Toruń

In some ways, Toruń is the city that time forgot – the low-rise centre of the former Hanseatic port has a slow-paced country-town feel, and its Old Town has avoided excesses of commercial signage and tourist tat. On the other hand, it’s not too sleepy, and the vicinity of the central square buzzes with bars, restaurants and music venues.

But Toruń’s entertainment options pale into insignificance compared with its spectacular Gothic architecture, an impressive collection of redbrick churches, residences and fortifications that justify the town’s promotional slogan ‘Gotyk na dotyk’ (Touch Gothic). Undamaged in WWII, Toruń’s Old Town was included on Unesco’s World Heritage List in 1997.

Beyond architecture, Toruń is best known as the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543). His name (Mikołaj Kopernik in Polish) is all over town, and you can even buy gingerbread shaped in his image. Which is another Toruń icon – its pierniki (gingerbread) is famous across Poland. It may not have the international profile of Gdańsk or Kraków, but Toruń should be high on any visitor’s must-see list. [source: lonelyplanet]

Thank you Kasia!