VisitTorun

22/09/2014

Did you know that today we have the 514th anniversary of the Tuba Dei (God's Trumpet) bell, the gratest Medieval bell in Poland?

Since 1500 St. Johns’ Cathedral tower has accommodated an unusual bell - Tuba Dei (God’s Trumpet). Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it is not only the biggest medieval bell in Poland, but also one of the biggest Polish bells in general (until recently the second biggest). Before casting the famous Sigismund Bell in Krakow (1521), Tuba Dei had been recognized as the biggest in the Kingdom of Poland.
Today it is no small attraction for tourists, especially when it sounds, which takes place several times a year. Not once in its over 500-year-old history had it been subject to destruction or plunder during war.

12/02/2013

In Memory of All British Prisoners of War
Held at Stalag XXA Thorn - Fort XIII
1940-1945

27/10/2012

One of the oldest post stamps with the Toruń theme was the one issued in 1933 to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Toruń city rights.
More Toruń post stamps here: http://www.visittorun.pl/339,l2.html

01/06/2012

200 years ago - on June 2nd Napoleon arrived in Toruń on his way to Moscow, exploring the city and searching for traces of Copernicus. Although the great Emperor stayed in Toruń only in 1812, the Napoleonic period for the city started as early as the late 1806 and lasted until the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The period proved utterly disastrous to the city, leading it to ruin. Read more on: http://www.visittorun.pl/277,l2.html

16/04/2012

In the period following the Middle Ages, a large number of Gothic facades in Toruń were remodelled in the Renaissance style. Thus, in the second half of the 16th century, according to the latest fashion, exquisite wrought iron decorations were added on top. Like those in Gdańsk or Elbląg, Toruń’s facades were patterned after the Netherlandic ones – the Italian Renaissance had no influence here. The tenements still retained some of their Gothic elements such as the gables and stoops, as the Gothic style did not cease to be enormously popular here. Toruń was unwilling to renounce the style: hence the Renaissance forms were adapted to Gothic buildings.
In the first half of the 17th century, the Renaissance evolved into the Netherlandic Mannerism. Decorations of the gables became somehow softened. It was still the brick architecture, though; only the window decorations, frames and cornices were made of stone (or plaster). The dark cherry-red bricks pleasantly contrasted with the light grey stone (or light plaster) ornaments.
Photo: the typical Mannerist house of Toruń, Małe Garbary Street, New Town.

26/03/2012

Did you know that the Digitus Dei clock face on the tower of this church in Torun is the second largest historic clock face in Poland? It has a diameter of 5 m. The oldest dated information on it comes from 1494, while the clock mechanism itself has already been installed around 1433.

07/03/2012

There are not many artefacts left out of the former interior furnishings of the Artus House in Toruń. Among the preserved objects there are elements such as the tile of the second half of the 16th century depicting King David. Toruń in the period of Renaissance was particularly drawing on the tradition of Old Testament, and figures such as David - the characteristics of excellence (the king of caring for his subjects, cares for justice, an excellent military leader) - were to be a role model for the patrician class - urban aristocracy - and the authorities of the Respublicae Thorunensis.

06/03/2012

Have you visited?

Op stap in de Poolse stad Torun - ...

19/02/2012

Today we celebrate 539th anniversary of Nicolaus Copernicus' birth.
Nicolaus Copernicus of Toruń.
Nicolaus Copernicus numerously emphasized his Toruń origins and was proud of the Great City of Prussia with a large legal and political autonomy, where he came from. In the album of scholars of Krakow University in 1491 he matriculated as "Nicholas, the son of Nicholas of Toruń". On the title page of "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium", his greatest work written in Latin, he added a meaningful nickname of "Torinensis" (a native of Toruń) to his name and surname. Similar notes appear in some of his other writings.
Thus, undoubtedly, Nicolaus Copernicus was from Toruń. The fact was also aptly underlined by Rudolph Brohm, a professor of Toruń Gymnasium and the author of the Latin inscription on the pedestal of Copernicus monument erected by the Germans in 1853, which says: "Nicolaus Copernicus Thorunensis, Terrae motor, Solis Caelique stator" (Nicolaus Copernicus of Toruń, moved the Earth, held the Sun and heaven). Although he was German, he did not pronounce Copernicus German.
A similar bond between Copernicus and Toruń was emphasized by Nikodem Frischlin (1547-1590) in a rhymed laudation on Copernicus, included for the first time in the "Icones" by Nicolaus Reusner, a collection of the sketches of scholars, published in Strasburg in 1587. The praise is also included in the Renaissance epitaph on Nicolaus Copernicus in Toruń cathedral.
Read more on Copernicus here: http://www.visittorun.pl/232,l2.html

05/02/2012

The model of the Teutonic Knight's castle in Toruń as it looked like in the 1st halt of the 15th century. Who's going to indicate a mistake in a real architectural shape of it?

04/02/2012

Recently some Turkish we've guided to Toruń, have made a great impression on us: their knowledge of the city, knowledge of certain facts, historical events might surprise many of Poles, and more the natives of Toruń. A Renaissance mausoleum of Anna Vasa, and the Baroque interior of the Star Residence with more than one detail... That was nice!

01/02/2012

601 year ago - on February, 1st, 1411, First Treaty of Toruń was concluded between Poland-Lithuania and the Teutonic State. Incorporated in Poland for the period of five months, Toruń fell under the Teutonic rule again, as did the whole Chełmno Land.
The First Treaty of Toruń, concluded after the ‘great war’ of 1409-11 and, following the enormous success of the Jagiellon army in the battle of Grunwald, failed to equal the significance of the Polish-Lithuanian victory over the Teutonic State.
After the Grunwald victory, the risk of military confrontation with the Order was still looming, considering that the latter received the support from Livonia and the Reich. This and Sigismund of Luxembourg’s attack on Lesser Poland precipitated the decision to settle with the Teutonic Order, and thus the King initiated negotiating the peace agreement.
The peace treaty nonetheless indicated the decline of the so far invincible Teutonic Order.
Read more on: http://www.visittorun.pl/275,l2.html

23/01/2012

Such an architectural detail with the coat of arms is a fairly common sight on the streets of Toruń ...

06/01/2012

One of the many Toruń historical works of art for today's feast of the Three Kings (Epiphany) is the unique Gothic (c. 1390-1400) mural in the Brotherhood of Merchants house on 5 Żeglarska street (pictured below). The scene of Adoration of the Magi is located there along with other scenes dedicated to St. Mary. The whole mural complex is a unique monument of art. Paintings of the Virgin Mary in the house are examples of interior design of former Toruń rich burgher houses in the Middle Ages. Such ornamentation on the one hand is the result of financial capacity of Toruń's patricians, on the other, represents its aspirations for giving the private interior decoration characteristics of the sacred and of the court's and manor's interiors.
The paintings style - most visible just in the scene of the Adoration of the Magi - indicates a close relationship with the Czech painting (recognized as representing a high artistic level of then Europe), especially with the work of Master Theodoric in the second first half of the fourteenth century.

Apart from that there survived many other similar works of historical art in Toruń - paintings referring to today's feast (Polish: http://www.turystyka.torun.pl/index.php?strona=317)

04/01/2012

Formerly it used to be snowy and cold in winter. It looked more like on the photo attached (crossing the by frozen Vistula River in Toruń, January 28, 1940).

05/12/2011

Those were the days! Henry Firley, the Bishop of Plock, on his way to Italy received in Toruń the gift from abbess of the monastery of Benedictine, Sophia Dulska: two famous Toruń gingerbread and cinnamon vodka bottle. And it happened on December 5th, 1618.

14/11/2011

A Week In Poland: http://www.travelchanneltv.eu/series-info.asp?series=A+Week+In+Poland&ID=1551
One of Poland's foremost actors, Daniel Olbrychski, takes a personal tour of his homeland to show the wonders awaiting any visitor. A Week in Poland offers an historical perspective right from the very birth of the nation, with a visit to the settlement of Lusatian culture from 2000 years ago, to life today in gleaming, cutting edge Warsaw. Daniel tells tales of the triumph in Gothic battles between knights in Torun, the power of the royalty in Krakow and the tragedy of Auschwitz. All the drama of Poland is here.

10/11/2011

The General Assembly of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP), meeting in London, has approved the names of three new elements - including one which will honour the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.

01/10/2011

760 years ago - on October 1st, 1251 - the renewal of the location privilege of Toruń and Chełmno have been given. The original document of 1233 had burnt down around 1250.
The location of these cities is a contribution to world history. There appeared in the Polish territories (not counting the few cities in Silesia) model of a modern western city, different from the village.

22/09/2011

Today marks 511 years since the creation of Tuba Dei - the largest medieval bell in Poland, then the largest bell in the Polish Kingdom.
Read about Tuba Dei: http://www.visittorun.pl/234,l2.html
"In the Year of our Lord 1500, 22 September, I, Trumpet of God to the glory of God and St. Johns the Baptist and the Evangelist, the patron of this church, was made" - says the inscription in Latin on the bell.

28/08/2011

366 years ago - on 28th August 1645 the great and prosperous city of Toruń hosted Colloquium Charitatium, the meeting of eminent European theologians who came to Toruń to discuss their differences in brotherly atmosphere. Although the meeting failed to achieve its intended goal and no firm conclusions were met, it was one of the most famous and important events in the history of Toruń. The West in particular stood in awe of the event, and the originator of the idea, King Ladislas Vasa (Władysław IV Waza), won the title of an open-minded and tolerant monarch, while Toruń went down in history as the city of tolerance.

26/08/2011

Did you know that the Teutonic Knights' castle in Toruń was the first castle of the Teutonic Order to be built in the Chełmno Land, and it was the place from where the conquest of Prussia and creation of a powerful Teutonic state began? Its uniqueness lies also on other characteristics.
And besides, it is one of the two medieval castles (specifically the ruins), we have in Toruń.
A model depicting the Teutonic castle of Toruń before demolition can be seen in the Teutonic Castles Miniature Park in Chelmno and in the basement of the castle in Toruń.

25/08/2011

Our free maps of the major attractions of Toruń and Chełmno became the hit of the season. Snapped up by hotels, are also available in other spots. Multi-thousands issue begins to run out ...

24/08/2011

554 years ago - on August 25th, 1457, Polish King Casimir IV granted Toruń with the right to mint Toruń silver and gold coins, but by the rate applicable in the countries of the Kingdom of Poland.
The next day king gave Toruń other three privileges, the so-called Privilegia casimiriana, which confirmed the hitherto privileges, gave the city a vast landed estates. The privileges became the basis for the system, the autonomy and unique political and economic status of Toruń until the Partitions of Poland in 1793.
Pictured: Toruń thaler from 1633

08/08/2011

Here comes the next edition of SKYWAY the International Light Festival.
Program of this year's festival promises to be extremely attractive. During 5 days we're going to see 11 light installations made by artists from Belgium, Portugal, Great Britain, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, France, and Poland. All presentations will refer to the classical concept of four elements: earth, water, fire, and air, supplemented by the Aristotle's cosmic ether.

The Skyway starts on Tuesday, 9th August at 9.30pm with a spectacular presentation of Helios (at the Collegium Maximum), prepared in 3D mapping technologyby the Hungarian group Limelight.

The Installations and screenings will be presented on each festival's day within the hours: 8.30pm - midnight.
Read more on: http://www.skyway.art.pl/

05/08/2011

One of the bravest statements supporting the heliocentrism of Copernicus was made by Heinrich Schaevius - an eminent proffesor and rector of once famous Toruń Academic Gymnasium - after the disputation "De firmamento et stellis" defended publicly on 5th August 1661 by the Gymnasium's student Dlugosz.
That happened at the times when the Copernicus' the "De Revolutionibus" still existed in the inventory of Index Librorum Prohibitorum. On the other hand this statement was the first public award of the theory of Copernicus.

Throughout the ages preceding the Partitions of the Republic of Poland in the end of the 18th c., the Academic Gymnasium in Toruń was the leading centre of teaching and study of heliocentrism in the whole of Poland.

In Torun, Copernicus and his achievements were always seen as antagonistic respect and admiration, even in the times of official condemnation of heliocentrism.

23/07/2011

When the night falls over Toruń, the patrol of municipal police in stylized historical dress gets going on the streets of Toruń Old Quarter. According to the old custom they call residents and visitors to Toruń to switch off the lights and go to bed.

"Hey, residents, revelers! Twilight already arrived in the area! Paying toll time has come, this is Torun, not the forest!" - one can hear the voice of the guards after nightfall, announcing the end of the day.
The three-man patrol with a lantern, knocker and halberds, you may encounter in the Old Town Market Square area every day from 21.30 - till end of summer.

The costumes of guards are reffered to a sixteenth-century dress of Toruń municipal police. They are dressed in white shirts, gray, quilted vest with blue and white checkerboard on the back (the colours of Toruń), red pants and leather shoes. They have helmets on their heads and halberds in their hands.
The commander holds the knocker and carries the lantern.

11/07/2011

Tomorrow and the day after there's going to be a better weather - no rain, warm (25-27 degrees C), so we recommend not long and no tiring trips - for example to the town of Chełmża, 21 km north of Toruń. And there's - apart from resting on a lake - a real treat for "cultural tourists" - the Gothic cathedral, one of the most interesting, most valuable and oldest monuments of architecture and art in Pomerania. The cathedral is a house for a lot of interesting artefacts, such as Melusina, the tombs of the great masters of the Teutonic Knights, a unique sedilla, the altar of the patron of Royal Prussia - Bl. Jute, high-class artistic works by Toruń masters. Of special note is the cathedral tower called "Bishop Opalinski tower" (also called "tower of Torun") and the clay pot associated with it ...
A bit more on: http://www.visittorun.pl/268,l2.html

09/07/2011

National Heritage Board of Poland has developed a logo of the Monuments of History (Pomnik Historii) list which is one of the legal forms of historical monuments protection in Poland, defining monuments of special importance for culture of Poland.
The list of 43 Polish Monuments of History includes 3 spots in the Kuiavia-Pomerania (Kujawsko-Pomorskie) region: the Old Quarter of Toruń, the old town of Chełmno and archaeological reserve in Biskupin.

05/07/2011

Unintentionally we're ahead of reality.
New free map of the major attractions of Toruń and Chełmno, intended for English-speaking tourists has just been realesed. The uniqueness of it lies in its several characteristics. The most important is that for the first time so much we go beyond the scheme: "Touristic Toruń = only Old Town."
And besides - we've indicated the Gingerbread Woman figure on it - although in reality it still hasn't been revealed because of ... delay.
Map preview available at:http://www.turystyka.torun.pl/_upload/pliki/torunchelmnomap.pdf