Stare Miasto w Toruniu (Poland Trip Part 2)

Unfortunately, his factory was destroyed by the Nazis and then confiscated by the Soviets. The Wedels themselves never lived to see the war end. But their company persevered, and their line of sweet confectioneries are now a familiar sight in Polish stores. We ourselves had a chance to taste a delicious hot chocolate drink from E. Wedel cafe.

Chili flavor cocholate (dokpri)

The day after our visit to UMK, me and my mother started our full day tour of historical Toruń. The “Old Town” was within walking distance from our hotel. We can even see a bit of it from our hotel window. 

Some notable landmarks of the city is the statue of Nicolaus Copernicus in front of City Hall,  the Krzywa Wieża w Toruniu (Leaning Tower of Toruń) and Dom Mikołaja Kopernika (House of Nicolaus Copernicus). The house I mentioned just now was claimed by many historians to be the birthplace of the great Polish astronomer, in 1473. 

House of Nicolaus Copernicus (dokpri)

The tower on the other hand, had more esoteric legends associated with it, two of which are:

1. The sin of the Teutonic Knight: Long ago, there lived 12 knights of the Order of Teutonic Knights, who were forbidden to meet with women. One of these monks, however, fell in love with the daughter of a rich merchant, thus breaking the monastic rule of the Order. The town’s residents discovered this and reported it to the Teutonic Knights’ Commander as well as the city’s authorities. The two lovers were fined, with the woman sentenced to twenty-five lashes, and the offending knight ordered to make a tower. This tower had to be tilted however, in the same way as his conduct had deviated from the monastic rule. The legend goes that to the present day, those who have sinned are not able to keep their balance under the tower.

1. Origin of the name of the city: Long ago, the tower was a friend of the river Wisła nearby, and loved to listen to the interesting stories told by the river. With time, the river came closer and closer to the tower, eroding its walls and causing the tower to start leaning. The tower pleaded with the river to retreat, as it might fall down, but the river said (in Polish), “So fall down, then!”. The river’s cries were heard by wanderers who wondered what was the town with high walls they could see on the horizon, and so they called the town “Toruń”, which meant “So fall down, then!”, in that era’s version of Polish.

Leaning Tower (dokpri)

Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland, with the first settlement dating back to the 8th century and later on expanded in 1233 by the Teutonic Knights. It’s widely believed by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and I can see where they’re coming from. 

One of the most beautiful cities in Europe (dokpri)

I took a walk down to the riverside in the early hours of the morning, and the fog was still thick then, hovering over the Vistula River like a stage curtain. It was magical; it made me feel like all that existed was on my side of the river. I saw some ducks too. They quacked and drifted away into the fog, to whatever lay beyond. 

I think about them often.

Filus, cute dog statue (dokpri)

Another impressionable event to me was the visit to the town’s planetarium. Astronomy and Toruń seems inseparable, especially with its close ties to one of the great astronomers of old, Nicolaus Copernicus. 

While I understood none of the audio and the graphics seemed like a relic of early 2000’s animation, it was still quite impressive how much it managed to convey the importance of the stars, especially that of our own Sun. I take it for granted at where I live that day and night would be of equal length, that it was how things should be.