Chełmsko Śląskie: Weavers’ Houses and Local Architecture

Chełmsko Śląskie can be explored through its buildings and the history of weaving. Particularly striking are the wooden “Dwunastu Apostołów” weavers’ houses: they form an unbroken row with arcades and combine a distinctive architectural style with a specific history. Also worth seeing are the townhouses on the north side of the market square, the Church of the Holy Family, and the route to the Chapel of St. Anne. Historic homes, decorative façades, church architecture, and Baroque roadside shrines thus appear side by side along a route as distinct themes.

Weavers’ Houses and Their History

The wooden row known as “Dwunastu Apostołów” was built in 1707 for weavers who had arrived from Bohemia. Eleven of the original twelve buildings remain. As an unbroken row with arcades, the group can be appreciated not only through its individual houses but also through their collective arrangement. Its history adds the intended purpose to the architecture: the houses were meant for the weavers who had moved there. In this way, the architectural style and local craft history come together in this landmark.

The only surviving house of the “Siedmiu Braci” weavers’ settlement also stands at 21 Kamiennogórska Street. The settlement was founded in 1763 at the initiative of Krzeszów Abbey. The dates for the two weavers’ settlements mark different events: 1707 is the year the “Dwunastu Apostołów” was built, while 1763 marks the founding of “Siedmiu Braci.” This comparison brings their distinct building histories into focus: a row built in 1707 on the one hand, and a surviving house from a settlement founded in 1763 on the other.

In one of the weavers’ houses, the Izba Tkactwa, run by the “Tkacze Śląscy” association, displays historic spinning wheels, looms, and other weaving tools. This offers two ways to explore the subject: the houses represent the architecture and history of the weavers’ settlements, while the tools illustrate the world of weaving.

Townhouses on the Market Square

Baroque and Neoclassical townhouses define the look of the north side of the market square. Arcades, decorated façades, and ornamental gables are among the details that distinguish this stretch. Unlike the wooden weavers’ houses, the focus here is on townhouses in two architectural styles and their façade design; the defining feature of the weavers’ row is its unbroken arrangement with arcades. Visitors interested in local architecture can thus explore two distinct aspects of the town’s buildings.

The Church and the Route to St. Anne’s Chapel

The Church of the Holy Family adds a place of worship to the residential and market square architecture. It is a three-aisled Early Baroque basilica that underwent extensive renovation between 1670 and 1680. Its basilica form, three aisles, and Early Baroque style set it apart from the town’s buildings, which take the form of rows of houses or townhouses. The renovation period adds a specific historical context to these architectural features.

The route to the Chapel of St. Anne offers a different way to explore the area. It begins at the St. Anne column on Kamiennogórska Street in Chełmsko Śląskie; Baroque roadside shrines mark the path through the fields. Its starting point, markers, and destination give the route a distinct identity: the focus here is the path to the chapel and its landmarks. When planning your trip, you can choose whether you are more interested in historic architecture and weaving or a route featuring Baroque roadside shrines.

Discover more destinations: Lubawka, Szarocin, Marciszów, Ciechanowice, Czarnów, Leszczyniec, Kamienna Góra.

Go to the regional travel overview: Kamiennogórski.