Toruń is a beautiful and old city with great monuments. It used to be one of the most famous cities in Poland as it was home of Mikołaj Kopernik, the famous astronomer who found out that it is Earth and planets which go around the Sun. Toruń is also known from its university. It is very interesting place worth of seeing.
To start with, I would like to remind about the most important dates in history of Toruń. It is very old town which was founded in early middle ages. Later it became famous because it used to be one of the city which belonged to the Order of Teutonic Knightes who settled in polish land in XIII th century. The Order of Teutonic Knights was the reason of quick development of the city. On the other hand it ware the Teutonic Knights who were responsible for high taxes and wars. This was the reason that Toruń and other bigger cities of Prussia had decided to join Poland. In 1454 the cities decided to join Poland. Poland established sovereignty over Toruń and other cities but the recognition of city priviliges had to be promised. But it was not the end of wars. Few years later the big war outbroken between Poland and the Order of Teutonic Knights. The war lasted thirteen years and it was finished in 1466 by the Second Treaty of Toruń. The conditions of a peace agreement said that Teutonic Knights had to renounce the command over the western Prussian territory for the polish king. After this hard times Toruń could rest through the XVI th and XVII th century and it grew and developed. Unfortunately, the bad situation in Poland and finally three partitions separated Toruń from Poland. In 1793 it became a city of the Kingdom of Prussia. It turned back under the polish rule in 1807 when the Grand Duchy of Warsaw was established. Nevertheless, all those changes couldn't be good for the city. The development was stopped and the city was not able to prosper. After seven years the city became the part of Kingdon of Prussia one more time and in 1871 it was incorporated into the German Empire. But it was not the end of changes. In 1919 when the World War I had finished, under the terms of the Versailles Treaty Toruń returned to Poland. But again, not for long. After twenty years of peace new war outbroken. In 1939 the World War II began. Toruń became a part of German province for another six years. It returned to Poland finally in 1945. Nowadays, it is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities of Poland.
Toruń is very old city and as you could notice in the introduction it has very interesting history. All those changes through the centures created city which is half polish and half german. You can see there many interesting monuments which are built in a specific way. This are short descriptions of monuments which are not to be missed:
- TOWN HALL
This is one of the best known monuments of Toruń. The Town Hall belongs to the greatest monuments from middle ages. It is the central point of the market squere. The old market squere measured about 109 by 104 meters. It was a place where people could buy food and other things sold by merchants. In middle ages the market squere was one of the most important places for the town and it decided about the wealth of the town. In XIV th century Toruń was given the privilege and permission to build the Town Hall. It was granted by the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knightes, Konrad Wallenrod. The Town Hall was built on the place of market stalls. It was rectangular building (43,7 by 52,4 meters). The interesting thing was that there was a court in the middle of the building. The Town Hall had also a big tower. The tower had been already standing in the market squere so the architect decided to use it as a part of the Town Hall. It was only rebuilt so the archtectural style was maintained. As the city was growing bigger, in XVII th century it was decided by the authorities of the town to enlarge the Town Hall. This was a task for the well known architect of Gdańsk - Antoni van Obbergern. The most important change was addition of one more floor. The XVII th century archtecture differed from middle ages canons and that is why some other changes took place. The windows were exchanged for bigger and the Renaissance turrents were added and the roof was rebuilt. Actually most of the Town Hall was rebuilt in the Renaissance style but the main construction remained Gothic. Unfortunately, in 1703 the Town Hall was damaged in the large part by the fire. It was the cause of war with Sweden. The forces of enemy were shelling the town and that was the main reason of great fire of the town which caused so many damages. The reconstruction of the Town Hall lasted several years but thanks to it we can now admire the great moniument. Nowadays, Town Hall not only is a monument but also a Museum of Toruń.
- THE NICOLAS COPERNICUS MONUMENT
If you go to visit the Town Hall it is impossible to miss the Nicolas Copernicus monument as it stands in front of the Museum of Toruń. It was built in 1853 by the famous sculptor from Berlin - Federich Abraham Tieck. He was commissioned to build the monument by the Copernicus Society. The bronze sculpture presentes the astronomer, in the university robes with a sphere in his left hand. There is also a Latin inscription on the monument which says: 'Nicalas Copernicus - the cititzen of Toruń - moved the Earth - and stopped the Sun'.
- THE CHURCH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
It was founded in the XIII th century and it belonged to the Franciscan order. Firstly, it was wooden building but later in XIV th century it war rebuilt in brick. The aisles and shrines were added to building then. The church was 60 meters long and the aisles were 27 meters high. There was no high tower by the church like it was in customary. The church was only given three little bell towers on the easter side, behind the presbytery. The tower was not built because in Fraciscan order there was a rule that didn't allowed it. Nevertheless, the church is all coverd with beautiful paintings inside. However, the oaken stalls and the gallery are the remnants of Lutheran times and they are dated back to 1557 - 1774. In 1724 the church was made over to the Bernardines. And from XIX th century it became a parish church. The high altar and side altars are dated back to 1731. Nowadays, the renovation work has been conducted. The aim was to reconstruct the original appearance of the church. Unfortunately, some of the medieval buildings which were the part of the monastery where destroyed in the XIX th century.
- THE STAR HOUSE
Nowadays it is a first polish Museum of the Far East. The name comes from the eight stars which are placed at the top of the building. The whole façade is embellished with the floral motifs which make the building very interesting. The Star House was built in XVII th century at the foundations of the old Gothic house. Today it is really worth seeing as it was renovated from 1967 to 1969.
- HOLY GHOST CHURCH
Holy Ghost Church used to be Evangelical Protestant and it was built for them in the XVIII th century. After World War II it was made over Jesuits and nowadays it is the main university church and university chaplaincy. The church was designed by Efrain Schroeger and built in the end of XVIII th century. The project didn't anticipate the tower so it was built about one hundred years later, between 1897 and 1899 and it was 64 meters high. What is really worth seeing is the main altar made in 1756 by the local artists in the Rococo style. Unfortunately, there was a fire in 1989 and the beautiful XVIII the century organ went up in flames.
- THE RAFTSMAN STATUE
This is a beautiful monument and fountain built by a german sculptor named George Wolf in 1914. This monument was made of bronze and sandstone. It shows the young boy - rafter who is playing the violin and frogs which are surrounding him and listening to the music. There is a legend connected with the statue. It is true that there was a fiddler whose music was so beautiful that all frogs were listening to him and thanks to that he led them out of the town to the nearest suburbs.
- COPERNICUS' HOUSE
This is a house in which the famous scientist, astronomer and priest was born, Nicolaus Copernicus, on the 19 th February 1473. Nowadays, a departament of the District Museum is placed there. It was a usual burgher - house from XV th century. It was a house and also a kind of granary. Furthermore, it was renovated from 1960 to 1962 so it is really nice.
- LEANING TOWER
The tower was built in the XV th century. But from the beginning there was a problem with it. After the tower was built it turned out that it was better not to built the inner wall as it was easier to pull in the ammunition. But it was not a good solution for 15 meter high tower which started to lean. The leaning didn't change its function and it was still a kind of fortress. In XIX th century it had changed its destination and became a house of smiths and gunsmiths. It was little rebuit then so they could live there. Later, to make it better to live there the Gothic hipped roof was changed into the pent - roof. In XX th century it became a home of many cultural groups like for example: "Political Club". The Leaning Tower is one of the biggest turist attraction and is very characteristic for the city.
- SAINT JOHN CHURCH
It is the best and the oldest example of Gothic style in that part of Poland. This church was built just after the town was granted its charter and that was in 1233. It used to be the first parish church. On the beginning it was very small but it was rebuilt during the centuries. In XV th century it was over 56 meters long and 27 meters high. The first tower collapsed in 1406 and the new one was built. The present tower is 52 meters high. The new tower became a home for one of the biggest bells in Poland. The 7 ton bell named "Tuba Dei", that means "the trumpet of God" had been drawn up in 1500. Its diameter is 2,17 m. Unfortunately, during the Reformation the church was taken over the Evangelical Church. The paintings inside were painted over. Later it came back to the Christians. The main altar is mainly from Baroque but there are some remnants of Middle Ages. In 1935 Pope Pius XI proclaimed the church small basilica. After the decision of the next pope Jan Paweł II it was proclaimed the cathedral basilica of the town Toruń.
- THE TEUTONIC KNIGHTS CASTLE
The Teutonic Knights Castle was built in Toruń but it was not a first castle in that town. The archeological excavations which were conducted between 1958 and 1966 on the nearby hill upon Vistula river showed that before Teutonic Knights Castle there had been one more castle which dates back to X th century. It was probably wooden. In 1233 - 36 the Knights had started the building of their castle. Firstly, the same as the earlier one, the castle was made of wood and later it was rebuilt out of bricks and stones. Finally, it was finished in the turn of XIII and XIV th century. The castle was a shape of horseshue. The southern part of it was so called "dansker" - the sanitary tower. There was also a chapel and homes of servants. In 1410 the great battle under Grunwald outbroken. It was won by Poland so Knights started to reinforce the castle. It became a home for a large number of Knights. But in 1420 the fire broke out. Although many people tried to put it out the fire spread through the whole castle. For people it was a sign that the rule of hated Order of Teutonic Knights came to the end. People oppressed by the knights started an uprising and laied siege to the castle. It all was happening in 1454. After the four days of fight the castle was captured. It was decided that the castle need to be destroyed. That is the short history of castle and reason why there is not much left. Today you can admire only lower parts of the castle and "dansker". However, the castle is not interesting from the historical point it is a great place of relax.
- SAINT JAMES CHURCH
This church is also from XIV th century. It used to be a church for the people who were settling in so called New Toruń. The inscription on the church says that the building was started in 1309 and was finished in 1350. This church is a little different from the rest of the churches. It is built as a basilica. This structure was marked by the nave which was higher than aisles. There is also a difference in the roof construction and the lay out of buttresses which were carrying the whole weight of the vault. The church not only is interesting because of its architecture but also beacause of the paintings and ornaments inside. There is also a tower which is 49 meters high and it is from the XV th century. Similar, like the other churches in Toruń, some of the paintings were painted over during the Reformation. The church remained Evangelical from 1557 till 1667. Fortunately, some of the paintings were uncovered during the interwar period when Toruń was belonging to Poland. You can find there two Gothic figures of Virgin Mary and some other showpieces like medieval crosses which have been restored. This beautiful church is not to be missed.
- EVANGELICAL CHURCH
The building was founded in 1824 and it was designed by K. Schinkel. First it was supposed to be a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Trinity. It is situated in so called New Town Market Squere. This Neo - Romanesque building was an Orthodox Church befor the Second World War had outbroken. Later it was changed into a market and as a ware - house. Nowadays, it was renovated and rebuilt and it is a home of "Tumult" society.
