Toruń
Toruń, one of the oldest cities in Poland, is located on the Vistula river in the northern part of the country, and is best known as the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. In 1997 the medieval part of the city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2007 the Old Town in Toruń was designated as one of the Seven Wonders of Poland.
National Geographic rated the old town market and the Gothic town hall as one of the 30 Most Beautiful Places in the World. Toruń has many monuments of architecture beginning from the Middle Ages. Most of them have an almost intact medieval spatial layout.
Toruń has the largest number of preserved Gothic houses in Poland, many with original wall paintings or wood-beam ceilings from the 16th to the 18th century. Among the most important monuments are: the Cathedral John the Evangelist and John the Baptist (14th century), St. Mary Church (14th century), the Old Town Hall (12th-16th century) - one of the most monumental town halls in Central Europe, ruins of the city fortifications (12th-15th century), and the 15th-century Gothic house (now a museum) where Nicolaus Copernicus was born.
Toruń escaped substantial destruction over the centuries. Particularly left intact was the Old Town, all of whose important architectural monuments are original rather than reconstructed. In recent years major renovation projects have been undertaken to improve the condition and external presentation of the Old Town. Numerous buildings as well as the city walls are illuminated at night, creating a unique effect among Polish cities.
Toruń Guide http://www.visittorun.pl/
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fot. Michał Chlebiej
A view of the old town from the church bell tower
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fot. Agnieszka Kurpiewska
Toruń panorama seen from the other bank of the river
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fot. Agnieszka Kurpiewska
Silent observers of the city
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fot. Michał Chlebiej
Main street of old city
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fot. Michał Chlebiej
Statue of Nicolaus Copernicus
