We are now at the western part of the square, and the statue in front of you is called the Raftsman Statue. This statue was placed in the square in the early nineteenth century and has been moved several times before finally being positioned here. It has a significant connection to the Vistula River, one of the longest rivers in Poland. For centuries, this river has driven trade and commerce development in the country. Poor raftsmen frequently visited Torun along this river to bring raw materials to the city. They spent most of their lives on the river, developing certain cultures and traditions that are celebrated in Torun. So it seems fitting to have a statue of a Raftsman here. But why is the raftsman playing an instrument and surrounded by eight frogs? There’s an interesting story behind this. This statue is linked to a local legend about a plague of frogs that once troubled the city centuries ago. It is said that a witch traveling through Torun was expelled from the city, and in her vengeance, she cursed Torun with a plague of frogs. According to the story, frogs appeared everywhere—in beds, wardrobes, and attics—causing great annoyance to the townspeople. To solve the problem, the mayor promised a generous reward to anyone who could rid the town of these pesky frogs. Many brave souls tried various methods: some chased the frogs, while others attempted to capture them and take them away, but none were successful. One day, a young rafter came up with a unique idea. He began to play a poorly tuned melody on his violin. Surprisingly, the frogs were drawn to the strange music and gathered around him. The rafter continued to play, leading the frogs out of town toward the swamps and ponds where they could live happily. Sounds a bit like the story of the Pied Piper, right? To commemorate this clever rafter, the statue was erected in the square, depicting him playing his violin with eight attentive frogs listening around him. It is said that if you gently stroke the frogs and make a wish, it will come true. Go ahead—make a wish! I’ll see you at our next stop.