Within the city limits there are several dozen green areas, from several to over a hundred hectares. Botany enthusiasts delight with species not seen elsewhere in public space. In recent years, most of the parks in Wrocław are being modernized: new species of trees and shrubs are planted, flower beds with seasonal flowers are planted, and benches and alleys are organized, in some Wrocław parks there are various artistic forms enriching the landscape.
Juliusz Słowacki Park
These who are tired of noise can quickly escape from the hustle and bustle of the main streets to a well-deserved rest to Słowacki Park located in the city center. Flore are clones, chestnuts or limes here. Shelters from the sun can also be provided by the building of the National Museum, the Museum of Architecture and the interior of Panorama Racławicka. Visitors to Słowacki Park can also lay down with a blanket on the grass, sit on one of the benches, and sometimes take a break on Sunday yoga exercises.
Szczytnicki Park
The largest park in the city is sometimes called the pearl of Wrocław’s parks.
It occupies the fourth place in the ranking of the most interesting European parks and was entered in the register of monuments in 1962.
About 350 species of trees from Europe, Asia and America grow here like Canadian canines, English oaks, American rain-forest, numerous oak varieties, and many species of animals live, including foxes, martens, 70 species of birds or toads and lizards.
Japanese garden
In the Szczytnicki Park there is a Japanese Garden, in which 26 species of trees and shrubs occur in natural conditions only in Japan. In spring, azaleas and magnolias bloom here beautifully. Other interesting plants are: Japanese gringuidae, Japanese sophora, Chinese larch, palm, rounded and gristylleon clones.
In addition, in the Japanese Garden there are stylized the oriental gate and tea pavilion. One of the attractions of the place is a pond with huge carps and other species of fish. In the Japanese Garden, tea-making shows, concerts and outdoor events are often organized.
Old Town Garden
There are many cultural events, concerts, performances and meetings with artists on the summer stage of the Puppet Theater with access to the Old Town Garden.
Opposite the Summer Stage of the Puppet Theater there is a sandstone fountain with the figure of “Boy with a Swan”, being a copy of the cast by Theodor Erdmann Kalide.
There is also a modern elliptical playground with swings, rockers and climbing equipment. Next to it is a classic French-style carousel, stylized in the nineteenth-century. On the youngest there are attractions such as a ride on wooden horses or in gondolas.
You can not ride bicycles in the Old Town Garden, nor enter the dogs.
Millenium Park
The second largest Park in Wroclaw is the Millenium Park, which has about 90 hectares. Located in the western part of the city between Graniczna Street, Wrocław Highway Bypass and the Ślęza River. It was established in 2000, on the occasion of the anniversary of the founding of Wrocław – hence the name, and is still being arranged. For now, there are walking paths in it.
Stanisław Tołpa Park
It is a small park area, but it has a rather interesting vegetation – there are about 90 species of trees and shrubs growing here. There is also a pond called Waschteich, which is a remnant of the former oxbow lake Odra on Ołbin.
In the Tołpa park, beech grows (in a pendulous and conical variety), yellow (a rare in Polish parks: it comes from the south-eastern areas of North America and grows in valleys of mountain rivers and streams, popular in Apallach). In the park you will also find a Japanese pearl, American linden, gray poplars and white willows. The ducks have a little island on the pond, the center of the reservoir is decorated with a fountain, there are two playgrounds for children in the park.
Particularly attractive – the downtown location of the park is decorated with three great dominants. Neo-Gothic church of Saint. Michał Archanioła, the building of the Faculty of Architecture of the Wrocław University of Technology and Primary School No. 1 (along with the neighboring kindergarten).
Grabiszyński Park
It is a large park with diverse character. It was established in the area of the former German cemetery and nowadays there are enclaves: Cemetery of Italian Soldiers (1914-1918), Cemetery of Polish Soldiers (1939-1945) and Cemetery of Polish and German children (thirties and forties of the twentieth century).
South Park (Park Południowy)
It was created in the habitat of broad-leaved forest and that is why there are many old lindens, hornbeams and beeches. In 2004, a statue of Fryderyk Chopin was unveiled in it, which – according to urban applications, has the face of the well-known Wrocław journalist and music critic Count Wojciech Dzieduszycki.
The park also has a pond with an island where water birds nest.
Złotnicki Park
The park’s area is about 20 ha. The area of the park is a conservation and archeological protection zone. In the place of the current park and forest in early medieval times (between IX-XII in.) There were two castles. These places are commemorated by stone tablets.
There are huge oaks in the park, nine of which are monuments of nature. There are m.in. grave and alder. This park is largely a forest area. In the park there are also sports and recreation areas, where are located: a track for people who ride on roller skates, a motocross track with an eight-shaped route, a basketball court and a gym. The children have at their disposal two playgrounds.
Maria Dąbrowska Park
This is a small park (with an area of approx. 8 ha) located on Karłowice. It was founded at the beginning of the 20th century. We will see here a dozen species of deciduous trees, eg: small-leaved limes, beech, English oaks, hornbeams, maples, ashes, field and common maples, chestnut trees (also red), poplars, willows.
Botanical Garden of the University of Wrocław
Located just off Ostrów Tumski, it is a popular place for walks and rest. It is open every day.
In addition to the exhibition of plants in the Garden, one can admire the geological cross-section of Wałbrzych deposits of coal, separated by sandstone and slate deposits, built in 1856 within the rock garden. The exhibition includes fossil prints of extinct plants, petrified tree trunks, etc.
The branch unit of the Wrocław Botanical Garden has been since 1988 a 70-hectare arboretum in Wojsławice near Niemcza, famous for its large collection of rhododendrons and rare conifers.
During the year, many events are organized in the Botanical Garden, including Picnic Tumski, finals of Magnolia Wroclawska, Pumpkin Festival, there are also concerts and outdoor events for children and meetings for lovers of gardening. The paradise garden plein-airs often choose newlyweds as a place for deep photo shootings.
Ossolineum Garden
In the garden there is one of the few monuments dedicated to the victims of World War I – Christ’s statue by Theodor von Gosen is dedicated to students and teachers of the St. Matthias Junior High School. The second of the monuments is dedicated to Angelus Silesius, a baroque poet.
Staromiejska Promenade
Almost four kilometers long green belt leads from the Sikorski bridge to the east of the Market, next to the Civil Registry Office, along the city moat, at the Opera House and Puppet Theater, through the Partyzantów Hill, next to Galeria Dominikańska, through Słowackiego Park to the Museum Bridge and the gondola at the National Museum.
The promenade was built on the site of the former city walls, dismantled by the order of the French, who occupied Wrocław after the siege in 1807. It is one of the most popular walking places in Wroclaw. It leads past the historic buildings through the city center. Along the promenade there are cafes, restaurants and interesting historical objects.
Słodowa Island
Słodowa Island belongs to the Old Town archipelago of islands on the Oder, located north of the Wrocław Market Square.
The picnic season usually starts on March 21, when on the Slowa Island on the occasion of the First Spring Day crowds of junior high school students and high school students who celebrate Wagarowicz’s Day there.
Pupils reside almost all year round on Wyspa Słodowa. During the holiday season, on July and August weekends, many attractions await guests: on Fridays and Saturdays – open-air cinema, on Saturdays – concerts, board games, sports activities, on Sunday – dance lessons or outdoor library. At night Słodowa Island is closed.
In the tourist season, you can take advantage of the offer of bar-pubs on the shoulders. Toilets are also open.
