Holiday in Toruń

About Toruń

Toruń is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site – a Gothic gem on the Vistula River, world-famous as the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus and the gingerbread capital of Poland. The Old Town of Toruń survived World War II almost unscathed and today presents a cohesive ensemble of Gothic brick churches, medieval townhouses, a mighty city wall, and winding alleys, unmatched in Northern Europe. The Rynek Staromiejski, the old marketplace, is dominated by the imposing Gothic Town Hall, whose tower offers a spectacular panoramic view over the red-tiled roofs of the city and the Vistula valley. Around the square, restaurants, cafés, and the famous gingerbread shops line up – for Toruń has been known for its Piernik (gingerbread) since the Middle Ages, made according to secret recipes and considered among the best in the world. In the Gingerbread Museum, visitors can bake gingerbread using medieval methods. The Copernicus House, where the great astronomer was born in 1473, is now a fascinating museum documenting his life and his revolutionary discovery of the heliocentric worldview. The Gothic St. Mary's Church and St. John's Church impress with their massive brick vaults and medieval wall paintings. Along the banks of the Vistula River stretches a picturesque promenade, from which one can admire the silhouette of the Old Town with its towers and gables in all its glory. For German travelers, Toruń is an ideal day trip from Gdańsk or a standalone weekend destination. The journey is straightforward by train from Gdańsk (2.5 hours) or Warsaw (2.5 hours). Prices are affordable even by Polish standards, and the atmosphere of the medieval Old Town illuminated in the evening is simply magical.