Discover Chojnice: Basilica, culture and trails

• From the very beginning, the Church of the Beheading of St John the Baptist (Bazylika Mniejsza pw. Ścięcia św. Jana Chrzciciela) has been a religious, cultural and political centre for Chojnice and the surrounding area.
• On 11 March 1993, Pope John Paul II elevated the church to the status of a minor basilica.
• The Janusz Trzebiatowski Museum offers a virtual museum for people who cannot visit in person.
• The wider Conitz travel destination includes, among other things, a cycling network with around 200 kilometres of completed routes and a 55-kilometre hiking trail.

The basilica is defined by more than its ecclesiastical distinction: its importance to the religious, cultural and political life of Chojnice and the surrounding area dates back to the very beginning of its existence. The history of the church is therefore closely connected with the history of the town. Two points in time help put this in context: its early role reflects a long tradition, while 11 March 1993 marks a specific date in the church’s history. On that day, Pope John Paul II elevated the church to the status of a minor basilica.

Those interested in culture can consider these two aspects separately: the church’s importance, which grew over a long period, and its later elevation. This offers a concrete starting point for getting to know Chojnice beyond its individual buildings—as a place with a religious and civic history.

The Janusz Trzebiatowski Museum offers a virtual museum for anyone who cannot visit in person. This provides a digital way to engage with the museum. In the wider Conitz travel destination, the Historical and Ethnographic Museum adds another perspective on local culture: it is housed in six historic buildings along a preserved section of Chojnice’s medieval defensive walls.

Another part of this museum is the Człuchowska Gate (Brama Człuchowska). This six-storey historic building has a square floor plan and was built in the Pomeranian Gothic style. Five floors contain the Historical and Ethnographic Museum’s permanent and changing thematic exhibitions; the exhibition rooms are located in the gate, and some exhibitions may change.

The Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chojnice also offers a distinctive architectural highlight: it has three naves, a façade with two towers and a late Baroque interior featuring polychrome paintings by Franciszek Ksawery Haefflich. Jesuits built the church and also founded a school in Chojnice. The basilica and this church thus represent different aspects of the town’s religious and architectural history.

In the wider Conitz travel destination, Zaborski Landscape Park lies in the northern part of Chojnice County and extends across the municipalities of Brusy, Chojnice and Konarzyny. Cyclists can use the Kaszubska Marszruta network, with around 200 kilometres of completed routes. Another option is the 55-kilometre Julian Rydzkowski Kashubian Hiking Trail. It runs from Chojnice via Chojniczki, Bachorze, Stara Piła, Męcikał and Giełdon to Wiele. Before setting out on a hike, check the current trail markings and local conditions.

For paddlers, the Brda and its many tributaries—Chocina, Zbrzyca, Młosina and Kłonecznica—form a network of varied kayaking routes in Zaborski Landscape Park. Water conditions vary by season. Cycling, hiking and kayaking therefore differ not only in the type of activity, but also in the conditions you should consider when planning.

The transport network also helps orient you in the region: the main road axis of Chojnice County is National Road 22, which connects Chojnice and Czersk. The voivodeship roads radiate out from Chojnice. This information describes road connections, not current traffic conditions.

Dni Chojnic is an annual town festival held in Tysiąclecia Park and at the Municipal Moat. As dates and programmes change, check the specific event dates if you plan to time your trip around the festival. It is a different kind of cultural attraction from historic buildings and museum spaces: here, the focus is on a recurring town festival and its various venues.

If you are looking for a hotel in Chojnice, start by considering whether your trip will focus mainly on the town’s history and culture, or whether you would also like to include cycling, hiking and water trails in the wider Conitz travel destination. These priorities can help you organise your travel plans before comparing specific accommodation offers.

Discover more destinations: Rytel, Brusy, Krzyż, Leśno, Swornegacie, Parszczenica, Charzykowy and Konarzyny.

When was the church in Chojnice elevated to the status of a minor basilica?

Pope John Paul II elevated the Church of the Beheading of St John the Baptist (Bazylika Mniejsza pw. Ścięcia św. Jana Chrzciciela) to the status of a minor basilica on 11 March 1993.

Is there a virtual museum in Chojnice?

Yes. The Janusz Trzebiatowski Museum offers a virtual museum for anyone who cannot visit in person.

What trails are there in the wider Conitz travel destination?

Options include the Kaszubska Marszruta cycling network, with around 200 kilometres of completed routes; the 55-kilometre Julian Rydzkowski Kashubian Hiking Trail; and varied kayaking routes on the Brda and its tributaries. Water conditions vary by season; when hiking, also check current trail markings and local conditions.

View the wider travel guide: Conitz.