Toruń – city of dialogue

Toruń is an extraordinary town of dialogue and reconciliation. Here were signed peace treaties ending wars with the Teutonic Knights (1411, 1466) Also here in 1645, while whole Europe was plagued with bloody religious conflicts, Catholics and Protestants met  in order to enter a brotherly discussion on possible prospects for peace returning among followers of different religions. Although not very fruitful in terms of immediate results, that event known as Colloquium Charitativum made the Christian churches in conflict aware of the fact that only through an open debate is mutual understanding and reconciliation possible.

Already in the early 16th century Toruń became a very strong Lutheran centre. In 1568 the first Protestant Gymnasium was founded. The most distinguished in Royal Prussia for hundreds of years to come, the school very soon was granted a status of an academic school. The Gymnasium enjoyed the reputation of such an excellent school that among its students were young people from Montenegro, Hungary and Cumberland. There were many repeated though unsuccessful attempts to found a university in the town. One of the earliest printing houses in the country opened, which considerably improved the quality and character of the national public debate.

Tradition obliges. The heritage in which the City of Nicholas Copernicus takes such great pride makes Toruń one of the most European cities in Poland.