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