Seven School Wonders

Connecting through Pride in Our Schools

Poland

                
             Torun is one of the best known cities in Poland. It has long history, convenient location, preserved monuments and famous people whose work and life influenced on the image of the modern city.


 
The best known facts about Torun;

 ·   Nicolaus Copernicus - an astronomer born in Torun (1473), provided the first modern formulation of a heliocentric (sun-centered) theory of the solar system.

 ·   Gothic - Torun is famous for having preserved its medieval spatial layout and many Gothic buildings, all build from brick. These are monumental churches, the Town Hall and many burger houses. In 1997 Torun was listed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

 

 

 

 ·   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun - one of the most respected universities in Poland. It is the largest university in northern Poland with thirteen faculties.

 ·   Torun gingerbread - the most famous product made in Torun. Not only the sophisticated taste but also the shapes earned Torun biscuits international fame.

 

 

 

The legend of ‘Katarzynki’ gingerbread


‘Katarzynki’ are the most famous Toruń gingerbread – they are shaped like six intertwined circles. Many legends exist as to the origin of these specialities. One tells of a girl called Katarzyna, who had to work for her sick father, a baker, to help him. She was not trained in the trade and could not find the proper dough cutters that her father used, so instead she cut the gingerbread into round medallions with a tin cup. The biscuits had an unusual shape but the citizens of Toruń were so taken with Katarzyna’s invention that they eagerly bought them and marvelled at their unusual taste. Finally the secret was revealed that besides just flour, honey and spices, Katarzyna put all her love for her father into her baking. Many other legends about these biscuits exist but the most important detail remains the same – it always has to be a Katarzyna’s story.

 

 

 

The legend of the raftsman and frogs.

 

There is a fountain called Flisak /raftsman/ at the Old Town Square with the statue of a raftsman and frogs listening to him.

The legend tells that there was a plaque of frogs in medieval Toruń. They got used to live in the town because of very often floods. Frogs were everywhere: in the streets, in flats, and even in the Town Hall. They disgusted both citizens and merchants coming to Toruń. The major and the City Council were criticized very loudly. Finally it was announced that if there was a brave man who would get rid of frogs, he would get a huge payment and a hand of a beautiful major’s daughter. A lot of young men who were in love with her came forward and tried to move out frogs from the town. Unfortunately, frogs were still ruling in Toruń.

 A young ratfsman was in love with the major’s daughter for a long time. He decided to do something with frogs. He announced here and there that he would      free Toruń from the plaque, but nobody believed in his promises. He came to the Old Town Square playing the violin. He was playing raftsman melodies beautifully.  And something unexpected happened. Frogs were enchanted by the raftsman playing and gathered around him. They all left their dens and were close to the raftsman. He went slowly in the direction of the Chełmińska Gate and frogs followed him. He left the town and went to Mokre suburb. There were marshes and fens. The raftsman stopped playing and frogs spread over the whole wet suburb. The raftsman came back to the town welcomed cheerfully by citizens.

The major was not so pleased, but he kept his promise.

There was soon a weeding of a beautiful major’s daughter and a poor raftsman. The City Council paid him the sum of golden money. The wedding party lasted for seven days and seven nights. Young married couple lived happily in Toruń for a long time. The major, who got used to the musical raftsman and liked him very much, became a grandfather of seven granddaughters and seven grandsons.

 

 

The legend of the Leaning Tower

Once in Torun lived 12 Teutonic Knights. There was one, among them, especially handsome. Walking around the city, he met a very beautiful woman and fell in love at first sight. But he forgot that he was not only a knight but also a monk. He met the beautiful bourgeoisie every day, hiding in the back streets of the Old Town. One day somebody saw them and the news spread over the city, even to the City Council and Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights. It was long discussed what to do with the lovers and which of them was guilty. Finally the discussions came to an end and both lovers were found guilty.

The court in Torun sentenced the woman to 25 whips by the Saint Jacob's Gate in The New Town and the Knight was sentenced by Grand Master to build a defensive tower, leaned from the vertical as his crooked life. So, the Knight built a tower, leaned to the north 1,4 meters. Today the tower reminds of the Knight - monk's vice.

That is why, The Leaning Tower is a symbol of a sin. But it is also a place, where you can check or prove your innocence. To do it, you have to stand very close, back to the tower, with your heels touching the bricks and stretching your arms in front of you. If you can keep your balance and stand like this for a while, you are a very good man and your conscience is clear.