To complete a thorough tour of Ostrów Tumski you should not miss the charming Botanical Gardens. The gardens began life as a scientific pursuit, but have become a favourite retreat for Wrocław's residents. The garden was built from 1811 to 1816 on the riverbed where the Odra once flowed around Ostrów Tumski. The 7.4 hectare grounds include a huge diversity of plant life, aquariums, sculptures, a plant shop and cafe, and a large pond with picturesque bridges. Open seasonally from early April until mid-November, on some days your peace and quiet could be disturbed by noisy groups of schoolkids (especially April-June), but the beautiful manicured landscapes include enough nooks and crannies that you should have no trouble forgetting you're in the centre of a big city. Highly recommended.