Chełmno: City Walls, Town Hall and Valentine’s Day Tradition

Chełmno lies on the Vistula River, on nine hills of the Chełmno Plateau. In the Old Town, a city wall that is almost completely preserved, a town hall with a museum, and the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary stand side by side. An annual Valentine’s Day tradition is also reflected in pastries and a market. During your stay, you can explore these different aspects of the city: historic buildings, walks and visits subject to seasonal conditions.

City Walls and the Old Town

The circuit of the Chełmno city walls measures 2,270 metres and is almost completely preserved. The number of towers is uncertain: there were either 25 or 27. Of these, 17 are fully preserved and six in fragments. The length of the walls and the state of preservation of the towers offer two different impressions of the historic cityscape.

The Old Town itself also has a special historic distinction: in 2005, it was added to the Polish list of Historic Monuments by the President of the Republic of Poland. For visitors interested in history and architecture, this provides another specific point of interest alongside the circuit of the walls. The “Serce miasta zakochanych” geocaching route passes through the Old Town and leads visitors to discover former meeting places.

Town Hall Museum and Parish Church

The Muzeum Ziemi Chełmińskiej is located in the Ratusz at Rynek 28, 86-200 Chełmno. Its permanent exhibitions include the history of the city and the life of Polish surgeon Ludwik Rydygier. The museum organizes temporary exhibitions in the Sala Mieszczańska on the second floor. A visit to the town hall museum thus brings together the city’s history and another subject associated with Chełmno.

A relic of Saint Valentine is kept in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The church is open for free visits every day via the entrance on ul. Franciszkańska: until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and until 5 p.m. on Sundays. Check the opening times again before your visit. At 60 metres, the northwest tower is Chełmno’s highest vantage point; access is seasonal. The church’s visiting hours and the tower’s seasonal access should therefore be considered separately.

Walks, Views and Miniature Castles

The Planty are a popular place for walks among Chełmno residents. For longer routes, the PTTK guide team also offers walking trails several kilometres long. If you prefer a guided tour, you can contact the team, which offers traditional tours of Chełmno. Routes and service details may change; check the latest information when planning your visit.

Rydygier Park is home to the Park Miniatur Zamków Krzyżackich, with nine carefully crafted models of medieval castles. The miniature park is free to enter; check this admission information before your visit. The models are the focus here, while the city walls, town hall museum and parish church offer other ways to explore Chełmno’s history.

Walentynki Chełmińskie and Local Tradition

Walentynki Chełmińskie takes place in Chełmno every year. The tradition also has a culinary side: local bakers and pastry chefs make heart-shaped pastries and lovage rolls, called lubczyk in Polish, every year. The Jarmark św. Walentego adds to the celebration with stalls run by local producers and craftspeople, offering handicrafts, souvenirs and regional specialities.

If you’d like to experience Chełmno around this tradition, the celebration, pastries and market are different aspects of the same recurring event. Specific event dates are not provided here; check the latest dates before planning your trip around them. Outside the celebration, the permanent museum exhibitions, city walls and geocaching route offer their own themes for exploring the city.

Getting There and Planning Your Stay

Official local public transport information lists a bus connection from Świecie via Chełmno and Chełmża to Toruń. Routes and timetables may change, so check the latest schedule if you plan to use this connection.

Discover more destinations: Papowo Biskupie, Chełmno, Lisewo, Staw, Świecki, Brodnicki, Inowrocław, Briesen.

Return to the main travel overview: Kujawy-Pomerania.