Things to do
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Copernicus House
A pair of tall Gothic merchant houses on Kopernika Street, one of which is held to be the astronomer's birthplace in 1473. The rooms recreate a prosperous merchant home of his time, with displays on his life, his instruments and his book on the movement of the planets. It is ticketed and closed on Mondays. Allow under an hour.
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Leaning Tower
A medieval defensive tower in the town walls that tilts well off vertical, the result of soft ground under its foundations. A local custom holds that anyone who can stand with heels against its wall and arms outstretched without toppling is honest. It sits by the riverside walls near the Bridge Gate. The interior is a café, so the outside is the attraction.
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Museum of Toruń Gingerbread
A hands-on museum in an old granary where guests mix dough, press it into carved wooden moulds and bake their own gingerbread with a costumed master baker. A smaller exhibition covers the history of the spice trade and the old factories of the town. Workshops run at fixed times in several languages. Book ahead, especially at weekends and in school holidays.
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Philadelphia Boulevard
The promenade along the Vistula below the old town walls, with the medieval gates and granaries rising directly above the path. It is the place for the classic view of the town, best from the far bank or the bridge at sunset. Benches, river cruise jetties and summer bars line the way. Expect cyclists sharing the path.
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Teutonic Castle Ruins
The broken walls of the castle of the Teutonic Knights, torn down by the townspeople themselves in a revolt against the order in 1454. The tall latrine tower that juts out over the moat is the best preserved part. Paths lead through the cellars and the courtyard, with a small exhibition on the order. Entry is ticketed and the cellars are uneven underfoot.
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Toruń Cathedral
The hall church of the two Saints John, a broad brick Gothic interior with painted vaults, carved altars and the font where Copernicus was baptised. Its tower holds the Tuba Dei, a giant bell cast in 1500 and rung only on major feast days. A climb to the tower gives a close look at the bell. Services take priority and the tower is ticketed.
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Toruń Old Town Hall
A massive square Gothic town hall filling the middle of the old market, built around a courtyard in the fourteenth century and topped later with Renaissance gables. Inside, the regional museum shows medieval art, stained glass and portraits of the burghers. A stair of about two hundred steps climbs the tower for a view over the red roofs to the river. Museum and tower are ticketed separately.
