Renaissance ceiling polychromies at 17 Rynek Staromiejski (Old City Market Square) are one of the numerous such a valuable historical paintings in Toruń

Gothic Guardhouse Tower and Bridge Gate

Map of the most attractive tourist localities in the region of Toruń. Click to enlarge.

 

• More information on Toruń gingerbread available here.

The tradition relating to the greatest and most famous astronomer of all time… born in Toruń, who is said to have “held the Sun and moved the Earth”, is still alive in his hometown. His spirit seems to pervade the field of science he developed, motivating other eminent scientists in the history of Toruń to follow his example. These include Professor Władysław Dziewulski, a co-founder and professor at the Nicolaus Copernicus University, as well as the first director of Toruń Astronomic Observatory in 1945-1960 who also initiated the study of astrophysics and star astronomy in Poland; and Professor Wilhelmina Iwanowska, a co-founder of astronomical science at Toruń university, a vice-President of International Astronomical Union and the Freeman of the City of Toruń.
• More information on Nicolaus Copernicus available here.

Born in 1946, Aleksander Wolszczan is Toruń university graduate and the greatest living astronomer in the world. USA-based since 1982, he was working in Toruń since 1994. In 1990, while doing some academic research in Puerto Rico using the greatest radio telescope in the world, Wolszczan discovered Pulsar PSR B1257+12; in 1992 he officially announced the theory of a planetary system around the pulsar, which partially met with skepticism in the scientific world; in 1994, in the course of further research Wolszczan published data confirming the existence of the newly discovered non-solar planetary system; in 1992 he was awarded the Prize of the Foundation for Polish Science.

Walking in the footsteps of Nicolaus Copernicus should begin at his birthplace: red brick Copernicus family house. This should be followed by visiting Copernicus Chapel in St. Johns’ Cathedral, housing a number of Copernicus-related memorabilia such as the baptismal font where he was baptized, a commemorative plaque from 1589 - his first memorial, or a marble bust dating from 1766, his oldest monument. However, the most famous Nicolaus Copernicus monument is located centrally – in the Old City Market Square, the most important part of the city. The last places commemorating the great astronomer include the Astronomical Observatory under the auspices of Nicolaus Copernicus University (with one of the biggest radio telescopes in the world, potent enough to locate a mobile phone on the Moon with the accuracy of several metres) and:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• More information on the university available here.
• More information on Nicolaus Copernicus here.

• More information on University Museum here.

In Poland Toruń is second to Krakow in respect of the unique and original large medieval architectural complex. It is also the first such city in the north of Poland, which is why it is often referred to as the Krakow of the North or Little Krakow. The complex has survived largely intact since the Copernicus time and can boast the greatest number of world-class monuments and the greatest number of monuments in total. The Gothic burgher architecture with the Old City Town Hall, the St. George Guild House, numerous tenement houses, granaries, defense walls, towers and gates, as well as some other secular buildings, is original, unique and the biggest in Poland.
• More information on Toruń monuments available here

• More information on Toruń historic architecture available here

Old City Town Hall is the most impressive building of its kind in Poland and one of the biggest in the world. Its tower dating from 1274 is the oldest city hall tower in this part of Europe. Toruń City Hall is among the most outstanding achievements of burgher architecture in Europe. Its perfect and and well-balanced proportions, together with the rich and artistic interior furnishing reflect the architectural artistry and an excellent taste of Toruń patriciate who considered it their pride. It was the manifestation of the economic power of Toruń, the former Hanseatic trade emporium, and the most splendid secular building in the city, the venue for momentous occasions and grand ceremonies, as well as the residence of the Kings of Poland who particularly frequently paid visits to Toruń.
Today the building houses the District Museum with its collections that perfectly reflect the former glory of the city and its high artistic culture.
• More information on the Old City Town Hall available here.

St. Jonh the Baptist and St. John Evangelist are the patrons of the red brick Gothic high-hall building with “Tuba Dei”, the second seven-ton-heavy bell in Poland, numerous Copernicus-related memorabilia, the font where the great astronomer took baptism, the heart of King Jan Olbracht (John Albert) and the first attic over the north galilees in Poland. The church, one of the oldest and one of the three biggest buildings of its kind in the north of Poland, boats many valuable works of art, particularly those of the Gothic period. It witnessed numerous ceremonies, including those dignified by the Kings of Poland and was at the centre of attention of the powerful Toruń patriciate and gentry, who took it under their care and endowed chapels, epitaphs, and gravestones surviving till today.
• More information on the cathedral available here

Since 1500 St. Johns’ Cathedral tower has accommodated an unusual bell - Tuba Dei (God’s Trumpet). Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it is not only the biggest medieval bell in Poland, but also one of the biggest Polish bells in general (until recently the second biggest). Before casting the famous Sigismund Bell in Krakow (1521), Tuba Dei had been recognized as the biggest in the Kingdom of Poland.
Today it is no small attraction for tourists, especially when it sounds, which takes place several times a year. Not once in its over 500-year-old history had it been subject to destruction or plunder during war.
• More information available here.

One of the most outstanding achievements of Gothic church architecture in Poland and among the three biggest churches in the north of Poland. The slender monumental post-Franciscan church towering over the north part of the Old City boasts a number of valuable artistic and historic works of art, such as the Gothic stalls, mural polychromes, a large Renaissance organ - the oldest and most beautiful in Poland, epitaphs and the mausoleum of Princess Anna Vasa. During the Renaissance the post-monastic buildings adjacent to the church accommodated the famous Academic Gymnasium marking the intellectual level of Royal Prussia. 
• More information on St. Mary’s Church available here.

St. James's Church is another example of an excellent Gothic church building. It is the smallest such building in Toruń and it is distinctive for its architectural features which were rare in Poland and characteristic of West European medieval church buildings. Some consider it the most balanced and the most beautiful Toruń church.
Its most valuable interior furnishings include the rich medieval mural polychromes and numerous Gothic works of art, such as the Tree of Life, the painting of the Passion of Christ, a number of statues and sculptures and the Renaissance organ front.
• More information on St. James’s Church available here

Formerly part of the city fortifications with 54 other fortified towers. Contrary to what the legends say, its tilt is the result of the instability of the clay ground. Surviving in the line of the city walls, it is among the biggest wonders and tourist attractions in Toruń today. It is another symbol of the city, most frequently photographed by tourists.
• More information on the Leaning Tower available here

Toruń can boast the greatest number of well-preserved medieval burgher tenements, dating back mainly to the 14th and 15th centuries. There are a few hundred houses with more or less discernible Gothic features, unique on both the national and European scale. They are among the best preserved buildings of their kind and well illustrate a typical house in an old affluent medieval city. Despite numerous reconstructions in the 19th century, many tenements have retained their original Gothic interior layout today, together with the precious mural polychromes, polychrome vaults and ceilings, and facades. Toruń has the greatest number of surviving murals in secular homes. Beside Toruń, they can be found in some of Warsaw tenements, two in Gdańsk City Hall and one on the façade of a tenement in Wrocław.
Toruń patrician tenements and their rich ornamentation manifest the former affluence of the city and the artistic aspirations of its inhabitants shaped by West-European patterns.
•  More information on Toruń patrician tenements available here

Toruń, as one of the principal trade centres and the most important Vistula harbour in the 13th and 14th centuries, developed sophisticated architectural designs employed not only in churches, public buildings, fortifications and residences, but also in granaries. As early as the beginning of the 14th century Toruń merchant tenements were higher and had larger storage facilities (the so-called granary houses). The number of individual granaries in the 14th century totaled about 30. They were typically located within the city walls rather than immediately beside the river. Apart from these, there were also the Teutonic granaries.
The surviving Toruń granaries are among the oldest and most valuable in Poland, well illustrating the architectural forms and ornamental details of their time. They also mark Toruń membership in the Hanseatic League and its active involvement in the early long-distance trade.
• More information on the granaries available here

Toruń District Museum (one of the biggest in the north of Poland), holding exhibitions in several departments, offers the biggest high-class collections of old Toruń art and unique Pomeranian, Polish and world masterpieces. The biggest collections are on show in the Old City Town Hall, housing as many as 9 exhibitions. The most valuable include the unique medieval Judical Hall, Gothic stained glass and religious sculptures, the Renaissance portraits of Toruń patriciate, the oldest pictorial guide to Kings of Poland painted in their lifetime, a rich collection of Toruń intarsia furniture, the goldsmithery collection with the unique treasure of  Skrwilno and the gallery of Polish painting of the mid-18th century onwards, including works by Bacciarelli, Smuglewicz, Gerson, Gierymski brothers, Witkiewicz, Malczewski, Matejko and many others.
Two medieval Hanseatic tenements accommodate Copernicus House, while the exquisite Star Residence contains not only the marvelous interior furnishing of a typical Toruń patrician residence house, but also the collections of the Far-Eastern art with the oldest Chinese artwork of the Han dynasty.
Equally interesting are also Tony Halik Travellers’ Museum, the Museum of Ethnography, the University Museum, Toruń Fort No. 4, the Centre For Modern Art, etc.
• More information on Toruń Museums available here

Rarely can a Polish city boast more than one castle located within its boundaries. In Toruń there were two, representative of two separate countries in the past and currently in ruins. These are the mid-13th century Teutonic Castle – the headquarters of the Commander on the right Vistula bank and early 13th century Polish Dybów Castle – the headquarters of the royal district governors (starost), on the left river bank, i.e. within the territory of the Kingdom of Poland.
Toruń, as a Teutonic border city and the so-called ‘Gate to Prussia’, was located the furthest south in the Teutonic State and was the first and biggest Prussian city to be encountered while traveling from the Kingom of Poland. It was thus the natural meeting point and an arena for a number of political events in the history of Polish-Teutonic relations. Its strategic position led to erecting two important watchtowers here, each belonging to a different state.
Besides them, the area boasts the castles in Zamek Bierzgłowski and Złotoria, the latter currently in ruins.
•  More information on the castles available here

Nearly 150 surviving structures comprising one of the biggest 19th-century fortresses in Europe built by the Prussians are open to visitors today. Among other things, the fortress includes 15 large forts, well preserved and overwhelming in their size. 
The black tourist trail is designed to take visitors to the surviving structures of Toruń fortress.
• More information available here

Copernican Toruń would by no means do without a planetarium, the most up-to-date and popular institution of its kind in Poland. Its modern facilities and special effects guarantee an unforgettable show. Here one can see a starry night in the middle of the day, experience a space flight to distant planets, fly through Saturn rings or look into the space from the perspective of other planets.
• More information on the Planetarium available here

Toruń Centre for Modern Art "Znaki Czasu" is the first newly erected modern art museum since 1939. Its construction won the 2nd place on the Radio Channel 3 plebiscite for the most important cultural event in Poland in 2008. Aspiring to the role of the contemporary centre of Toruń’s artistic life, the centre aims to develop, popularize and promote modern art. These objectives will be met through creating regional art collections, organizing exhibitions, issuing publications and engaging in educational activities.
• More information on the centre available here

Museum of Ethnography located in the very centre of Toruń, adjacent to the Old City, offers the possibility to become familiar with the old Polish countryside (especially from the regions of Kuiavia, Kashubia and the Tuchola Forest) and its traditions. It comprises folk architecture with fully-equipped farmsteads, a post mill, a water mil, a forge and a fire station. The museum is one of the three independent and biggest museums of their kind in Poland. Its collection spans the whole of the folk culture in the north of Poland and the fisherman’s tradition in Poland.
Another open-air museum is located outside the city centre in Kaszczorek. Its exhibition relates to fishing and rafting traditions on the Vistula River.
• More information on Museum of Ethnography and park museums available here

• More information on the district available here

Kępa Bazarowa is a unique centrally located islet with the area of 70 ha (173 acres), over 2.5 km (1.5 miles) long and over 400 m (1313 feet) wide. Half of its surface (32.4 ha; 80 acres) is covered by a nature reservation, a riverine forest – the remains of the riparian forests in the Valley of Toruń. Here, on a modest viewing platform, the most popular and fascinating panorama of Toruń Old City can be seen. The place also bears historical significance. On February 1 it witnessed signing the First Peace Treaty of Toruń, concluding the so-called Great War between Poland and the Teutonic State. Its name dates back to the 13th century and originates from merchants stopping over here.
• More information on Kępa Bazarowa available here

Located north-west of the city limits, Barbarka is an over 700-year-old forest hamlet with a rich history and many places of interest. However, it is not only historically significant; it offers also a number of leisure facilities and is an ideal destination for all nature lovers.
In the medieval times Barbarka was the shrine of St. Barbara, who, according to a legend, was to reveal herself to a hermit. It soon became a pilgrimage site and received a visit from, for example, Polish King Zygmunt Stary (Sigismund the Elder) who in 1521 came to see the local chapel and the Gothic figure of St. Barbara. For a few hundred years Barbarka owned a mill. During World War II Barbarka witnessed mass executions of Toruń intelligentsia by Germans.
Today it is a large interesting and full-fledged leisure spot, picturesquely located near a pond in the forest.
• More information available here

Apart from the unique architectural design, Toruń theatres offer diverse programs and can boast long historical traditions reaching as far back as the 16th century, which was when the theatres of Academic Gymnasium and the Jesuit College staged their performances in Arthus House.
The present-day building of Wilam Horzyca Theatre was erected in 1904 by a famous Vienna company owned by F. Fellner and H. Helmer. Its architecture combines the elements of the Eclectic, Baroque and Art Nouveau styles. Since 1991, the theatre has been organising “Kontakt” festivals.
Baj Pomorski Theatre is located in an unusual fairytale building with a unique facade, resembling a large wooden wardrobe at the entrance.
• More information on Toruń theatres available here

• More information available here.