Things To Do in Torun
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Torun Attractions
The charm of Torun's Old and New towns is that they feel like a living Gothic theme park. There are innumerable statues and minor museums for you to make pit stops at. It's one of the best Old Towns to explore with kids since it's quite compact.
You Made the Earth Move under My Feet?
Nicolaus Copernicus, or Mikoaj Kopernik in Polish, is Torun's most famous son and the precursor of the archetype Renaissance man. During his lifetime, he served not only as a priest, but also as a physician, classical scholar, jurist (church law), governor, military leader, diplomat, and economist. However, he is first and foremost remembered for De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres), in which he presented his theories of the Earth revolving around the Sun. The Church initially viewed it as blasphemy. Copernicus died shortly after De Revolutionibus was published, though he probably never saw it in print. His work paved the way for a series of astronomical breakthroughs in the 16th and 17th centuries, including the work of Galileo, Tycho Brahe, and Sir Isaac Newton. Learn more at the House of Copernicus (Dom Mikoaja Kopernika; Kopernika 15/17; tel. 56/622-70-38; www.muzeum.torun.pl), which has some of the oldest editions of De Revolutionibus.
Hands On
Make your own decorative gingerbread at the Gingerbread Museum (Muzeum Piernika) [kids] (Rabianska 9; tel. 56/663-66-17; www.muzeumpiernika.pl). In a hall emulating a 16th-century abode, the cheerful English-speaking crew here gets you to chant an oath to keep the secrets of gingerbread crafts before allowing you to play dough. Sessions start every hour on the hour, with a minimum group size of 5. The House of Copernicus also has a similar program.
- Religious Site
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist & St. John the Evangelist
The construction of the cathedral that dominates Torun's skyline started in the 1260s and took 200 years to complete. The star attraction is the Tuba Dei, the oldest medieval bell in Poland, cast in 1530. It's also one of the 11 historic bells in Torun that survived looting and… - Landmark
The Old Town Hall
This 14th-century red-brick Gothic building, dotted with 365 windows and crowned with four pinnacles, is one of the most captivating Town Halls in the country. It started life as a site for trading stalls. The Renaissance turrets were added later. Inside, there's the town museum,…
Torun Shopping
Synonymous with Torun is piernik (gingerbread). The decorative ones with motifs such as kareta (horse-carriage), katarzyna (indented rectangles), and burgher houses are tooth-breakers. They are meant as keepsakes. The edible ones are soft and filled with preserves, such as plum, and icing-glazed or chocolate-coated. One supplier, Kopernik (Rynek Staromiejski 6; tel. 56/622-88-32), overruns the town. At Pierniczek (Zeglarska 25; tel. 56/621-05-61), you can buy the goods by weight. Emporium (Piekary 28; tel. 56/657-61-08) is best for a variety of souvenirs. The presents are bundled up with a wax seal imprinted with the emblem of Torun. They also have bike rentals for 5 z an hour.
Torun Nightlife
New life surfaces in the Old and New towns after sunset. Piwnica Pod Anioem (Rynek Staromiejski 1; tel. 56/622-70-39; www.myspace.com/piwnicapodaniolem), one of the most famous clubs in Torun, hosts concerts, as well as photography and art exhibits. Located in the Town Hall's cellar, it oozes pungent clouds of nicotine. Running a similar show is Torunska Piwnica Artystyczna (Lazienna 30; tel. 56/658-11-22; www.tpart.pl). Tantra (Slusarska 5; tel. 601/682-701) breaks from the Gothic spirit to ply you with Tibetan and Nepalese vibes.
