Leaning Tower

This is one of several dozen medieval towers, embedded in the system of defensive walls of the old Toruń. Leaning tower is characteristic due to its inclination caused by unstable ground on which it was erected. The deviation from the vertical of the 15-meter high tower is 146 cm. Despite this, it was still used as defensive and observation point for centuries. As legend has it, the Leaning Tower was built by one of the Teutonic Knights from Toruń who, against the rules of Order, fell in love with the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant. The penance for breaking the vow of chastity was to build a sloping tower, which was supposed to deviate from the vertical, just as his life deviated from the strict monastic rule. And so the Leaning Tower, once part of the defense system of the old Toruń stronghold, is today the site of a "test of integrity". Whoever maintains his balance with his back against the wall of the building will publicly demonstrate his honesty and faithfulness.