Polish Spiš for Everyone [#14] - Pieniny Legends

Legends of Pieniny          

For centuries, people have tried to explain the world around them and the phenomena they encounter. This led to the passing down of legends and tales from generation to generation. The mysterious mountainous regions hold a multitude of lesser and more well-known stories. The same goes for the peaks of Pieniny and their surroundings. Every tiny rock in Spisz, according to legend, hides a chest of gold; each was once visited by the devil, and even today, at night, the spirits of shepherds wander through them. Below, you will find some of the most interesting legends related to iconic places on the map of Spisz.


The Miraculous Mist          

As tourists walk the trail from Three Crowns to Sokolice, they pass Mount Zamkowa, where the ruins of Pieniński Castle are located. This building was created in the 13th century and served as a refuge for Saint Kinga
and the nuns from the convent in Stary Sącz. According to one legend, they took refuge there from the Tatars, whose troops had a significant advantage. Saint Kinga prayed to God for rescue and performed a miracle. The entire castle was enveloped in a very thick mist; the Tatars could see nothing, fell from the steep rocks, shot arrows at each other, and ultimately fled in terror. To this day, we can find the Grotto of St. Kinga in the ruins.       

 

Human Destinies   

Dubantowska Dolinka, located on the route from Jaworki to Wysoka through the Homole Gorge, also has its own little legend. While resting on the green trail, tourists often choose the characteristic flat rocks known as the Stone Books. According to old tales, the fate of humanity is inscribed in them, which no one has been able to read; no one was wise enough to do so. Only the aged priest from Wielki Lipnik dared to read them, but he was punished for it – God, not wanting people to learn their fates, took away his speech.

The Flying Monk          

One of the most well-known legends from Spisz is associated with the Red Monastery and tells the story
of a flying monk. This refers to Brother Cyprian, who served as an apothecary, doctor, and barber in the monastery. As a man of many talents, he cultivated the monastery garden, growing herbs from which he made medicines. However, he is best known for the tale of a flying machine that he built. Legends vary; one says that with the help of mechanical wings, he flew from the summit of Three Crowns to the monastery courtyard, while another version claims he flew all the way to Morskie Oko, where he was transformed into the well-known rock formation called Mnich.    

 

The Bandit's Leap         

Rafting through the Dunajec Gorge is one of the most frequently chosen tourist attractions in Pieniny.
The river is associated with the legend of the most famous bandit – Janosik. The Dunajec Gorge, which is vast, has one spot where it is only 12 meters wide. Tourists may know this place as Janosik's Leap, and the nearby rocks as Bandit's Rocks. According to the Spisz legend, at this spot, Janosik, fleeing at night from the hajduks, jumped across the Dunajec. Moreover, when morning came, his pursuers saw the print left by the bandit's shoes. Legends say that Janosik tested those who wished to join his bandit company at this spot.

These and other legends can be found in the book "Legends of Pieniny," written by Urszula Janicka-Krzywda

Author of the photos and text: Ewa Bandyk