Medieval City of Torun, World Heritage Site in Poland

Torun is an industrial city located in central Poland, with its origins in the mid-13th century when German knights built a castle here. Torun prospered in trade as a Hanseatic city, and buildings built in the 14th and 15th centuries still remain today. Torun is also the hometown of Copernicus, who advocated the geocentric theory.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why the medieval city of Torun is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner in this issue. Read this and you will definitely learn more about Torun!

What is the medieval city of Torun?

Torun, located in central Poland, was a thriving trading town on the Vistula River. After Christianity was brought to the city as an eastern colony of German knights, it joined the Hanseatic League and traded with countries in the Baltic and Eastern Europe, and the town developed.

Torn consists of the Old Town and the New Town.The town is surrounded by walls, and there was a castle built in the 13th century, but it was destroyed in a revolt in the 15th century and now remains. The Old Town is an area that retains the atmosphere of the Middle Ages with its churches and cathedral, while the New Town is an area that has been developed mainly for industry.

Registered Properties

Old Town Hall

Built in the 14th century, it took on its present appearance in the 17th century. During restoration work in the 18th century, the interior decorations were greatly added to make it a luxurious and ornate building. The tower commands a panoramic view of the city.

Copernicus’ birthplace

In the Old Town, many houses with Gothic facades and other styles remain, the most famous of which is the house where Copernicus, the famous astronomer, is said to have been born in 1473. The house is now preserved as a museum.Each house had its own storehouse, as did the birthplace of Copernicus.

For what reason is the medieval city of Torun on the World Heritage List?

Torun was evaluated on the following points

Registration Criteria (ii)
The point that Torun, which prospered through trade in the Middle Ages, had many architectural influences on the surrounding countries.

Registration Criteria (iv)
The fact that Torun perfectly preserves the medieval lifestyle and is a rare example of the urban development of the time.

Conclusions and impressions of a World Heritage enthusiast

Torun is fortunate to have retained the landscape of its most prosperous period in the present, and it is appreciated for its medieval city structure, and Torun’s architecture, including its functional yet luxurious mansions, has influenced the surrounding countries.

But perhaps Torn’s greatest achievement is that he created a genius astronomer named Copernicus.It is a good example that where people gather, culture is born and eventually produces talented people.

*The content here is a discussion derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts.As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.