Things to see

Things to see - Toruń

If you have children - please check out our new TORUŃ FOR KIDS page!

Centre of Contemporary Arts (CSW) (Wały Generala Władysława Sikorskiego)

A lot of money was invested in Toruń's modern art gallery...and if you like modern art then this will be up your street. I personally think paying 10PLN to enter an empty room with nothing but ambient noise is a little too steep! Still some people like that stuff! Every year the centre hosts the World Press Photo exhibition. There is also an art-house cinema inside ('Kino Centrum').

Dwór Artusa (Old Market Square)

There are so many landmarks in the Old Market Square...and this impressive red sandstone building is definitely one of them! Built between 1889 and 1891 Dwór Artusa plays host to many classical, jazz and rock concerts as well as conferences and exhibitions.

For more information you can check out their site at:
http://www.artus.torun.pl/

Ethnographical Museum (Just off Aleja Solidarności street)

Welcome to Toruń's ethnographical museum which is a small village of old, original Polish buildings...right in the heart of Toruń. Well worth a visit but don't expect English speaking staff.

Historical War Museum (High School 1 - Zaulek Prosowy)

Locked away and virtually hidden in a small basement in a local high school, one can find Toruń's Historical War Musuem. As part of his hobby, Piotr (the founder) has unearthed a fascinating collection of historical war items - many taken from the nearby WWII stalags (prisoner of war camps) that once circled Toruń.

There are winter snow boots, barbed wire fences, a home-made chess board created by a prisoner and even old cans of Brylcreem used by the English prisoners-of-war. The most shocking item is an old helmet covered in bullet holes. It was worn by a Polish partisan when he was shot by the Nazis. The museum is open every day (by appointment only) and is well-worth a visit by anyone interested in Toruń during the Second World War. What is also interesting is that there were also many Irish POWs held in Toruń. So maybe some of you would like to retrace your ancestors whilst here.

You can visit their website at: www.muzeumhw.pl .

The Leaning Tower of...Toruń! (on the old city walls)

Here it is in it all its glory - "Krzywa Wieża" aka the leaning tower of Toruń!!! Built in the 14th Century, the tower was originally one of the defence towers along the city wall. Poor foundations led the tower to substantially lean at an angle. There is a supersition, that if you can stand against the wall, with your legs together and your arms outstretched in front of you for more than 5 seconds...then you are considered unfaithful. It's virtually impossible!!

The Raftsman Fountain (in the Old Market Square)

In Toruń's main square, there is a fountain dedicated to the story of the Raftsman and the frogs. Legend has it that in the medieval times, the city was infested by a plague of frogs (well the River Vistula is really close by!). In stepped a raftsman who managed to rid the city of the frogs simply by playing his violin to them! The story is very similar to that of 'The Pied Piper of Hamlyn' and it'll be interesting to see which one inspired which!

The Toruń Donkey (in the south-east corner of the Old Market Square)

The donkey sculpture is a recreation of an old wooden medieval donkey that once stood in the same place as a means of punishing criminals. You will notice that there are straps on the donkey, which are attached to a metal rod along its back. Originally, this would have been extremely sharp. The prisoner would have been forced to sit down, tied to the donkey and then flogged. Serious cases, even had their legs weighed down so that they would have suffered maximum pain!

It's now popular for tourists to have a photo on the back of the donkey...but don't sit too long...it's pretty uncomfortable between the legs!!!!

Town Hall Tower (Old Market Square)

High above the streets of Toruń these tourists enjoy the view from the top of the Town Hall Tower. It's quite a few flights of narrow steps up there...but the view is for sure worth it!!

Things to do - Toruń

Cinemas

There is no shortage of cinemas here in Toruń. For blockbuster lovers there are 2 Cinema City multiplexes (one in Ul. Czerwona Droga and the other in the Plaza shopping centre). For those who prefer independent and art-house films there is Kino Centrum ( http://csw.torun.pl/kino-centrum/dla-szkol/) located in the Centre of Contemporary Art) and also Kino Tumult (http://www.tumult.pl/) located in an old church in the centre of the New Market Square.

The good news for movie lovers is that the majority of English language films are shown in their original language (with Polish subtitles). Only kids' movies are dubbed, though recently even some of these have now been shown in their original language!

Paintball

A great day out for all is guaranteed at Toruń's Paintball field. Located close to the old town, you will be kitted out with a gun with 500 paint balls and kit. The game should last any time between 3-5hrs. Cost is 80PLN per person, minimum 10 people per group (maximum 20 people). A game in an original old Russian army base can also be arranged.

Click for booking enquiries.

Ten Pin Bowling

There are several bowling alleys in Toruń. The most popular and well-known is "Grakula" situated inside Galeria Copernicus. It's modern and colourful with quite a few lanes. There's also a bar to sit, relax and drink your Polish piwo.

For more information (albeit in Polish) please check out:
http://www.grakula.pl/torun/

Things to see - Further afield
Toruń is centrally located and is therefore a great base to explore the neighbouring Polish countryside.

Biskupin

Biskupin is the site of an ancient civilisation and there is now a reconstructed village complete with characters and musem. Recommended to you all!

You can reach Biskupin on the famous Żnin - Biskupin narrow gauge railway. The one way trip takes 45 mins and costs 10 zloty per person. The price of the ticket is the same anywhere en route (so it's a bargain if you do decide to do the full route). Żnin is just over an hour's car journey from Toruń. For those of you who don't have a car, you can take a train to Gniezno (the medieval capital of Poland) and then change onto a PKS bus to take you to Żnin. The journey will be much longer and the bus times are not too frequent. Toruń Daily Photo can advise any visitors who would like to have a ride on the train!

Ciechocinek

These are the huge saline graduation towers unique to the small spa town of Ciechocinek. The town situated close to Toruń, is famous for its spa and thousands of people (mainly old) flock to one of the numerous sanitoriums for some remedy.

The towers were built in the 19th Century and are used to evaporate water from brine. You can climb the structures (15,8m high) for some great views!

Ciechocinek itself has little else to offer...but just to see these amazing structures is well-worth the short visit alone! There are better towers in nearby Inowrocław.