Old Town Toruń Tour by Walkative!
Walkative was established in 2007 by a group of young enthusiasts who also happened to be licensed tour guides. Today, we operate in 20 cities in countries across all of Europe and beyond, including France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Ukraine and Israel. We have already guided more than 3 million tourists, with more than 350 000 in 2023 only! Despite this growth, we stay true to our values: be local and present the history of our cities in a professional, yet entertaining way, accessible for everybody, regardless their budget. We provide service not only in big, well established places like Berlin, Paris or Krakow, but also smaller, less known, yet no less fascinating locations, like Nice, Toruń or Lublin. We cooperate with highly trained, professional guides providing both engaging tip-based and regular fixed-price tours. And most importantly - we know our cities by heart! Join us and stay Walkative!
Pickup
The Nicolaus Copernicus monument on the Old Town Market Square, next to the town hall tower; Look for the guide with yellow umbrella!
Description
Have you heard about a crusader state funded in the North of Europe? It was established by the Teutonic knights, German crusaders when they still were active in the Middle East…. One of the first two towns in the newly conquered lands they founded was Toruń. The town was growing quickly and becoming filled with many great buildings, such as big town hall, castle, churches and houses of wealthy merchants.
Do you want to find out more about:
- Teutonic knights – their well-organized and wealthy state… and its gradual decline and final defeat by the inhabitants of Torun they had ruled over?
- Merchant republic of Torun member of the Hanzeatic League – mighty alliance of Baltic and North sea merchant towns, challenging whole countries! Torun in 14-17 c. was a powerful city, a Northern equivalent of great merchant republics of the South, such as Milan, Florence and Venice
- Nicholaus Copernicus – born in Torun, considered to be the first modern scientist
- A harbour by the Vistula river – a highway of the old times through which thousands of ships were coming laden with grain and other freight which fed people in Western Europe
There is something more to the all above – gingerbread – Toruń old specialty.
Polish famous composer Fryderyk Chopin wrote to his friend after visiting Toruń in the summer 1825
“I have seen all the fortifications from all sides of the city, […] churches of gothic construction, founded by the Teutonic Knights […]. I saw the leaning tower, the famous town hall […] yet all of this does not surpass the gingerbread, oh that gingerbread!”
Do you want to walk and listen to these and other stories? It’s simple, just come and set off for a stroll together! A journey through many centuries and stories!
⚠️ ATTENTION - booking rules
Please note that our free tours are designed for individual travelers and small private groups only. Hence, we do not accept parties of 8 or more people on regular free tours and guides have the right to deny participation to such groups. If you travel in a party of 8 or more please book a private tour in advance.
If you show up at the meeting point with the bigger group our guide will ask you for the payment (10 eur/person) before the tour or cancel your reservation on the spot. To confirm your reservation please arrive 10 minutes before starting. We can not guarantee participation when you will be late.
Please note that multiply bookings (under different names) for 7 people who belong to one group will still be treated as one organized group and the guide has the right to deny participation to such parties.
This policy is implied in the best interest of our individual visitors.
Please respect our rules.