Niedzica Castle, Pieniny Mountains, Poland
The Pieniny Mountains are a mountain range in the Małopolska province in the south of Poland and the Prešov region in the north of Slovakia. The range is divided in to 3 parts: Pieniny Spiskie and Pieniny Właściwe in Poland and Małe Pieniny in Poland and Slovakia.
The Pieniny mountains consist mainly of limestone and dolomite. The highest peak is Wysoka at 3445 feet but the most famous peak is Trzy Korony (Three Crowns), the summit of the Three Crowns Massif at 3222 feet. The massif is an independent but central portion of the Pieniny Mountains consisting of 5 sharp peaks. The summit of Trzy Korony is separated from the surrounding peaks by the Wyżni Łazek Pass which descends in to deep valleys with streams surrounded by forested slopes. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Pieniny Mountains and an observation deck hangs over a 1600 foot precipice with extensive views of the Dunajec River Gorge (Przełom Dunajca) and the vast area of the Pieniny National Park (Pieniński Park Narodowy) and the Tatra National Park (Tatrzański Park Narodowy).
Caves are few and rather small in the Pieniny Mountains but rivers and streams are often deeply indented in the rock, creating approximately 15 ravines and gorges. The most famous gorges of the Pieniny mountains are the Dunajec River Gorge (Przełom Dunajca) and the Homole Ravine (Wąwóz Homole).
The Dunajec River Gorge (Przełom Dunajca) forms the border between Poland and Slovakia. It is another popular tourist destination in the Pieniny Mountains and wooden raft trips have been organized daily by the Pieniny Gorals ethnic group since the early 19th century when their customers consisted mostly of guests of the nearby Czorsztyn Castle and Niedzica Castle. The trip begins in Sromowce Wyżne-Kąty and ends in Szczawnica, 5 miles downstream and taking 2 to 3 hours. The second leg of the trip is only 3 miles long. It begins in Szczawnica and ends in Krościenko nad Dunajcem. The Dunajec River Gorge makes 7 loops in its length and the surrounding rock cliffs reach 985 feet in height throughout most of its length.
The Dunajec River includes a chain of 13 medieval castles dating back to the early 12th century. Most of the castles are in ruin now and some no longer exist at all. The most well known are Czorsztyn Castle and Niedzica Castle, both located on Lake Czorsztyn (Jezioro Czorsztyńskie), a man-made reservoir in the Dunajec river valley.
Pieniny National Park (Pieniński Park Narodowy) is a protected area located in the heart of the Pieniny Mountains. It covers an area of 9.06 square miles, of which around 70% is forested. On the Slovakian side of the mountains there is a parallel national park (Pieninský národný park). The idea for the creation of Pieniny National Park arose in 1921 and in the same year a private preserve was created around the ruins of Czorsztyn Castle. In 1928 the Polish government made its first land purchases and in May 1932 a “National Park in the Pieniny” was created covering an area of 2.8 square miles. In 1954, Pieniny National Park was created.
Date: 30th May 2017
Location: Niedzica Castle, Pieniny Mountains, Małopolska province, Poland
The Pieniny mountains consist mainly of limestone and dolomite. The highest peak is Wysoka at 3445 feet but the most famous peak is Trzy Korony (Three Crowns), the summit of the Three Crowns Massif at 3222 feet. The massif is an independent but central portion of the Pieniny Mountains consisting of 5 sharp peaks. The summit of Trzy Korony is separated from the surrounding peaks by the Wyżni Łazek Pass which descends in to deep valleys with streams surrounded by forested slopes. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Pieniny Mountains and an observation deck hangs over a 1600 foot precipice with extensive views of the Dunajec River Gorge (Przełom Dunajca) and the vast area of the Pieniny National Park (Pieniński Park Narodowy) and the Tatra National Park (Tatrzański Park Narodowy).
Caves are few and rather small in the Pieniny Mountains but rivers and streams are often deeply indented in the rock, creating approximately 15 ravines and gorges. The most famous gorges of the Pieniny mountains are the Dunajec River Gorge (Przełom Dunajca) and the Homole Ravine (Wąwóz Homole).
The Dunajec River Gorge (Przełom Dunajca) forms the border between Poland and Slovakia. It is another popular tourist destination in the Pieniny Mountains and wooden raft trips have been organized daily by the Pieniny Gorals ethnic group since the early 19th century when their customers consisted mostly of guests of the nearby Czorsztyn Castle and Niedzica Castle. The trip begins in Sromowce Wyżne-Kąty and ends in Szczawnica, 5 miles downstream and taking 2 to 3 hours. The second leg of the trip is only 3 miles long. It begins in Szczawnica and ends in Krościenko nad Dunajcem. The Dunajec River Gorge makes 7 loops in its length and the surrounding rock cliffs reach 985 feet in height throughout most of its length.
The Dunajec River includes a chain of 13 medieval castles dating back to the early 12th century. Most of the castles are in ruin now and some no longer exist at all. The most well known are Czorsztyn Castle and Niedzica Castle, both located on Lake Czorsztyn (Jezioro Czorsztyńskie), a man-made reservoir in the Dunajec river valley.
Pieniny National Park (Pieniński Park Narodowy) is a protected area located in the heart of the Pieniny Mountains. It covers an area of 9.06 square miles, of which around 70% is forested. On the Slovakian side of the mountains there is a parallel national park (Pieninský národný park). The idea for the creation of Pieniny National Park arose in 1921 and in the same year a private preserve was created around the ruins of Czorsztyn Castle. In 1928 the Polish government made its first land purchases and in May 1932 a “National Park in the Pieniny” was created covering an area of 2.8 square miles. In 1954, Pieniny National Park was created.
Date: 30th May 2017
Location: Niedzica Castle, Pieniny Mountains, Małopolska province, Poland
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