The tower was built on a foundation of sand, which caused it to shift shortly after the walls reached a certain height.
The 'lean' was not a design choice; historical records show it was corrected by builders during construction to keep the upper levels vertical.
The tower was part of the Old Town's defensive wall system, specifically protecting the western approach.
In the 18th century, it was used as a women's prison, a period reflected in the local name 'Tower of Penitence'.
The building is officially classified as a Gothic brick structure within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Toruń.
Krzywa Wieża, or the Leaning Tower of Toruń, is a medieval defense tower constructed in the 14th century as part of the city's fortification system. The structure deviates 1.46 meters from the vertical due to the unstable sandy subsoil shifting during its initial construction phase. It was built using red brick, typical of the Gothic architecture found in the Teutonic Order's territories. Throughout its history, the tower has served as a defense fortification, a prison, a residential building, and a workshop. Its distinctive lean was not intentional but resulted from the building settling into the ground over time. Today, the tower stands as a representative example of medieval civil engineering challenges and city wall preservation in Poland. Visitors can observe the pronounced tilt from the base, which remains the primary feature of the landmark.
From the base of the tower looking upward, or from the opposite side of the small park area to capture the full angle of the tilt.
Test your balance by standing with your back against the wall of the tower; legend says only those with a clean conscience can maintain their footing.
Visit the surrounding Staromiejskie (Old Town) area as part of a single walking route to see the rest of the medieval city walls.
Do not expect to climb to the very top; access is often limited or restricted to the lower levels for safety reasons.
