Medieval Defensive City Walls, Torun, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland
Since its foundation in the first half of the 13th century, Toruń had been enclosed within a double line of defensive walls (the so-called lower wall outside and the higher wall inside the city) with a wet moat between them. Only the part facing the Vistula consisted of a single line of walls. In the following centuries, the walls were continually improved – they were heightened, strengthened and extended. The first modifications were made as early as the late 13th century.
All the three Toruń urban units, i.e. the Old City, the New City (which, despite their unification in 1454, were separate units with the wall running along Podmurna Street) and the Teutonic Castle had their own defensive system. The 4-kilometre (2.5 mile) wall included 54 fortified towers, 11 gates and 2 typical barbicans. Nine towers and three gates have survived till today.
Throughout the construction works, the walls, fortified towers and gates were adorned with ceramic friezes, motifs painted in the plastered blind windows, dark bricks arranged in rhombic patterns and other such things.
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