206 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp218–21 and pp222–5

St Mary’s Church, as viewed from the top of the Town Hall Tower

Toruń 6

Founded by the Teutonic knights in 1233, Toruń quickly
became a major centre of trade. In 1454, when its
citizens reb elled against the knights’ rule, it passed to
the kings of Poland. Famous as the birthplace of the
astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543), the city
is also renowned for its architecture. Picturesquely
situated on the banks of the Vistula river, the Old Town
of Toruń retains its medieval street plan, and has a rare
calm, since most of the streets are closed to traffic.

R St Mary’s Church
ul. Marii Panny. Tel (056) 622 2603.
The Gothic St Mary’s Church
(Kościół Mariacki) was built
for Franciscan monks
between 1270 and 1300. It
has a richly orna mented east
gable. Late 14th- century wall
paint ings are in the southern
aisle, while in the northern
aisle is a 16th- century
Mannerist organ loft, the
oldest in Poland. By the
presbytery is the mausole um
of Anna Vasa, sister of
Zygmunt III, made in 1636.
Although of royal blood, she
could not be buried at Wawel
Royal Castle (see p191) as she
was of the Protestant faith.

F Wilam Horzyca Theatre
pl. Teatralny 1. Tel (056) 622 5222.
This delightful theatre, in the
Art Nouveau style with Neo-
Baroque elements, was built
in 1904 by the Viennese archi-
tects Ferdinand Fellner and
Hermann Helmer. The Kontakt
Theatre Festival, held here
each year, brings together
per formers from all over
Europe drawing a large
number of enthusiastic audi-
ences to its performances.

P Old Market Square

The Old Market Square (Stary

Rynek) is the heart of the

historic dis trict. The cen-

trepiece is the Town Hall. On

the south side, at No. 7, is the

Meissner Palace, built in 1739

for Jakob Meissner, the mayor

of Toruń, and given a Neo-

Classical façade in 1798. To

the east, Star House built in

1697, has an orna mented

façade. In the square stands

a mon ument to Nicolaus

Copernicus, made by Friedrich

Tiecek in 1853, and a fountain

with the figure of a raftsman.

P Town Hall

Rynek Staromiejski 1. Regional

Museum Tel (056) 622 7038. #

Oct–Apr: 10am–4pm, Tue–Sun; May–

Sep: 10am–6pm, Tue–Sun. ¢ Mon.

& (ground floor free on Wed).

Tower # May–Oct: 10am–7pm. &

The Town Hall (Ratusz) was

built between 1391 and 1399

as a two-storey edi fice. In the

17th century, archi tect Antonis

van Opbergen added the third

floor and gave the building its

Mannerist appear ance. It now

houses the Regional Museum

of Gothic art and its Tower

com mands fine views.

P Copernicus House

ul. Kopernika 15/17. Tel (056) 622

6748. 
      

      Jan–Apr: 10am–4pm daily;

      
      

      May–Sep: 10am–6pm daily; Oct–Dec:
      10am–4pm daily. &
      These two neighbouring
      Gothic town houses from the
      15th century are outstand ing
      examples of Hanseatic mer-
      chants’ houses. The painted
      façades and fine carving of the
      arched gables bear witness to
      the city’s former wealth. The
      house at No. 17 was where
      Mikołaj Kopernik, Copernicus’s
      father, lived. Although it may
      not be the one in which the
      astronomer Copernicus was
      born, it is now a museum
      (Muzeum Kopernika).

      
      

P Crooked Tower

ul. Pod Krzywą Wieżą 1.

One of Toruń’s greatest

attractions, this tower (Krzywa

Wieża) is part of the town’s

old fortification system, and

was probably built in the first

half of the 14th century.

Although it leans significantly

from the perpendicular, the

floors that were added later

The elaborate east end of the
Gothic St Mary’s Church

A room in the 15th-century

Copernicus House