Niedzica Castle & Czorsztyn Lake
Dunajec Castle at Niedzica was built between 1308 and 1313 under King Charles of Hungary. It stands above Czorsztyn Lake and watched the trade road through the Dunajec valley between Kraków and Budapest. The museum walk is the lower courtyard, the casemates and the upper castle, plus a carriage house of vehicles from 1900–1939.
A Hungarian border castle that ended up in Poland
The museum's history page dates the building to 1308–1313, in the reign of King Charles of Hungary. The stronghold was to hold the northern border of the Kingdom of Hungary and a used trade road between Kraków and Budapest that ran down the Dunajec valley. Owner families rebuilt and extended it several times. At the end of the First World War this Hungarian castle became part of Poland. The Hungarian Salamon family lived in it until 1943. After the state took the estate, they lost their rights to it. Since the 1950s Dunajec Castle has been in the care of the Association of Art Historians. The same page says it has been used as a setting for many film and television productions, and it does not name the titles.
The castle sits in the Pieniny Spiskie, in the commune of Łapsze Niżne, Nowy Targ county, on the shore of Czorsztyn Lake. The homepage calls that position one of the most recognisable points in the region. The upper and middle castle were fitted out as a museum while keeping the old plan and character of the building.
Lower courtyard, casemates, upper castle
The itinerary starts in the lower courtyard, then the casemates, then the servants' chamber, which holds an exhibition on the history of the castle. After that comes the courtyard of the upper castle, the lords' chambers and the rooms of the last owners. The terraces are the castle's view of the lake and the mountains around it. A guided circuit of the castle is about 50 minutes. An individual visit can run longer or shorter, and the walk between the parts of the complex is extra.
The carriage house was arranged in 2006. The vehicles are horse-drawn and dated 1900–1939: carriages from the Burak Brothers factory in Kielce, vehicles from the former Eastern Borderlands, and sleighs. The museum allows about 10 minutes for that room.
The wooden granary across the road
The granary is a separate visit, and only in the high season. It is wood, put up in the last decade of the 18th century, slightly altered in the 19th, and it is one of the few farm buildings still on its original spot. It stored crops for the castle farm. It now holds a permanent exhibition of Spiš folk art. The objects are from the 19th and 20th centuries and from different parts of Spiš. The itinerary puts everyday objects on the first floor and usually allows about 15 minutes, longer or shorter with the visitor. The building is about 150 metres from the castle hill, on the other side of the road, on ul. Profesorska. A gravel path and six steps lead to it.
The lake is the setting the terraces look over. It is not part of the museum ticket, and the museum does not publish a timetable for boats or for the shore.
FAQ
Can a wheelchair get into the castle?
Not into the museum rooms. The ticket office has steps and a narrow passage and is not usable by wheelchair; the declaration points to buying online. The 70-metre approach from the car park climbs at about 10 percent on irregular stone slabs, and some visitors need help. Staff can open the gate wider. There is one small threshold, and a wheelchair can reach the courtyard only. Inside, the floors are stairs and uneven stone passages, and there is no visitor toilet in the castle. The carriage house is level with the car park. The granary, across the road, has a gravel path and six steps and is not accessible. Toilets by the car park are adapted and have a changing table. Assistance dogs and guide dogs may enter with the papers shown at the ticket office. Two disabled parking bays are on the car park.
How do I get there without a bus line on the museum site?
The address is ul. Zamkowa 2, 34-441 Niedzica-Zamek. The declaration places the castle on county road 1639K, Dębno–Niedzica–state border, about 28 kilometres from Nowy Targ. The car park is under the castle, in through the main gate from Zamkowa. No bus line or stop is printed.
Is the granary on the castle ticket?
No. The castle ticket covers the castle and the carriage house. The granary needs its own ticket. The museum does not take reservations. Only part of each day’s castle tickets are sold online; the rest are at the ticket office. Tours are guided, and the guide is in the ticket price, or individual. A group is at most 55 people. You have to keep the entry time on the ticket.
