Pieniny National Park

For many, the Pieniny National Park is primarily the Three Crowns with its viewing platform, the rafting with the raftsmen through the Dunajec Gorge, and the distinctive, wind-shaped pine at the top of Sokolica. There's no denying that these are the most popular attractions in the area. However, when visiting the Pieniny, it's worth paying attention to the lesser-known ones. And there are quite a few.

For instance, the castles. While the largest one, Czorsztyn, appears as a part of many excursions in the area, the Pieniny Castle is often overlooked. Yet it is here that the history of Saint Kinga, the wife of the Polish king Bolesław the Shy, is linked, as she fell in love with Pieniny and ordered a refuge to be built for herself in their heart. Little remains of the structure today, but when conquering the Three Crowns, it is worth deviating from the trail to view the stone walls. It is also worth dedicating some attention to two other interesting sites located within the Pieniny National Park, namely the castle ruins in Sromowce Wyżne and the settlement "Gródek" in Krościenko nad Dunajcem.

If nature intrigues you more than ruins, just set off on one of the hiking trails. There are quite a few, totaling 35 km, and hiking each one offers a chance to engage with a fauna and flora that cannot be found anywhere else. Representatives of the latter include two endemic Pieniny species – the dandelion and the pasqueflower, which are hard to find in other corners of Poland. And to learn about other treasures that this oldest Polish national park hides, you can visit one of the 5 pavilions of the Pieniny National Park. So, let's head to the kingdom of Kinga and the Apollo butterfly.

Text author - Bogusława Bandyk

Photo author - Ewa Bandyk