Torun is located in northern part of central Poland, on the Vistula river. It’s one of the best preserved gothic towns in Poland and the second Polish city, after Cracow, with greatest number of authentic monuments in the Gothic style. Unchanged for centuries allows to fully enjoy the enchanting atmosphere of medieval town.
It is also well-known for Torun gingerbread that has been produced there since the Middle Ages from a recipe that remains a secret. A variety of their shapes is amazing as well as their unique taste.
Torun is the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus, world famous astronomer who “stopped the Sun and moved the Earth”. Nowadays you can find his statue in the old market square. You can also visit the Copernicus Museum, housed in two Gothic tenement houses – one of which used to be a merchant’s storage space, and the other the house where Nicholas Copernicus was born. It’s also a very good idea to see the Planetarium, the most frequently visited tourist attraction in Torun.
In 1997 the medieval Town of Torun was inscribed on the UNESCO list. Among Torun’s highlights you will find the Town Hall (one of the most monumental town halls in this part of Europe), St. John’s Cathedral (this is where Copernicus was baptized), Artus Court, the ruins of a Teutonic castle and the Leaning Tower which is a part of defense walls. Especially beautiful panoramic view of Torun can be admired from the left bank of the Vistula river.
There are a lot of legends related to Torun. One of them is connected with the statue of Raftsman that stands near the south-west corner of the Old Town Hall. According to the legend he managed to get rid of a plague of frogs from the city by playing his violin. Over million of people from all around the world visit the city every year. It’s a real gem.