Churches and monasteries
one of the largest Gothic churches in Poland, being rebuilt after the fire of 1945, with a terrace on the tower
Historic sites
a Gothic brick façade, rebuilt after 1945, today a library and a cultural centre
Churches and monasteries
Neo-Gothic brick church from 1913, built from the contributions of Polish labourers, today a sanctuary
Historic sites
brick gate of the 15th century with a defensive gallery and corner turrets, named after Schwedt
Churches and monasteries
Gothic single-nave church of the 14th century, a former Augustinian church, with cloisters
Churches and monasteries
15th-century church of stone and brick of a former Augustinian monastery, with a Neo-Gothic tower of the 19th century
Historic sites
a 15th-century brick tower gate with a viewing terrace, part of the town walls of Chojna
Solo in Chojna means an easy walk from the town hall and St Mary's Church through two gates to the suburb of Barnkowo, with no booking and no rush.
Chojna suits a solo trip: the monuments are packed into a small centre, most can be viewed from outside at any hour and nobody sets the pace. All the places in town are gathered under things to do in Chojna, and ideas for independent trips from across the region are listed in what to do on your own in West Pomerania.
The best plan is a loop: the square with the town hall, St Mary's Church, one of the gates and finally the churches outside the centre. Such a walk takes a few hours and needs neither advance tickets nor company.
Begin where Ratusz w Chojnie (the Town Hall) stands, by the old market square. It holds a library and a cultural centre, so you can step inside. Next waits Kościół Mariacki w Chojnie (St Mary's Church), a Gothic hall church of 1389-1407 counted among the largest of its kind in the country. If you like to know the background of a place, read beforehand the article covering the town hall, the Świecka Gate and the walls.
A good plan is one gate with a view and two or three churches from different periods. All lie within the old walls or just beyond them, so you do not need a car.
At first glance the most interesting is Brama Barnkowska (Barnkowo Gate) on Bolesława Chrobrego street, because it has a viewing terrace from which you can look over the surroundings. The other, Brama Świecka w Chojnie (Świecka Gate), stands on Basztowa street and looks like a small stronghold with a gallery and turrets. Among the churches, add Kościół Świętej Trójcy w Chojnie (Holy Trinity Church) on Malarska street, a former Augustinian church, and Kościół Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa w Chojnie (Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) on Roosevelta street. The latter is neo-Gothic from 1913, with reliquaries from the Lviv area.
You can, because Barnkowo is a former suburb of Chojna and not a separate village. The walk takes little time, and the reward is a quiet area with a late Gothic church.
Kościół św. Marka w Chojnie (Church of St Mark) on Słowiańska street is a 15th-century building, now a filial church of the Sacred Heart parish. It serves worshippers, so it is best viewed from outside and with respect for services. It makes a good end to the route if you prefer quiet to sightseeing in a crowd. If you have time left, pick up a story from the region: legends of the Beech Forest about three brothers and the ghost Skarbek.
Yes, most places on the list are monuments viewed from outside: gates, churches and the town hall. Church interiors are usually entered outside services.
At the town hall and St Mary's Church by the old market square, then on to the gates. That is the shortest loop through the centre.
The Barnkowo Gate on Bolesława Chrobrego street has a viewing terrace.
Seven: four churches, two town gates and the town hall. One church, St Mark's, lies outside the centre.
