Torun Attractions : History of Torun Museum
HISTORY OF TORUN MUSEUM
Address: ul. Łazienna 16, 87-100
Phone: +48 56 660 56 12
The city’s history museum is located in what is now called Esken House, originally constructed in the second half of the fourteenth century as a residential property. The building was purchased in 1518 by Franciszek I Esken, a Mayor of Toruń, from which it takes its name. It was expanded in 1590 and the grand portal at the front of the building was added at the same time. The building changed its use to become a storage warehouse in the mid-nineteenth century, keeping this purpose until 1980 when plans were made to turn it into a museum, which eventually opened in 1990.
It’s a well presented and clearly laid out museum, with tours starting in the cellar where there are a series of videos which can be played by pressing buttons under a large graphical timeline. The tour then goes through a series of rooms to the top of the building, before visitors descend the front stairs where there is usually a temporary exhibition.
There are English translations throughout (with the exception of some temporary exhibitions) and there is plenty of text available in the rooms to add context to each of the periods of Toruń’s history. There aren’t a large number of exhibits within the museum, but what they have is interesting and there’s a good use of technology.
There’s the option, for an extra charge, of watching a 3D video which is shown throughout the day.
There is an admission charge of 15zl for adults and 11zl for concessions, with no entry fee on Wednesdays. The museum is closed on Mondays and opens at 10.00 on Tuesdays to Sundays, closing at 18.00 between May and September, and at 16.00 between October and April.