Toruń – city break

Toruń is a city of gingerbread, which we can eat and buy here at any time of the year. It is also the city of Copernicus – the famous scientist who stopped the sun from moving the earth. Toruń is a city with a beautiful Old Town inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. A city of inspiration, beautiful buildings, history, and sweetness. You can explore and see quite a lot in a short period. It is also the ‘pearl of gothic’, one of the most gothic cities in Poland, because wherever you look, you can – literally – ‘touch the gothic.’ It is not without reason that this slogan has been adopted to promote the city of Toruń. Look up to see what monumental buildings you are dealing with, feel it, and admire it, especially at night when the buildings are specially illuminated. The city has always been situated at the crossroads of important, major communication routes, so there is no problem getting to the Toruń.

Day one: Historic buildings of the Toruń Market Square

A walk around the Old Town in Toruń is best started at the Old Town Square. There, you will find a monumental one of the largest medieval Town Halls in Poland. From the top of the 40-meter high tower, you can admire the entire old town complex of buildings, so maybe it is worth climbing it? Near the Town Hall is a monument to Toruń’s most famous citizen, Nicolaus Copernicus. How about a photo with a well-known scientist? If we have time, we can go back to Nicolaus Copernicus Street for a while to see his house. If not, let us continue the journey through the Market Square.

In Market Square, a donkey sculpture (right next to the Copernicus statue) reminds us of the sophisticated punishments administered in Toruń in the past and the Filutek Monument with a bowler in his muzzle. The dog and his companion – the famous Professor Filutek – are the characters of the funny drawing stories published in the weekly magazine „Przekrój”. Comic strip was made by Zbigniew Lengren, who died in 2003. He lived in Toruń in his youth and studied at the university in Toruń. And this monument commemorates the artist.

On the square’s western side, you can see the 18th-century Church of the Holy Spirit, built amidst conflict between evangelicals and Catholics. Its tower was not added until 140 years later. Near is the neo-Gothic building of the Main Post Office from the end of the 19th century. Richly decorated doors with portals and red and green glazed bricks around the windows can be admired.

At the end of today’s trip, let’s go to the planetarium. It is a fascinating place, as it is here where popular astronomy shows are displayed thanks to special equipment. Depending on the title, they talk about the size and structure of the Universe, describe the most popular constellations in the sky, and reveal the mysteries of planets and galaxies. The Planetarium also has the Base MARS#7, an interactive space resembling a real cosmic base. There are tasks to complete, a special mission, the examination of space samples – a whole array of attractions.

How much do you need? 4 hours might not be enough. 40 minutes is reserved for the Planetarium’s show.

Day two: Ruins as carriers of the past

It is worth remembering that Toruń is one of Poland’s few cities with two Main Markets: Staromiejski and Nowomiejski. They are linked by Toruń’s most prestigious and recognizable street, Szeroka Street. Nowadays, it serves as a pedestrian zone, but in the past, it was the city’s most important shopping street inhabited by wealthy merchants, craftsmen, and influential families.

We will visit the new town in a moment, but first, let’s look at The Ruins of The Teutonic Order Castle. The castle was built in the 13th century; nowadays, the only remains of the castle are Gdanisko, a former lavatory tower, and picturesque ruins. Gdanisko from the 16th to 18th century, was used as a gunpowder storage depot. The rest are ruins, a time-lapse history, which looks spectacular, especially in the sunset rays. If you turn from Szeroka Street into Przedzamcze Street leading to the Ruins of the Teutonic Castle, then on the right-hand side of the initial section of the latter, just behind the metal bars, you will see the Dragon of Toruń, who visited the city in 1764…. supposedly.

The New Town Market

From the Castle let’s go to the new square. It is a mystery why the market square, as the central square, was not established in the middle of the town but closer to the Teutonic castle. The heart of the New Town is undoubtedly the New Town Market Square with the former Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity, dating back to 1824. In the eastern corner stands the Gothic St. James’s Church. Also noteworthy are the ‘Pod Złotym Lwem’ pharmacy building and the ‘Pod Modrym Fartuchem’ inn. According to records and legends, this is the oldest inn in Poland (dated 1489), visited by kings, including Napoleon Bonaparte himself. The New Town Market Square has primarily served as a marketplace and continues to do so today. You can but here everything that you need – cold cuts, cheeses, baked goods, preserves, honey, local specialties, homemade pastries, and various vegetarian and vegan delicacies. Everything is prepared healthily, without chemicals, following traditional or homemade recipes. You can also find handicrafts and natural cosmetics.

How much do I need? 4-6 hours, depending on how much time you will spend at the market

Day three: Local specialties

Toruń’s gingerbread is a must-try. They have been a valued local specialty pleasing tasters’ palates for years. Today, gingerbread is a favorite souvenir of Toruń and one of the symbols associated with the city. Traditionally, gingerbread can be bought in Artus Court, where the Second Peace of Toruń was sworn in the 15th century. It was here that Józef Piłsudski, Ignacy Mościcki and Józef Haller visited. On the ground floor of the building, there is a Copernicus Toruń shop with a large selection of gingerbread.

It is worth visiting the Gingerbread Museum, learning its production secrets, baking gingerbread, and taking it home with you so that the sweet smell will remind you of your visit to the ‘gingerbread city’. The Living Gingerbread Museum is holding a gingerbread baking workshop with a lot of knowledge and humor. During the demonstration, you will discover which spices are used in baking, where they came from, and their value in the Middle Ages. You can take your handmade and decorated gingerbread as a souvenir.

Now….Ready for a competition to keep their balance under the Gothic tower? The Leaning Tower is also located in Toruń. It is the most famous of Toruń’s 52 defensive towers, dating back to the Middle Ages. The tower owes its name to its apparent deviation from the vertical of about 1.46 meters.

City views

We will end the day on Philadelphia Boulevard. Have a moment to relax and unwind. On warm summer days, Bulwar Filadelfijski seems to be the perfect place to meet friends, take a family walk or relax with a view of the Vistula River. In the colder months, we recommend a walk along the Boulevard. This is an iconic place in Polish cinematography; it is here, on Bulwar Filadelfijski, that the iconic film ‘Rejs’ begins. This is where you will take a break from the old town’s narrow streets. Walking and heading towards Piłsudski Bridge, you will pass the Bridge Gate, the Monastery Gate, and the Iron Gate, i.e., the city gates, which were an essential part of Toruń’s medieval defensive walls. Of the 13 or 14 former city gates in Toruń, only three remain Mostowa, Klasztorna (Holy Spirit) and Żeglarska.

What about another vantage point? It is best to go to the viewpoinin the t late evening to admire the view after sunset. Illuminated Toruń looks phenomenal! You can reach the viewing platform by walking along Piłsudski Bridge and then along Dybowska Street to Majdany Street. You can also use public transport and take a bus to the Toruń Główny train station, and then along Majdany Street you will reach the viewing point. In the summer, you can take a boat.