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Janusz Leon Wiśniewski
Writer and scientist, currently based in Frankfurt
The Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship inspires awe in first-time visitors, but also in those who – like me – call this region home and have lived there for many years. To me its true heart (and I ask the residents of nearby cities of Bydgoszcz and Włocławek to forgive me) is Toruń, an old city with a long history but also young thanks to the thriving academic life of its renowned university. Toruń, which was spared the bombings of World War II, is a gem of Gothic architecture. In 1997, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The House of Mikolaj Kopernik, ul. Kopernika 15/17; City Hall, ul. Rynek Staromiejski 1, depend on the season: 10 am – 4/6 pm The narrow streets around the market square are worth a stroll – visitors should head in the direction of the Leaning Tower / Krzywa Wieża, which indeed is leaning (very much so in fact) to one side, and marvel at the gothic houses along Ciasna / Narrow street, which is, indeed, very narrow. St. John’s / Św. Jana Church, where Copernicus was baptised, as well as what is believed to be the astronomer’s house are also worth a visit. It is best to finish the walk at the Old Town Square >1, where the City Hall and Artus Court are located.
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formula. I simply cannot imagine Toruń without its gingerbread. Manekin Rynek Staromiejski 16, sun – thu: 10 am – 11 pm, sat & sun: 10 am – 12 pm,
Kopernik gingerbread shop, ul. Rynek Staromiejski 6, mon – fri: 10 am – 7 pm, sat & sun: 10 am – 6 pm
Also worth a visit is the pancake shop Manekin, which is considered to serve the best pancakes in Poland.
On the ground floor of the aforementioned Artus Court is a shop offering the world-famous Toruń gingerbread cookies made according to a recipe as old as the city itself and as well protected a secret as that of the Coca Cola
Róże i Zen ul. Podmurna 18, mon – thu: 11 am – 10 pm, fri – sun: 11 am – 11 pm For an evening meal I head to Róże i Zen restaurant, which offers its visitors wonderful cuisine
(not only Polish) and delicious wines in a refined décor in the space of a flat. Piwnice ul. Gagarina 11, for bookings send an e-mail to: przewodnicy@turystyka.torun.pl I sometimes like to leave Toruń for a few hours and head to Piwnice, a small town about 10 km away. Poland’s largest radio telescope is located in Piwnice’s astronomical observatory. The site offers its visitors not only the opportunity to look at the stars from ‘up close’, but also to listen to fascinating lectures about the universe.