Discover Chełmsko Śląskie

Chełmsko Śląskie can be explored through several distinct themes: the history of weaving, the townhouses around the market square, the parish church and the route to St. Anne’s Chapel. These features give the town a clear identity without blending into a single attraction. If you are interested in historic buildings and specific craft traditions, you will find various points of interest here—from a wooden ensemble to a route marked by wayside shrines.

Weavers’ houses and textile history

A striking group is the wooden weavers’ houses known as “Dwunastu Apostołów” (Twelve Apostles). In Chełmsko Śląskie, they stand in an unbroken row with arcades. The houses were built in 1707 for weavers who had moved from Bohemia; eleven of the original twelve buildings have been preserved. The name refers to the original number, while the group today consists of eleven houses. The ensemble thus combines a specific history of craftsmanship and migration with a clearly defined architectural form.

Another weavers’ settlement is “Siedmiu Braci” (Seven Brothers): its only surviving house stands at 21 Kamiennogórska Street. The settlement was founded in 1763 at the initiative of Krzeszów Abbey. The dates refer to different events: 1707 marks the construction of “Dwunastu Apostołów,” while 1763 marks the founding of “Siedmiu Braci.” This distinction helps you tell the two names and their histories apart rather than treating them as a single weavers’ settlement.

The craft of weaving itself is also explored in one of the houses. There, the Izba Tkactwa (Weaving Chamber) of the “Tkacze Śląscy” association displays historic spinning wheels, looms and other weaving equipment. These objects complement the architectural history with the tools of textile work, offering a perspective distinct from that of the surviving houses and their origins.

Market square and parish church

A different townscape can be found on the north side of the market square. Baroque and Neoclassical townhouses stand there, with arcades, decorated façades and ornate gables. While the weavers’ houses form a cohesive wooden row, two architectural styles meet at the market square. The difference lies not only in the buildings themselves, but also in how their architectural forms are described: as a row with arcades, or as a side of the square defined by façades and gables.

The Church of the Holy Family offers another perspective on the town’s architecture. It is a three-aisled early Baroque basilica, extensively remodeled in 1670–1680. Its architectural form and the specific remodeling dates provide another clearly defined point of reference if you are interested in the architectural history of Chełmsko Śląskie while planning your trip.

The route to St. Anne’s Chapel

The route to St. Anne’s Chapel begins at the St. Anne’s Column on Kamiennogórska Street in Chełmsko Śląskie. Baroque wayside shrines mark the route between the fields. Unlike the houses and the church, here the starting point, destination and route markers are all central. This adds another perspective to the town’s architecture: religious structures can be encountered not only as individual buildings, but also along a route whose beginning and markers are clearly identified.

The themes are easy to distinguish when choosing what to explore: the weavers’ houses lead to the history of the textile craft, the north side of the market square to Baroque and Neoclassical townhouses, and the route to St. Anne’s links a chapel with wayside shrines between the fields. Chełmsko Śląskie thus offers several distinct points of interest for a trip focused on historic architectural forms and local craft traditions.

More destinations

Szarocin, Kamienna Góra, Marciszów, Lubawka, Leszczyniec, Czarnów, Ciechanowice

For the broader travel overview: Kamiennogórski.