799 m above sea level.
Easy
1h 15 min

Zamek Pieniny

Pieniny Proper | 799m | easy

Explore Place

Pieniny Castle is a place shrouded in many legends, located in the Pieniny Właściwe under the top of Zamkowa Góra. It was built in the middle of the 13th century. However, it was partly demolished and now all that remains is a 90-metre fragment of the wall of the former castle, the ruins of an old tower or chamber and the remains of a brick cistern in which water from the Saint Kinga spring, which was drying up, was stored. Considering the age of the building and the stories associated with it, this is an ideal place for lovers of mountains and history at the same time!

Blue trail
You can reach the castle from the side of the Three Crowns, and then follow the popular trail also to Sokola Perć and Sokolica. Alternatively, you can take this trail to reach the summit from the Wyrobek Glade.
Green Route
If we want to head in the direction of Sromowce Niżne, we can do it by following the green trail, which ends at the "Trzy Korony" Hostel.
St Kinga's altar
By the castle ruins, we find the Grotto of St. Kinga, where there is an altar dedicated to her. In the 20th century, a statue of her was installed in the existing grotto, thus commemorating the 600th anniversary of her death. Since 1921, a solemn Mass and service has been held at the altar every year on 24 July, the day of St Kinga's death.
Castle top
The castle ruins are situated under Castle Hill at an altitude of 799 metres. The Pieniny Castle itself, located at its peak, was supposed to be a tactical defence site against the enemy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the views from Castle Hill?

Views
1

From the Castle Hill, we can admire: from the north-eastern side the Pieniny Mountains (part of the ...
What routes can we take to get to the Pieniny Castle?

Routes
2

The most popular trail is the blue one leading from Štiavnica through Sokolica to Zamkowa Hora. An a...
Is it possible to visit Pieniny Castle?

Attractions
3

It has recently been possible again! The last renovation work was carried out in 2019 and concerned ...
Are there any legends associated with the Castle?

Attractions
4

During the siege of the Castle during the Third Tartar invasion, a miracle occurred. St Kinga asked ...
What other castles do we have in the Pieniny?

Attractions
5

If you are a keen historian, it is worth mentioning that the Pieniny Mountains also allow you to vis...

Story

St Kinga's Grotto

With a beautiful figure

A bit of history
Our tour starts in the St. Kinga's Grotto. To commemorate the 600th anniversary of the memorable hiding of the duchess in the castle, a statue of the saint (then still blessed) was placed in the grotto located in the castle in 1887. It was created by Wladyslaw Druciak, a sculptor from Kroscienko, who carried it to the vicinity of the Pieniny Castle and then on his own shoulders carried it to the grotto. In 1904. A solemn consecration of the statue took place.
Extremely charming place
St. Kinga's grotto, built into the Pieniny Castle, is, next to a place of worship, a space full of spirituality, steeped in history. The statue of the saint itself is of natural height, standing on an altar at which Mass is celebrated once a year. It is surrounded by the rocks that make up the Pieniny Castle. And while we are at it - let's have a look at the state of its ruins!
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Visit

Preserved wall fragments

Location
Sparsely preserved, they provide a place to stop and reflect on how they looked before. The castle was built on a rock shelf on the north side of the mountain top. The site proves to be an ideal defensive location, as it is surrounded on almost all sides by steep rocky precipices.
Possibility to visit
Today we can visit less than 90 m. of defensive walls and a former rock cistern carved into the rock beyond them. On the eastern side behind the cistern, square foundations survive, which once probably built a protective tower. The castle ruins are especially popular with tourists in autumn - then the aura surrounding them makes it possible to take beautiful photos and admire the colourful Pieniny forests.
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Glade of the product

Combination of yellow and blue trails

Route towards Sokolica
When we decide to leave the Pieniny Castle, we have a choice of two trails to follow: the blue and the green one. The first one will take us about 1,5 h to reach Sokolica. On the way, however, we will reach the Wyrobek Glade, where we will have the opportunity to take a break.
Location of the Glade
This is one of the largest glades in the Pieniny Mountains. Its area is 10.5 hectares, and it is located at the junction of two trails: the blue one (which we just descended from Zamkowa Góra) and the yellow one. The local flora includes many plants endangered in Poland, e.g. the rose-leaved puffball. After a rest, we can continue our journey - the Three Crowns are still waiting for those who are not afraid of challenges! From here, it is just over an hour's walk.
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Kosarzyska

Combination of green and blue trails

Alternative option to descend from the Mountain
We can, however, choose the green trail - thanks to it we will head towards the Three Crowns. The road to Kosarzyska will take us only 10 minutes. The name of the clearing derives from the Balkan "koszar" - a fence woven from branches, which refers to the sheep grazing that used to take place here. Due to insects feeding here throughout the summer, the glade is only mown once every 2 years.
Kosarzyska... and what next?
When we have already enjoyed the flora and fauna of this place, we can direct our further plans to - if we want to stay on the blue trail - the Three Crowns or follow the descent to Sromowce Niżne. Then we will have to change the blue trail to the green one.
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Steep slopes

Better watch your step!

Steep cliffs
The Pieniny Castle is surrounded by steep cliffs, which provided a great defence against the enemy. Unfortunately, for us tourists, this is not very helpful, as it is easy to trip here, especially if the path we are walking on is wet. Let's remember - safety first!