A sight in the Pieniny region

Czorsztyn Castle — the ruins of a royal stronghold above Lake Czorsztyn

Czorsztyn Castle is the ruin of a medieval stronghold built in the 13th and 14th centuries as a royal castle guarding Poland's southern frontier on the Hungarian trade route. Raised on a rock, it dominates Lake Czorsztyn today — the reservoir created in 1997.

The castle's history

The castle was probably built at the end of the 13th century as a royal stronghold guarding the Hungarian route along the Dunajec. In the 17th century it was an important point during the Swedish Deluge, and in 1790 it burned down, remaining a ruin into the 20th century.

What to see

  • The ruins of the upper castle — Gothic walls on the rock
  • The courtyard — the remains of the inner buildings
  • The view of Lake Czorsztyn — the water and Niedzica castle on the far shore
  • A model of the castle — a reconstruction showing its original appearance

Practical notes

The castle lies inside Pieniny National Park, above the village of Czorsztyn. Admission is ticketed and the season runs from April to October. There is a car park by the castle; it is about 15 minutes uphill from there. In summer a boat also crosses Lake Czorsztyn to Niedzica castle on the far shore.

How to get there and practical info

Location
Above the village of Czorsztyn, on the northern shore of Lake Czorsztyn
Access
About 15 min uphill from the car park below the castle
Admission
Ticketed; the season runs April–October
Managed by
Pieniny National Park
Nearby
Niedzica castle (across the reservoir), the boat crossing
Time needed
1–1.5 hours
Mapa: Google Maps · 49.4517, 20.3175

When to go

Spring

Open from April, with fresh trees and reflections in the water.

Summer

The height of the season, boat crossings and open-air events.

Autumn

Golden trees, smaller crowds and fine photographs.

Winter

The castle is closed; it can be seen from outside.

Other sights in Pieniny

Straight-line distances from „Czorsztyn Castle" — calculated from real coordinates. By road it is often further.

Niedzica Castle (Dunajec)A Gothic-Renaissance castle of the 14th century, the best preserved in southern Poland, ab
~2,2 km as the crow flies
The raft trip through the Dunajec GorgeA two-hour trip on wooden rafts through the Dunajec Gorge — from Kąty in Sromowce Niżne to
~3,5 km as the crow flies
The Three CrownsThe most famous summit of the Pieniny (982 m a.s.l.) with a viewing platform on Okrąglica
~8,0 km as the crow flies
Pieniny National ParkOne of the oldest national parks in Poland (1932), 23.75 km² — headquarters at Krościenko,
~8,2 km as the crow flies
SokolicaThe second emblem of the Pieniny (747 m), with a lone pine growing out of the rock and a p
~8,6 km as the crow flies
Szczawnica — the spa townA historic spa town working since 1839 — the Upper and Lower Parks, the Plac Dietla promen
~12 km as the crow flies
The Homole Gorge at JaworkiA rock gorge in the Lesser Pieniny near Jaworki — vertical walls 120 m high, one of the fi
~14 km as the crow flies

Where to stay nearby

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