# Toruń

> city in north-central Poland

**Wikidata**: [Q47554](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47554)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toruń)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/torun

## FAQs
**What organizations is Toruń a member of?**
Toruń is a member of the Organization of World Heritage Cities and the Związek Miast Nadwiślańskich.

**Who is the head of the city government?**
Paweł Gulewski has served as the head of government since 2024, succeeding Michał Zaleski, who held the office from 2002 to 2024.

**What are the demonyms for residents of Toruń?**
The masculine singular demonym is "torunianin," and the feminine singular is "torunianka."

**What are the city's sister cities?**
Toruń is twinned with multiple cities including Philadelphia (since 1976), Göttingen (since 1978), Leiden (since 1988), Hämeenlinna (since 1989), Čadca (since 1996), Swindon (since 2003), Lutsk (since 2008), Novo Mesto (since 2009), Guilin (since 2010), Kaunas (since 2016), and Angers (since 2016). It was also twinned with Kaliningrad from 1995 until the partnership ended in March 2022.

## Why It Matters
Toruń is a historically significant city with a rich and complex past, having been under the rule of the Teutonic Order, the Kingdom of Poland, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Prussia, the German Empire, and Nazi Germany before becoming part of modern Poland. As a member of the Organization of World Heritage Cities, it is recognized globally for its cultural and historical value. It serves as an administrative center as the capital of both the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and Toruń County, playing a vital regional role in governance and administration.

## Notable For
- Being a city with powiat rights in Poland.
- Holding membership in the Organization of World Heritage Cities.
- Serving as the capital of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.
- Historical status as a Hanseatic city since 1280.
- Being the site of multiple significant historical events, including the Peace of Thorn and the Second Peace of Thorn (1466).
- Having a long history of administrative changes under various empires and national governments.
- Owning the MotoArena Toruń.
- Hosting a population that has fluctuated significantly over the centuries, from as low as 6,200 in 1793 to over 200,000 in the late 20th century.

## Body

### Geography and Demographics
Toruń is located in north-central Poland within the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship at coordinates 53.0167°N, 18.6167°E. It covers an area of 115.75 square kilometres and sits at an elevation of 59 metres above sea level. The city is situated on the Vistula and Drwęca rivers. As of the 2021 Polish census, the population was 198,273, with 92,196 males and 106,077 females.

### Government and Administration
The city functions as the capital of both the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and Toruń County. Its licence plate code is CT, and its local dialing code is 56. Paweł Gulewski has been the head of government since 2024, taking over from Michał Zaleski, who served from 2002 to 2024. The city owns the MotoArena Toruń. Its official website is https://torun.pl/.

### History
Toruń was officially founded on December 28, 1233. It has a complex history of national affiliations:
- **State of the Teutonic Order**: December 28, 1233 – October 18, 1466.
- **Kingdom of Poland**: October 19, 1466 – June 30, 1569.
- **Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth**: July 1, 1569 – August 4, 1772.
- **Kingdom of Prussia**: August 5, 1772 – June 8, 1807, and again from June 9, 1815 – January 17, 1871.
- **Duchy of Warsaw**: June 9, 1807 – June 8, 1815.
- **German Empire**: January 18, 1871 – November 10, 1918.
- **Poland**: November 11, 1918 – August 31, 1939, and since March 14, 1945.
- **Nazi Germany**: September 1, 1939 – March 13, 1945.

It was historically known as "Thorn" during the period from 1815 to 1918. Significant historical events include the Siege of Thorn, Siege of Toruń, Tumult of Thorn, Thirteen Years' War, Peace of Thorn, and the Second Peace of Thorn (1466). It has been a Hanseatic city since 1280.

### International Relations
Toruń maintains twinning relationships with several cities:
- **Philadelphia, USA** (since 1976)
- **Göttingen, Germany** (since 1978)
- **Leiden, Netherlands** (since 1988)
- **Hämeenlinna, Finland** (since 1989)
- **Kaliningrad, Russia** (1995–2022)
- **Čadca, Slovakia** (since 1996)
- **Swindon, United Kingdom** (since 2003)
- **Lutsk, Ukraine** (since 2008)
- **Novo Mesto, Slovenia** (since 2009)
- **Guilin, China** (since 2010)
- **Kaunas, Lithuania** (since 2016)
- **Angers, France** (since 2016)
- **Pamplona, Spain** (date unspecified)

The city is a member of the Organization of World Heritage Cities and the Związek Miast Nadwiślańskich.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.pap.pl/aktualnosci/odchodzi-z-urzedu-po-22-latach-juz-dzwonil-do-konkurenta-z-gratulacjami)
2. [Source](https://samorzad2024.pkw.gov.pl/samorzad2024/pl/wbp/okregi/46300)
3. archINFORM
4. [Source](https://www.torun.pl/pl/node/1695)
5. [Source](https://www.klgd.ru/city/twins/)
6. [Source](https://www.klgd.ru/city/pasport_07052021.pdf)
7. [Source](https://www.torun.pl/pl/miasto/samorzad/kontakty-partnerskie-i-miedzynarodowe/miasta-blizniacze-torunia)
8. [Source](https://www.torun.pl/pl/node/1698)
9. [Source](https://www.torun.pl/pl/node/1691)
10. [Source](https://www.torun.pl/pl/node/1697)
11. [Source](https://www.torun.pl/pl/node/1696)
12. [Source](https://www.torun.pl/pl/node/1694)
13. [Source](https://www.torun.pl/pl/node/1693)
14. [Source](https://www.torun.pl/pl/node/1692)
15. [Source](https://www.lutskrada.gov.ua/en/pages/pobratymy-lutska)
16. [Source](http://old.lutskrada.gov.ua/en/citizen/torun)
17. [Source](https://www.torun.pl/pl/node/153526)
18. [Source](https://www.torun.pl/pl/node/1699)
19. [Source](http://www.angers.fr/l-action-municipale/relations-internationales/europe/index.html#c188847)
20. [Source](http://www.kaunas.lt/apie-kauna/miesto-partneriai/)
21. Virtual International Authority File
22. [Source](https://www.worlddata.info/europe/poland/timezones.php)
23. [Source](http://www.zmn.org.pl/Miasta_czlonkowskie.html)
24. [Source](https://www.ovpm.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/liste-villes-en-regle-pour-page-web12-03-2024.pdf)
25. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
26. MusicBrainz
27. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/040410663011-0982724?var-id=1639616&format=jsonapi)
28. Belarusian encyclopedia (vol. 15)
29. Q120475222
30. Great dictionary of geographical names
31. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
32. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/040410663011-0982724?var-id=1639618&format=jsonapi)
33. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/040410663011-0982724?var-id=1639617&format=jsonapi)
34. [Source](https://sjp.pwn.pl/so/torunianin;4522524.html)
35. [Source](https://sjp.pwn.pl/so/torunianka;4522525.html)
36. GeoNames
37. TERYT
38. [Source](https://it-ch.topographic-map.com/map-mw3tnh/Toru%C5%84/?zoom=19&center=53.01044%2C18.6041&popup=53.01051%2C18.60414)
39. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
40. [Source](https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/torun)
41. System for IDs and names of places
42. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
43. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Torun;3988268.html)
44. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)
45. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
46. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
47. [Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands](https://biblio.hiu.cas.cz/records/8c9073a7-8145-4e1f-9c27-c30b44aef56a)
48. museum-digital