Archive for month: August, 2020

You must have heard the famous leaning tower in Paris, but did you know that there was another leaning tower in Toruń, Poland?

With a vertical deviation of about 1,5m, The Gothic Leaning Tower was built by a Teutonic knight from Toruń, which dated back to the 14th century, was once used as part of old Torun’s fortifications. It is said that those who can keep their balance while clinging with their backs and legs to the wall of the tower and stretching out their arms are justice, faithful and honest. This unique test of integrity and ethics makes it become one of the highlights of all tourists’ visits to the Toruń.

Located on the banks of the Vistula river, Toruń is a historic city that boasts numerous preserved medieval structures representing the magnificent achievements of brick Gothic architecture in Europe. The entire town was added to UNESCO List in 1997 for being an uncommonly well-preserved example of a medieval European trading and administrative centre. You can find vast Gothic cathedrals, imposing Gothic Old City Town Hall, ruins of the very first in Poland Teutonic Knights’ Castle, St Mary’s Church with high ceiling and stained glass windows, St James’ Church with Gothic murals and spectacular stellar vaults, many Gothic townsmen’s houses and the long defensive city walls with Gothic gates and turrets. It is also the place where the famous Nicolaus Copernicus was born, many visitors come to stunning red-brick Copernicus Museum to find his traces and spirit. Right next to Copernicus Museum it’s the living museum of gingerbread, where the air was scented with a sweet smell and visitors can discover how gingerbread was baked in Medieval Times and even try to bake one on their own.

Today, Toruń is the most Gothic urban complex in Poland and attracts1.5 millions of tourists to visit each year. This magnificent walled Gothic town should be high on every traveller’s list.

Słowiński National Park situated on the Baltic coast, one of the only two seaside parks in Poland, is renowned for its largest stretch of moving sand dunes in Europe.

The park’s area was once a Baltic Sea bay, under the influence of sea’s activity, the sand dunes were formed and it gradually separated the bay from the Baltic Sea. As waves and wind carry sand inland, the dunes slowly move to the east by up to 10 metres each year. Climbing up the Rowokół hill, which is the highest peak of the park, you can take in the sweeping views from the watchtower.

In addition to the moving dunes, lakes were also one of the highlights of Park. All of the lakes are shallow lagoons, both surrounded by peat bog, meadows and woods, which are home to many protected species of plants, various mammals and up to 260 species of birds including herons, cranes, ospreys and white-tailed eagles. The Park was designated as a world biosphere reserve by UNESCO under its Programme on Man and the Biosphere in 1977. Today parts of the lakeshores have been made into strict no-access reserves to protect the stability of plants and animal species with their habitats.

A health resort city of Łeba, about 8 km east of the park, is a great place for visitors to stay before or after exploring the park, which offers endless dunes and sun-baked Baltic sea coast.

Stay a night at beach cabanas, experience horseback riding right on the sand, admire the stunning sand dunes, come to Poland and you will be spoilt for choice.

?St. Dominic’s Fair is the largest open-air trade and summer cultural event in Poland and one of the largest in Europe. It was established in 1260 by Pope Alexander IV,  and the fair has successfully hosted over 750 editions so far.

Every year in the Old Town of Gdansk,  the St. Dominic’s Fair starts on the last Saturday of July and lasts until mid-August. Over 20 days, more than 1000 merchants, artists, artisans and collectors participate in the Fair occupying with their stands, which attract over 70,000 visitors a day, whose number usually doubles at weekends.

???‍♂️Its unique atmosphere recalls the Medieval tradition of fun and trade, the streets are filled with musicians, mimes, and street artists while shopkeepers present their often unusual, rare and odd wares such as antiques, works of art, silvers, pottery, amber, handmade toys and jewellery, you can find them everywhere! Besides, visitors can enjoy all manner of concerts, street performances, parades, fireworks shows and take part in numerous competitions. There’s also a 50-meter tall Ferris wheel standing in the Ołowianka Island, so-called AmberSky Gdansk, which offers an interesting perspective enjoying the panoramic view of the Gdansk Old Town. The Fair is like a cultural extravaganza that is full of vibrant and colourful activities with an abundance of food & drink stalls to choose from.

Every year, millions of visitors come to participate in the St Dominic’s Fair to find their treasure and immersing themselves into the joyful atmosphere.

Photo by jarmarkdominika