Chapel of Skulls, Czermna
Kudowa-Zdrój, Poland
A small church whose walls and ceiling are lined with about 3,000 human skulls, arranged by a local priest in the late 18th century. Visits are short and guided; it lies on the northern edge of Kudowa-Zdrój.
The Chapel of Skulls (Kaplica Czaszek) in the village of Czermna, now part of Kudowa-Zdrój in Lower Silesia, is a small church whose walls and ceiling are lined with human skulls. The Bohemian parish priest Václav Tomášek had it built from 1776 together with the sexton J. Schmidt and the gravedigger J. Langer, and the bones were collected and arranged until 1794. Around 3,000 skulls decorate the walls, while the bones of some 21,000 more people lie in the cellar.
They come from victims of the Thirty Years' War and the Silesian Wars, as well as of cholera, plague and famine. The skulls of the builders, Tomášek among them, were placed in the centre and on the altar in 1804. An audio recording explains the history in Polish, Czech and German. According to Frommer's, the sight may be unsuitable for children. The chapel is conveniently close to the Czech border for road-trippers; check the opening times in advance.
- Nearest town
- Kudowa-Zdrój, Poland
- Category
- Roadside oddities
- GPS
- 50.4500, 16.2410
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Poland: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Some motorway sections are tolled; pay with the e-TOLL app. Motorway limit for cars: 140 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Autocamping RozkošCampsite14 km from Chapel of Skulls, CzermnaTentsCaravansDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Wakesurf RozkošCampsite16 km from Chapel of Skulls, CzermnaTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Camp KamenecCampsite17 km from Chapel of Skulls, CzermnaTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Autokemp BučniceCampsite18 km from Chapel of Skulls, CzermnaTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Camping - AktiefCampsite18 km from Chapel of Skulls, CzermnaTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Camping ŠonovCampsite20 km from Chapel of Skulls, CzermnaTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in Poland · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Chapel of Skulls, Czermna?
Chapel of Skulls, Czermna is in Kudowa-Zdrój, Poland, at GPS 50.4500, 16.2410. It is about 7 km from Náchod.
Can you camp near Chapel of Skulls, Czermna?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping nr 183, about 2 km away; within 25 km there are 37 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Chapel of Skulls, Czermna?
Chapel of Skulls, Czermna is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Lower Silesia: Książ Castle, the Table Mountains and the skull chapel.
What is there to see near Chapel of Skulls, Czermna?
Places worth a stop nearby: Szczeliniec Wielki (8 km), Adršpach Rock Town (20 km), Kłodzko Fortress (29 km) and Książ Castle (44 km).
When is the best time to visit Chapel of Skulls, Czermna?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)