Last weekend I travelled with Elena and Marco (two other Schuman volunteers) to Toruń. Did you know that this city is the birth place of Copernicus? I didn’t knew before. And there was lot more to discover, but see yourself…
Toruń is a medieval city 3 hours away from Warsaw. The old town with its aged, small and narrow houses and with its big red brick churches is an UNESCO world heritage not without a reason.
If you look at the skyline of Toruń one building attract the main attention: the St. John church. Obviously it is a enormous high church, but besides this it is the church where Nicolas Copernicus was baptised and the church with the 2. biggest bell in Poland.
A small advice: if you would like to visit churches schedule it for the time between 1pm to 5pm (especially on Sundays) in most churches the masses are before and after this time period so you don’t interrupt prayers 😉
One of the other things Toruń is famous for is gingerbread (in Polish it’s called “Piernika” = pepper bread, named after the black pepper, one of the most important spices to get the special taste). The long tradition is told in the gingerbread museum in a quite creative and lively way and the staff are more actors than normal staff.
They show you (with involving the audience) how to make the original Toruń gingerbread. First of all you have to mix the spices: pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and…. no wait I had to vow solemnly, that I will never disclose the recipe…. so if you are too curious now you have to go there by yourself, whether you like it or not. And I can tell you, it’s worth it!
And what cannot miss in the city of Copernicus? Yes, a planetarium. It is located in a former tank of the municipal gasworks. They offer apart from polish presentations, also viewings with German, English and Russian translations. We chose one in English about the macrocosm. It was stunning! Sometimes I had to avert my face and touch the armrests of the chair to check that I am not really moving. But beware if you get sick on rollercoasters quite fast it might be not the right attraction for you!
Toruń your wall surrounds you with thick protection, everybody is right here with a lot affection for Copernicus and gingerbread, and the little dog with the hat. Waves of tourists pour through the streets, in the air you hear the cello and its beats. on the other side of the stronghold gates, the river Wisła float its ways. UNESCO honoured the city and its age, the old prison still looks like a cage. You just need some minutes from church to church redundant is every big research. If you are in Poland and have some time, Not to stop in Toruń would be a crime!