Copernicus Trail

The Copernicus Trail is a driving route through the places where Nicolaus Copernicus lived, worked and wrote "On the Revolutions". In its current form it is about 590 km long and links three provinces: Warmia-Masuria, Pomerania and Kuyavia-Pomerania. It is waymarked with an astrolabe symbol, and its highlights are the castles in Olsztyn and Lidzbark Warmiński and Cathedral Hill in Frombork.

History: 40 years in Warmia

Copernicus was born in Toruń on 19 February 1473, studied in Kraków, Bologna, Padua and Ferrara, and settled permanently in Warmia in 1503. He spent almost forty years there in the service of the bishop and the cathedral chapter: as secretary, physician, estate administrator and envoy. These duties kept him constantly on the road, so the route is not arbitrary – it follows roads the astronomer actually travelled.

The original section was laid out by the Warmia-Masuria regional government. It ran for about 300 km from Truszczyny through Kurzętnik, Nowe Miasto Lubawskie, Lubawa, Olsztynek, Olsztyn, Dobre Miasto, Lidzbark Warmiński, Orneta, Pieniężno, Braniewo, Frombork and Tolkmicko to Elbląg. Today the trail also reaches Pomerania (including Malbork, Gdańsk, Kwidzyn and Sztum) and Kuyavia-Pomerania with Toruń.

What to see along the way

• Lubawa – in 1539 Copernicus stayed here twice as the guest of Bishop Tiedemann Giese of Chełmno, and it was here that he decided to have "On the Revolutions" printed.
• Olsztyn – in 1516–1519 and 1520–1521 he lived in the chapter's castle as administrator of its estates and settled farmers in 43 villages. On the cloister wall his astronomical table survives, measuring 705 × 140 cm – the only known astronomical instrument made by his own hand. The castle now houses the Museum of Warmia and Masuria.
• Lidzbark Warmiński – in 1503–1510 Copernicus served as secretary and physician to his uncle, Bishop Lucas Watzenrode, and lived with him in the Gothic castle that is now the Warmia Museum.
• Frombork – he lived here for almost 30 years, observing the sky and writing "On the Revolutions". He died in May 1543 and was buried in the cathedral; after his remains were found and identified, he was reburied there in 2010.

Did you know?

In Frombork Copernicus bought a tower on Cathedral Hill, known today as Copernicus Tower, and set up an observation platform, the so-called pavimentum, in the garden of his canon's house – no trace of it has been found so far. In Olsztyn in 1520 he prepared the castle and town for a Teutonic attack; in January 1521 an assault on the walls near the Mill Gate was repelled. Frombork Cathedral, built in 1329–1388, is the largest church in Warmia and almost 100 m long.

Tripto tips

Plan 2–3 days for the Warmian section, staying overnight in Olsztyn and Frombork. In Olsztyn leave time for the planetarium, opened in 1973 for the astronomer's 500th birthday, and in Frombork for the Nicolaus Copernicus Museum with its planetarium in the Radziejowski Tower. Sites along the route charge separate admission, so check museum opening hours before you go. If you are short of time, focus on the Olsztyn – Lidzbark Warmiński – Frombork triangle.