Chełmno. City of Lovers, walls and temples! What attractions are worth seeing?

Name: Chełmno
Rating: 4.5

Chełmno is a somewhat sleepy, but extremely interesting city of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. The name of this Gothic town comes from the Old Polish word "chełm", meaning hill. It is fascinating that, although so small, they can be described by at least a few names. We are talking about the City of Love, because the relics of St. Valentine, the patron saint of lovers, are kept in the parish church. But it is also a city of walls with one of the best-preserved routes of city walls in Europe, with a circumference of close to 2 km. And if only to rise a little above the city, we can see that it is also a city of temples, because spires and towers of medieval sacred architecture rise to the sky in every corner of the city!

Getting to Chełmno - how to get to the city?

It will be most convenient to get here by your own car. The easiest way to get here is by road No. 91 from Toruń, but you can also easily get here from Grudziądz or Bydgoszcz. From Upper Silesia you can get here in about 4 hours. There is a convenient but paid car park on the market. It is not expensive, but you have to pay for it at the beginning, estimating the hourly length of parking. Free parking can be found, for example, at the intersection of Biskupia and Danielewskiego streets, next to the Chełmno mural on a bicycle.

Chełmno does not currently have a direct railway connection, but getting here is not a big problem. From Warsaw, the most convenient option is to travel by train to Bydgoszcz, and then change for a bus to Chełmno. Regional buses run from Bydgoszcz, Toruń and Grudziądz to Chełmno.

Monuments and attractions in Chełmno. What is worth seeing in the City of Lovers?

It is difficult to resist the charm of Chełmno, where history has left a lasting mark in the form of unusual sacred and secular buildings, remembering the times of the Teutonic Knights. The town is small, easy to walk around in a few hours during a pleasant and peaceful walk. Beautiful town hall, gothic temples, as well as several preserved gates and towers, a nice promenade and a well-kept park make this city an extremely friendly place for residents and tourists. Exploring the city is like a nice date, punctuated by a visit to a restaurant. Check out the best sights and attractions of Chełmno!

Market Square and Town Hall in Chełmno - Museum of the Chełmno Land

Walking around the extensive market square in Chełmno, it is difficult not to admire the Renaissance town hall, a real pearl of Pomeranian architecture. In its walls you will find the Museum of the Chełmno Land, which in several rooms tells about the turbulent history of the city, starting from the times of the Teutonic Order and medieval everyday customs.

The town hall in Chełmno clearly distinguishes itself in the development of the city, because while it sinks in red brick, the town hall is white. It proudly adorns the quite large main square. The lace parapet attracts attention even from a greater distance. Much more modest, but still nice are the tenement houses on the market, and in front of them you can cool off on warm days in an interesting fountain.
Address: Market Square

Chełmno rod

On the façade of the town hall in the Old Town, pay attention to the Chełmno Bar. A metal measure of length, which the Teutonic Knights had already determined in the Middle Ages. The rod is over 4 meters and 30 centimeters and has been used for centuries to measure, for example, cloth and even the width of streets. And so the streets in Chełmno had 2.5 bars, which is about 11 meters wide. Thanks to this, the unique medieval urban layout of the city has been preserved to this day.
Address: Exterior facade of the town hall on the market

Defensive walls in Chełmno

You probably wouldn't think that in this city woven for love you can find one of the best-preserved strings of city walls in all of Europe! The defensive walls in Chełmno were built in the 13th century and have been preserved in excellent condition to this day. The two-kilometer perimeter with numerous towers (such as the Powder Tower or the Queen's Tower) and the Grudziądz Gate is unique in Poland. Viewpoints on the walls allow you to admire the picturesque panorama of the city with the Vistula valley. It is even said that Chełmno has the most beautiful view in the world. Of course, nearby Świecie, with the ruins of the Teutonic castle.
Address: Podmurna Street, Wałowa Street, Panieńska Street and others

The rectory with an observation deck on the tower and other Gothic churches in Chełmno

Chełmno is a city of temples. Viewing the panorama of the city, preferably from the tower of the parish church, open to tourists, you can get the impression that it is a city of churches. Whichever way you look, the tower of some Gothic temple rises to the sky. Of course, the most important is the parish church itself, but the panorama also includes the church of St. James the Elder or the church of the Holy Spirit. These Gothic-style temples in Chełmno remember the Middle Ages, which is why the historic buildings of Chełmno are dominated by brick.

Fara, or the archipresbyterian church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the 13th century, delights not only with a powerful tower with a height of 60 meters with the highest city viewpoint and a beautiful panorama, but also with a rich interior design. Renaissance stalls, gothic statues or beautiful frescoes delight. There are also relics of St. Valentine, the patron saint of lovers.
Address: Franciszkańska Street

Historic monastery in Chełmno

In the north-western part of the city there is a former monastery of Cistercians and Benedictines. It is currently run by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. In the monastery church of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, you can see, among others, a Baroque altar, the oldest Chełmno tombstone from 1275 and unique sculptures and relics. Also noteworthy are the crypts of the abbess Magdalena Mortęska, reformer of Polish Benedictine nuns at the beginning of the 17th century, the treasury and the underground.
Address: Klasztorna Street

Bench of Lovers in the Nowe Planty Park in Chełmno

The Bench of Lovers refers to the love and love traditions of the city. It allows you to spend a few romantic moments in the company of greenery, because it stands in the Nowe Planty Park, stretching along the fortifications, at the Grudziądz Gate itself.
Address: Dworcowa Street

Park of Miniatures of Teutonic Castles and Hearts of Lovers in the Ludwik Rydygier Memorial and Tolerance Park

The Miniature Park of the Teutonic Castles is located slightly behind the city gate, at the fortifications, in the Dr. Ludwik Rydygier Memorial and Tolerance Park. The miniature park is small, but you will find models of as many as nine strongholds from the region, which allows you to better understand the history and architecture of the Teutonic Order. It is available free of charge, and two large Hearts of Lovers, colorfully blooming in the season, stood next to it. It's an interesting place for romantic photos and selfies.
Address: Park between ul. Podmurna and Powstańców Wielkopolskich

9 Hills Festival and murals in Chełmno

Streetart is flourishing in Chełmno. Murals decorating tenement houses are usually created during the "9 Hills" festival. In 2024, the work of the Italian Alessandra Carloni was created, located at 21 Rycerska Street. The name of the event refers to the 9 hills on which the city is located and is patronized by 9 museums, and murals are only one of the forms in which they appear. Here are some city murals:

Mural at 21 Rycerska Street
Mural The Lady from the Window, Dominikańska Street
Mural It's just numbers, ul. Kościelna
Mural Chełmno by bike, Biskupia Street
Mural Fat Heat, 22 Stycznia Street
"Wykadrowani" Gallery, ul. Wałowa

Medieval Knights' Settlement in Chełmno

The medieval Knights' Settlement is located at 7 Kościelna Street and is open to tourists only during the tourist season. It attracts attention with the reconstructed buildings of former castles and the Chamber of Torture.
Address: Kościelna Street

Neighborhood experiences

Chełmno is one of the smaller cities worth visiting in this part of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Nearby, you can also admire Grudziądz with its famous postcard of granaries. A little further, but still close to the wonderful, gothic Toruń and to the Art Nouveau and modern Bydgoszcz.

Where to eat and sleep in Chełmno?

Chełmno still remains quiet and there are not as many commercials here as in the surrounding, more popular cities. You won't find many restaurants and hotels here either. We recommend the Fyr tel restaurant in the center, because I was charmed by the decor, which, before tasting the dishes, is always an important criterion for me to choose a place. The dishes were also very tasty and the prices were acceptable. There are also apartments above the restaurant.

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Chełmno - the city of lovers on a date, also on Chełmno Valentine's Day

Beautiful Chełmno impresses with its beauty and is popular with tourists. Therefore, it is not surprising that it is referred to as the City of Lovers. The patron saint of the castle is Saint Valentine, whose relics have been kept in the local parish church since the Middle Ages. On Valentine's Day, the Love Song Festival takes place here, as well as the St. Valentine's Fair, where you can buy a lot of heart-shaped treats and gadgets. Certainly, the Lovers are also attracted to Chełmno by a charming Lovers' Bench presenting a couple in love, who stand on the plantations, near the city walls and the gate, close to the promenade. Therefore, if you like someone in a special way, visit this place together.

History of the city. From the Teutonic Knights to the City of Love

Chełmno, next to Toruń, was one of the first cities with city rights in the current Polish lands. Already in 1233, the Teutonic Knights gave it the so-called Chełmno law, which later became a model for over 200 cities and over a thousand villages in Poland. The city developed dynamically as a center of trade, crafts and religion, and its medieval urban layout has remained almost intact to this day.

Chełmno is a place that impresses with its history, architecture and unique atmosphere. Looking at them from a drone, it is easy to imagine medieval Chełmno, which was located within the city walls. And today it's perfect for a day trip, a romantic weekend or a quick family getaway.

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What's worth seeing in the area?

You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.

Grudziądz, distance: 26.8 km
Bydgoszcz, distance: 37.8 km
Toruń, distance: 39.6 km
Kwidzyn, distance: 54.2 km
Inowrocław, distance: 63 km
Settlement in Biskupin, distance: 77.1 km
Bory Tucholskie National Park, distance: 79 km
Iława, distance: 80.2 km
Malbork Castle, distance: 86.6 km
Malbork, distance: 86.6 km