Toruń
Monastery Gate in Torun
February 17, 2005
We arrived to Torun, found our hostel and headed back into town, by which time it
was late. Jim couldn’t stay on the run any longer and requested a nice sit down
dinner, so we agreed and found a nice little place, which I felt was run by the
mafia. The food was good and so was the service. The price was steep, but we were
on vacation.
After the meal we headed into town for a short walk that turned into a long walk.
The square is nice and the statue of Copernicus incredible. The main street, ul
Szeroka seems perfect. Every house is narrow and tall with a number of balconies
along the wide, yet slightly winding cobble-stoned street.
Each façade seemed nicer than the last and we soon came upon the old Teutonic Knights’
castle ruins. The ruins were, well in ruins, but felt more real than a re-built
castle. Our walk continued as we visited the southern wall and gates, along with
the granaries and the leaning tower. This area feels truly untouched (although the
lights were a little over-kill).
We also visited the new town square, which feels just as old as the old town square.
We went just north-west of the old Rynek to see St. Mary’s church, then around the
corner we saw the most incredibly strange place, that we believe to be a prison
based on its cameras and barbed wire, but historical looking despite that.
Meisser Palace