Chełmno

Chełmno Square Market

Chełmno is a town in northern Poland with 20,000 inhabitants and the historical capital of Chełmno Land. Chełmno is situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and lies near the Vistula River.

Town hall in old town

Understand

The first written mention of Chełmno is known from a document allegedly issued in 1065 by Duke Boleslaus II of Poland for the Benedictine monastery in Mogilno. In 1233 Chełmno was granted city rights known as "Chełmno rights" (renewed in 1251), the model system for over 200 Polish towns.

The town is an interesting tourist attraction but not popular yet.

Do not confuse this town with the village of Chełmno nad Nerem in Koło County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, where the Nazis built (and eventually destroyed) the Chełmno extermination camp, nor with the village of Chełmno in Szamotuły County, Greater Poland Voivodeship.

Get in

Chełmno is about 45 km from both Toruń and Bydgoszcz.

By bus

The best option is to go by bus from Toruń Bus Station - they depart almost every hour. The trip lasts about 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the connection. The 1 Chełmno bus station is located at Dworcowa Street.

By car

The trunk road (droga krajowa) no connecting Toruń and Gdańsk runs through Chełmno. There is small car park near the city walls, just at the end of Dworcowa Street. The drive to Chełmno from Toruń should take about 45 minutes.

See

• The Old Town of Chełmno is full of monuments:
• 1 Museum of the Chełmno Land, Ratusz - Rynek 28 (Gothic-Renaissance City Hall). Tu - F 10:00 - 16:00, Sa 10:00 - 15:00, Sun (from 1st March till 30th Nov): 11:00 - 15:00, M closed. 3 zł. 
• 2 Church of Virgin Mary (Kościół Najświętszej Marii Panny) (Southwestern corner of the Market Square). Entrance is free except tower.. 
• City walls with watch towers and Grudziądzka Gate

Chełmno - Old Town

Sleep

• 1 Karczma Chełmińska, ul. 22 Stycznia 1B, ☏ +48 56 6790605. 240 zł for a midweek double, cheaper at weekends. 
• 2 Pensjonat Stary Spichrz, ul. Podmurna 7, ☏ +48 56 686-30-64. 179 zł for a double. 

Go next

Close by:

• Kałdus - early medieval hillfort with wonderful view on the Vistula river valley
• Świecie - with gothic Teutonic Order castle.

Further afield:

• Bydgoszcz
• Grudziądz
• Kwidzyn
• Toruń