The Pieniny are one of the most beautiful and most popular mountain ranges in Poland. To some, the Pieniny are the loveliest limestone mountains in the country. The Dunajec River flows through them, and every day so-called Dunajec rafting trips are organised by canoe or pontoon. It's inexpensive, so it's well worth doing. What should you see in the Pieniny? What deserves your attention? You'll find plenty of tips in the article below.
The Three Crowns
Alongside Sokolica, the Three Crowns (Trzy Korony) is the most striking peak in the Pieniny and, at the same time, one of the symbols of the region. This distinctive rocky crown is formed by five summit crags. The highest of them, Okrąglica, rises to 983 m and holds a viewing platform that opens onto a stunning panorama of the Dunajec valley, the Sądecki Beskids, the Gorce and the Tatras. It's a breathtaking sight!
Wysoki Wierch
Wysoki Wierch (898 m), in the Małe Pieniny ridge, is a characteristic, elevated, treeless dome-shaped summit. Running past the peak is a yellow tourist trail that leads from Szlachtowa into Slovakia, to the village of Veľký Lipník. A blue trail crosses the summit dome fairly low down, from the north-east. Along it, north of the summit, stands a large fenced-off shepherd's hut (in summer there is limited grazing here). From the grassy, flat top of Wysoki Wierch you get a magnificent all-round panorama that takes in the Sądecki Beskids, the central part of the Małe Pieniny, the Wiaterny Wierch group and Magura Spiska in Slovakia, the Pieniny proper, the eastern part of the Gorce and the Tatras.
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Sokolica
Sokolica (747 m) is one of the most beautiful peaks in the Pieniny. Its dominant summit rises as a jagged rock roughly 300 m above the level of the Dunajec River, which here carves a picturesque, winding gorge popular for rafting as well as for canoe and pontoon trips. Administratively, Sokolica belongs to Krościenko nad Dunajcem.
The Tatras
On the northern slopes of the highest peak in the Pieniny, Wysoka, lies the Polana pod Wysoką (Meadow beneath Wysoka). Set at 1,310 m above sea level, it offers a superb panorama of the high-mountain ridge that every fan of landscape photography is sure to love. From the meadow you can see the surrounding peaks of the Małe Pieniny, the forested summit of Homole or the Sądecki Beskids with Radziejowa. The Polana pod Wysoką is a unique place for another reason too. Pitching tents is currently forbidden in the Slovak Tatras, and the one exception to this rule is the "Pod Wysoką" campsite, set in the lower part of the meadow. It consists of 15 tent platforms and a covered fire pit.
The Valley of the White Water
The Valley of the White Water (Dolina Białej Wody) is the largest valley in the Pieniny region, and many photographers consider it the most beautiful. It is dominated by soaring peaks and tall walls that make a powerful impression, and that is exactly why the Valley of the White Water made this list. It was also admired by famous poets, including Adam Asnyk and Tadeusz Boy, while Kazimierz Tetmajer himself confessed in 1888 that he would like to be buried in this spot, or more precisely on a stone where a few melancholy black spruces grow. Photographs taken in the Biała Woda valley capture the very essence of this one-of-a-kind place.
Niedzica Castle
Niedzica Castle is a medieval fortress on the right bank of Lake Czorsztyn, also known as Dunajec Castle. It was built in the early 14th century on the site of earlier fortifications. Dunajec Castle is first mentioned in documents in 1325. In the 14th century the fortress was a very important centre of Polish-Hungarian relations. Financial matters between the Polish and Hungarian kings, for example, were settled here.
The Białka Tatrzańska Gorge
During a stay in Białka Tatrzańska it's worth taking your camera out of its case, because one of the most beautiful views in all the Pieniny will open up before your eyes. The unique landscape shaped by the meander of the Białka River is literally breathtaking. The river is surrounded on all sides by lush forests and rock formations with three caves. The Tatra Mountains are also visible from here, which creates endless opportunities for striking shots.
Dursztyn and Grandeus
Grandeus is an unassuming hill at 802 m above sea level whose main asset is a magnificent panorama, one of the finest in the Pieniny. A single glance from Grandeus lets you take in almost the entire range. From here you can see the Tatras, Kuraszowski Wierch and even the Gorce and Babia Góra. That makes it a very appealing spot and a goldmine of ideas for mountain photography. The red trail from Dursztyn, Łapsze Wyżne, or the cycle path from Trybsz-Przełęcz leads to Grandeus.
The Dunajec Gorge
It runs through the Pieniny massif for 8 km between Szczawnica and Sromowce Niżne. Along this stretch the Dunajec River forms numerous meanders, while the rock walls rise up to 300 m high. Winding among the Pieniny peaks, the river creates picturesque, one-of-a-kind scenery that makes a compelling backdrop for any photograph.
The Pieniny are a place worth visiting at any time of year. In spring, summer and autumn they enchant with beautiful views, and in winter they add attractions in the form of ski runs.
