fortifications were converted in 1813 into beautiful promenades, and the ditch has been transformed into an ornamental sheet of water. The streets of the new portion of Breslau are spacious and regular, and the houses stately and handsome, affording a pleasant contrast to the sombre, massive structures of the old town. Educational institutions are numerous, including a university founded by the Emperor Leopold I. in 1702, and attended in 1886 by 1436 students. The library contains 300,000 volumes. Besides a cathedral (1148-1680; restored 1875), Breslau has many churches, the most remarkable being the Protestant church dedicated to St Elizabeth, with a steeple 298 feet in height, and a splendid organ; a Jewish synagogue; and a bishop's palace. The other buildings include the Rathhaus, the royal palace, now used as government buildings, exchange, barracks, and court-house. Breslau has many hospitals and charitable institutions. The position of Breslau, in the centre of the manufacturing districts of the province, secures it a large trade, which its railway connection with all the important cities on every side, in addition to the facilities of communication which the Oder affords, enables it to turn to the best account. Linen fairs are held, and it is a great wool-mart. It has manufactures of linen, woollens, cotton, silks, lace, jewelry, machines, earthenware, soap, alum, starch, &c., with many distilleries; and a trade in corn, coal, metals, timber, hemp, and flax. Breslau is a city of Slavonic origin, and was for many centuries occupied alternately by the Poles and the
Bohemians. It afterwards passed to Austria, from which it was taken by Frederick II. of Prussia in 1741. Six years afterwards it was captured by the Austrians after a bloody battle, but retaken by Frederick in about a month. From that time until 1814 it was frequently besieged. Since 1890 Breslau is to be made again a first-class fortress by means of detached forts. It is the second city of Prussia, and fifth largest in the empire. Pop. (1870) 207,997; (1885) 299,405; (1890) 335,186 (37 per cent. Catholics, 6 per cent. Jews).