The Rafter and the Frogs

The statue of a rafter with frogs is situated in the heart of the Old Town, in the Old Town Square, between the Old Town Hall and the post-office building. The statue of the Rafter refers to a legend about a plague of frogs which attacked Toruń centuries ago.

The frogs, as the chroniclers reminisce, were once everywhere: in the bedding, wardrobes, attics and caused great discomfort to the citizens of Toruń. The mayor, trying to face the frog problem, announced that the person who would free the town from the huge number of frogs would receive a generous award. There were many daredevils. Some tried to chase the frogs away, some put them in bags and took them outside town, however, none of them succeeded. One day a young rafter started playing rafter melodies on the violin being terribly out of tune.    The frogs liked the strange music so much that they started to gather around the young man. The rafter, still playing the violin, led the frogs out of the town where there were swamps and ponds. In relation to this event in the centre of town there is a statue of the legendary rafter playing the violin and eight listening frogs around him. One needs to stroke them gently and think of a wish and it will surely come true.