Explore Subregion
The Pieniny Mountains are an ideal place to pursue all passions related to hiking or active leisure in general. Situated between the Tatra Mountains and the Beskidy Mountains, they boast not only amazing panoramas, but also exceptionally rich fauna and flora. Every tourist wishing to experience the qualities of this region should visit such peaks as Trzy Korony, Sokolica or Wysoka. It is also worth planning time to visit Niedzica, Szczawnica or Krościenko nad Dunajcem, full of monuments, attractions and hiding many intriguing stories.
Origin of the name
The origin of the name Pieniny is not certain. Some researchers believe that it comes from the words "piana" or "pion". They were, supposedly, inspired in turn by the foam formed at the Dunajec gorge as a result of the rush of water and the verticality of the walls of gorges and gorges. Another possibility considered is the Celtic word 'penn', which meant mountain or peak.
Volcanic origin of the Jarmuta massif
The Jarmuta massif is built of Miocene Pieniny andesites. They were mined on the slopes of Czuprana and then used in construction. Today, we can see them in the form of bas-reliefs on the Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego building in Warsaw or as kerbstones in Kraków's Old Town.
Endemics
Two endemic plant species can be found in the Pieniny: the Pieniny dandelion, which grows on the peaks of the Three Crowns, and the Pieniny pszonak, which grows on the rocks of Castle Mountain and the walls of Czorsztyn Castle.
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Division of the Pieniny
Pieniny are divided into 3 parts: Pieniny Spiskie - between the Białka valley and Niedzicki castle, Pieniny Właściwe - between Czorsztyn and Szczawnica, and Małe Pieniny - between the Dunajec River at the height of Szczawnica and Rozdziele Pass in the east. The Slovakian Golica Group also belongs to the Pieniny Właściwe. The highest peak of the Pieniny is Wysoka (1050 m).
