Pieniny National Park

Pieniny National Park is located in the most southern part of Poland, on the border with Slovakia. The Pieniny mountain range is divided into three parts: Pieniny Spiskie, Małe Pieniny and Pieniny Właściwe (in where is the park). The Park’s area is Шаблон:Convert, of which 13.11 km² is forested. One-third (7.5 km²) is strictly protected.

The Park has its head office in Krościenko nad Dunajcem. On the Slovak side of the mountains there is a park named Pieninský národný park.

History

The idea for the creation of the National Park comes from the prof. Władysław Szafer, a member of the National Commission for the Preservation of Nature (polski. Państwowa Komisja Ochrony Przyrody) in 1921. In the same year a private preserve on the area of 75,000 m² was opened by S. Drohojowski around the ruins of the Czorsztyn castle. In 1928 the Polish government made first land purchases and on May 23, 1932 the Ministry of Agriculture created a “National Park in the Pieniny”, on the area of 7.36 km². After the World War II, the decision was confirmed by the Oct 30, 1954 bill, which officially created Pieniny National Park.

Features

The Pieniny mountains are mainly built from limestone and they create picturesque and impressive, almost perpendicular walls which go down towards the Dunajec River. The most famous summit - Trzy Korony (Three Crowns) is 982 meters above sea level high, however Pieniny’s highest mountain - Wysokie Skałki - is 1050 meters above sea level and is not located on the Park’s area.

Pieniny National Park is located in the Dunajec river basin, and the river occupies important position among factors that influence Pieniny’s look. Even though the Park is small in size, on its area thrive hundreds of species of plants, including 640 kinds of mushrooms. Sometimes, on the same rock, grow plants with opposite means of survival. Park’s meadows, which are the result of human activity, are some of the richest plant ecosystems of Poland (30 to 40 species of flowers for every square meter).

So far around 6500 animal species have been proven to live in the Pieniny. It is supposed that the area is even more abundant - with up to 15 000 species. There are numerous birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians as well as mammals. The most important predator is the lynx. On the shores of the Dunajec the otter thrives.

First permanent human settlements in the Pieniny mountains date back to 1257, when Polish princess Kinga was given nearby lands. In 1280 the princess founded a monastery at Stary Sącz, later the Czorsztyn castle was built. This castle belonged to Poland, on the southern side of the Dunajec valley, the Hungarians built their own, then called Dunajec (today it belongs to Poland and its name is Niedzica). The Dunajec valley in 1997 was flooded by water, as a result of construction of a river dam.

There are 34 kilometres of tourist walking trails in the park, from such peaks as Sokolica and Trzy Korony one can have excellent view on the Pieniny and the Tatra mountains as well as the Dunajec. The Park’s main attraction is a river trip on wooden boats, very popular among all tourists.

See also

  • Polish National Parks
  • Dunajec River Gorge

External links

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
There are no tips nor hints for Pieniny National Park yet. Maybe be you will be the first one to post useful information for fellow travellers? :)
8.3/10
31,935 people have been here

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Luxury Chalet Villa Gorsky in Tatra Mountains

starting $516

Hotel Bania Thermal & Ski

starting $237

Gordonowka Apartameny &SPA

starting $71

Wellness Penzion Strachan

starting $93

Campanile Nowy Targ Zakopane

starting $51

domek w gorach deluxe,dom,bacowka hous mountains

starting $0

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Pieniny

Pieniny is a mountain range in Poland and Slovakia.

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Czorsztyn Castle

The ruins of Czorsztyn Castle (Deutsch. Sub-Arx Oberschloss, Arx

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Niedzica Castle

Niedzica Castle also known as Dunajec Castle (Latin: Castrum de

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Kościół św. Michała Archanioła w Dębnie

Սուրբ Գաբրիել հրեշտակի եկեղեցի Դեբնոյում, գտնվում է Դեբնո

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Belianska Cave

Belianska Cave (Slovak: Belianska jaskyňa) is a stalactite cave in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Lubowla Castle

Lubowla Castle or Castle of Ľubovňa (Ľubovniansky hrad) is a me

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Skalnaté pleso observatory

Observatórium Skalnaté pleso (Skalnaté Pleso Observatory) is an as

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Kežmarský zámek

Kežmarský zámok alebo Kežmarský mestský hrad je zámok v Kežmar

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Los Glaciares National Park

Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (Spanish: The Glaciers) is a national

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park, in southwest South Dakota, United States

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Banff National Park

Banff National Park (pronounced ) is Canada's oldest national park,

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Mount Nemrut

Nemrut or Nemrud (Turkish: 'Nemrut Dağı') is a 2,134 m (7,001 ft) hig

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park is a United States National Park located in

See all similar places