Ratusz Staromiejski

The Old Town Hall dominates Torun's market square and is one of the finest Gothic municipal buildings in Central Europe. The main structure dates from the late 14th century, a large brick block built around a courtyard with a tall tower, and it has served the city for more than six hundred years. It now holds the District Museum. The address is Rynek Staromiejski 1.

This is the centrepiece of Torun's old town and the single building that best shows the wealth of the medieval trading city. The scale is unusual for a town hall of its date, and it works on two fronts: the architecture outside, and the museum and the tower climb inside. If you see one interior in Torun, this is the one to choose.

The museum fills the grand halls with medieval art, Gothic sculpture, stained glass and collections that tell the story of the city and its region. In season you can climb the tower for a wide view over the red roofs of the old town and across to the Vistula. The building alone, inside and out, rewards a slow look, and the courtyard and vaulted chambers are part of the visit.

Torun grew rich on trade as a member of the Hanseatic League, and the town needed a hall to match. The building took its present Gothic form in the late 14th century and was adjusted in later centuries, keeping its medieval bones. It stood at the centre of the self-governing merchant town whose survival earned Torun a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997.

Allow an hour to an hour and a half for the museum, and add twenty minutes for the tower if it is open. A quick look at the exterior and courtyard takes only a few minutes if you are short on time.

Mornings are quietest inside. The tower climb is a warm-season option and best on a clear day for the view. Note the museum's weekly closing day before you plan around it, and expect the square outside to be busiest in summer and during the December market.

The town hall stands in the middle of the Old Town Market Square, at the centre of the old town and closed to traffic. From the railway stations you reach it on foot or by a short bus or tram hop to the edge of the centre. See the Torun guide for arriving and getting around.

The best of the old town is on the doorstep:

• The Leaning Tower in the riverside walls.
• The Cathedral of St John to the south.
• The Living Museum of Gingerbread, a hands-on baking workshop.
• The Vistula boulevard along the river below the town.

It houses the District Museum, with medieval art, Gothic sculpture, stained glass and regional collections set in the historic halls. The tower can be climbed for a view when it is open.

Yes, in season and by separate ticket. The climb gives the widest view over the old town's roofs and across the Vistula. Access is by stairs.