Chęciny

Chęciny is a town of 4,400 people (2021) in the Świętokrzyskie province in central Poland. It is 15 km south of the regional capital of Kielce.

Understand

It was first mentioned in historical documents from 1275, and obtained its city charter in 1325. At that time was one of major urban centres of northern Lesser Poland.

The most important sight in Chęciny is the royal castle built in the late 13th or early 14th century on the Castle Hill above the town. It fell into a ruin in the 18th century and remains in that state.

For centuries Chęciny (or Chentshin) had a Jewish community and it had been the center of the Hasidic Chentshin dynasty, (Chęciny being pronounced as "Chentshin" or "Khantchin" in Yiddish.)

• 1 Regional tourism information point, Rynek 25, ☏ +48 413 151 829, informacja@checiny.pl. 09:00 – 18:00. (updated Jul 2022)

Get in

Chęciny does not have a railway stop. It is possible to reach Chęciny from Kielce by private minibus departing from the main bus station. Kielce's bus line #31 runs a few times a day between the centre of Kielce and Chęciny.

It's much easier to reach the town by car as it's right next to the S7 expressway which will eventually connect Warsaw and Kraków.

Get around

The town is small enough to explore on foot.

See

• 1 Chęciny Castle, ☏ +48 41 308 00 48, biuro@zamek.checiny.pl. This castle dates back to the end of the 13th century and is the town's biggest tourist attraction. After the Second World War the castle was preserved and partially reconstructed. The eastern tower serves as a scenic viewpoint. 17 zł, reduced 13 zł. (updated Jun 2022)
• 2 Saint Bartholomew church (Kościół św. Bartłomieja Apostoła), Radkowska 4. The present church was built in the 14th century. It is believed the church was founded by King Władysław I Łokietek around 1315. Its construction, however, was completed by the son of Łokietek, King Casimir III the Great around 1350. During the Reformation, the church was taken over by Protestants. In 1603 it was returned to the Catholics and it was consecrated again. In the first half of the 15th century, the building was expanded. In the years 1830–1840, the temple underwent a thorough restoration. It is the most important church of Chęciny and lies at the foot of the castle hill. (updated Jul 2022)
• 3 Former Franciscan Monastery Complex, Franciszkańska 10. Founded by Casimir III the Great from the 14th century. The complex includes a rebuilt gothic church, a late Renaissance monastery building with a domed chapel from 1640, and several other buildings from the 17th century. The complex is now used for healthcare purposes. (updated Jul 2022)
• 4 Jewish Cemetery (Kirkut) (A path leeds to the cemetery from the southern slope of the castle hill.). There are about 150 tombstones in various states of preservation in the necropolis. The oldest of them are from the second half of the 17th century. There are also tombs in the form of a sarcophagus. The whole is surrounded by quite distinct remains of a stone wall. The cemetery is neglected. (updated Jul 2022)
• 5 Former Synagogue, Długa 21. It is not in use and not open for visitors. There are plans to open a Jewish Culture Memorial Centre in the building. (updated Jul 2022)

Buy

• 1 Biedronka, Kielecka 29a. The town's biggest supermarket. 

Eat

• 1 La Baguette, Parking pod Zamkiem Królewskim w Chęcinach, ☏ +48 795 725 913. Restaurant next to the castle's parking lot. (updated Jul 2022)

Go next

• Kielce – the regional capital