Malt Island

About

The Malt Island (Wyspa Słodowa, [ˈvɘspa swɔˈdɔva]), also known as the Słodowa Island, is a small islet on the Oder River within the Wrocław Old Town. The island used to be called Vorderbleiche until 1945. Originally the name came from bleaching linen for the Order of Saint Clare. The island was owned by the Order of Saint Claire from the Middle Ages until the beginning of the 18th century, when it became the property of the city. In the 18th century the Malt Island was connected to Mill and Bielarska Islands with the iron bridge. In the second half of the 19th century, people began to build dwelling houses on it with sewerage systems, phones and electricity. In 1945 the German army installed field artillery there, which made it a target for frequent bombardment during World War II. During the siege of Wrocław at the end of World War II, almost all the buildings of the island were destroyed. There were only some of the buildings left, including the thirteenth-century St. Clare's Mills. St. Clare's Mills were blown up by sappers in 1975 on the order of Wrocław mayor, Marian Czubiński. The decision was met with widespread criticism and protests by the people of culture, architects, and urban planners. For nearly a quarter century after the destruction of mills, the area remained almost completely undeveloped, with only one house left on the island. In Polish, Wyspa Słodow

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.