S2D5 (Day 19) – Countryside Beauty and the Historical Town of Toruń

by

Today’s ride incorporated more of the stunning forest and lake scenery that we have come to know as Poland. After yesterday’s short ride and subsequent spa therapy, we were actually looking forward to hopping back on our bikes (of course knowing that we had only 49 miles to go today.)

The Herbarium to Toruń

  DAY #19 of 35   Poland   1,151 miles total

Following our departure from The Herbarium Hotel & Spa earlier this morning, the ride got underway with a gentle start — ideal for slowly easing back into the saddle after yesterday’s pampering relax. Within minutes we were back in the groove and once again began to relish the easy rolling that Poland offers, including how the scenery can sometimes sneak up on you. Around each curve of the road a new sight awaited us.

We not only started this morning next to a lake but also passed a couple of more beautiful lakes along the ride.


Good morning from Poland. Very short day today at 49 miles. Will have a nice half day off in Toruń.

We passed by what looked from a distance to be a ski lift ….

…but turned out to be buckets of material from a nearby mining site.

And intermittent tunnels of trees along the road.

Typical new construction in the farmlands along our route today.

The sun glistened off the shiny roofs.

Followed by forests of pine trees….

… which we enjoyed for miles …

One such quiet, relaxing road eventually led us into Toruń, an ancient city where classic figures such as Emperor Napoleon and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus have left their mark on the local history. We will never again mistake Copernicus for being Italian instead of Polish!

Welcome to Toruń, Poland

  Widely recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, cycling into Toruń was like riding back in time to the Medieval Ages. Dating back to the 8th century and expanded by the Teutonic Knights a few centuries later, Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. It is also one of the few cities in Poland that did not sustain any damage during World War II.


We crossed the famous Vistula River as we entered Toruń.

Our hotel offered some pretty large bottles of local spirits. We decided we’d go have lunch before nipping into these goodies. 😜

Shauna plays Hide and Seek with Ride and Seek outside our hotel in Toruń.

Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland, with the first settlement dated back to the 8th century and later having been expanded in 13th century by the Teutonic Knights.

Toruń is the birthplace of astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus (the statue, not the guy in the black shirt). In 1997, the Old Town in Toruń was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Thought by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Toruń is renowned for the Museum of Gingerbread, whose baking tradition dates back nearly a millennium, and its large Cathedral.

This classic medieval town was made a UNESCO World heritage site in 1997 and one of the Seven Wonders of Poland in 2007. The Old Town even boasts a building in which Napoleon stayed — it stands in the market square and functions as the local post office. If you receive a postcard from Poland, there is a good chance that we mailed it from here 😉

Torun Post Office
Toruń Post Office.

During Napoleon’s visit to Toruń, he called upon a house mistakenly considered as Copernicus’ birthplace. His famous visit was later honored in an illustration, which dated the French Emperor’s sojourn to Toruń in 1807, but which actually occurred in 1812. Whoops!

Trivia Fact:   Toruń is the sister city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Toruń, Poland
Toruń after dark.

Our Route To Toruń

Next Stop:   Gniew

Leave a Comment