After an absence of 11 years, Toruń has once again joined the group of cities forming the European Brick Gothic Route. The decision, which pleases many Toruń residents and history enthusiasts, was taken during a recent session of the city council. Returning to the ranks of the elite association is a conscious step towards strengthening Toruń’s cultural identity and marking its presence more clearly on the map of Europe’s Brick Gothic heritage.
Gothic – the foundation of identity
The European Route of Brick Gothic is much more than a network of cities with similar architecture. It is an active, growing initiative aimed at popularising this heritage, supporting extensive cultural tourism and building international cooperation. For Toruń, whose character and history are inextricably linked to the Gothic, returning to the trail takes on a profound, almost symbolic dimension. The city has an excellently preserved Old Town complex, which luckily escaped the destruction of World War II. Thanks to this, the Baroque, Art Nouveau, Neo-Gothic and, above all, Gothic buildings there are priceless, as they are fully authentic. Toruń is also doing much to restore buildings from centuries ago that were damaged by later modifications (e.g. Copernicus House).
A city of brick and world heritage
The Vistula River city has been on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List for years, and the justification for this entry emphasises the importance of the surviving Gothic buildings, which ‘influenced the development of architecture’ and are ‘outstanding works’ of their era. A short walk through the old town is enough to get a sense of the scale of this legacy. The greatest admiration and appreciation for the craftsmanship of the old architects and craftsmen is evoked by the Old Town Hall, but it is also worth visiting the Esken House, the Dovecote Tower or one of the 30 preserved granaries. Among Toruń’s priceless architectural monuments, three Gothic churches hold a special place: St Mary’s, St John’s and St James’. Although they are only a few of the original nine churches, their majesty is a reminder of Toruń’s former importance as a Hanseatic centre of trade, culture and art.
European Brick Gothic Route as a community of cities
Today, the European Route of Brick Gothic has 64 members from Poland, Germany and Denmark. In Poland it is represented by, among others, Gdańsk, Chełmno, Grudziądz, Płock and Olsztyn. The network was established to connect hundreds of monuments scattered mainly along the Baltic coast. The association’s activities have so far focused on two working groups: scientific and promotional. This year it is planned to set up another one, which will deal with education.
Gothic celebrated across Europe
Importantly, the trail’s member cities are also involved in other initiatives, such as the Sharing Heritage programme initiated by the European Commission. One of the outcomes of its activities is the Brick Gothic Day, celebrated annually on the third Saturday of June. In 2025, it will fall on 21 June. For Toruń, this will be a special date, symbolically sealing its return to this prestigious community.
Source: turystyka.torun.pl
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