TATRA & PIENINY NATIONAL PARKS

Lying along Poland’s southern border, these contrasting parks offer either the remoteness of steepled mountains and plunging valleys, or the comfort of rolling hills and thick-walled castles.

The Tatras are the highest mountains of the Carpathians and provide the only example of an alpine environment in Poland. Extending for 65km along the Poland–Slovakia border, 210 sq km were designated in 1955 as the Tatra National Park. The park is very popular, attracting over 3 million visitors, and is an excellent area for both hiking and skiing.

Only 25km to the east, the Pieniny National Park offers a different experience. Covering just 23 sq km in the central section of the Pieniny range, the park is compact and accessible. As well as hiking and rafting there are medieval castles and picturesque timber churches to visit.

High points Tatra National Park splits neatly into two halves. The Western Tatras (Tatry Zachodnie) consist primarily of limestone and dolomite, eroded over time to produce domed summits. In the High Tatras, the granitic rocks have been chiselled and gouged during glacial periods to produce a landscape of jagged peaks, sitting over cirques and mountain lakes.

The main feature of Pieniny National Park is the narrow, 10km long Dunajec gorge. Above the river looms the Three Crowns (Trzy Korony), the main limestone massif of the park, of which Mt Okraglica (982m) is the high point.

Hiking and rafting Tatra National Park has an excellent network of marked paths. Routes suitable for all abilities usually start from the town of Zakopane or at Mt Kasprowy Wierch where the cable-car ends. One place not to be missed, even though it will be busy, is Morskie Oko (Eye of the Sea). This clear, blue-green lake is impressive, perched as it is in the shadow of Mt Rysy (2,499m). From there climb up to Czarny Staw (Black Pond), where 1,000m cliffs provide a daunting headwall. The intrepid can continue on a very steep climb to the summit of Mt Rysy or turn west towards Mt Mnich.

The villages surrounding the Pieniny are starting points for a series of undemanding day walks up into the mountains. The two hour climb up to Mt Okraglica provides excellent views of the Tatras, whilst Mt Sokolica is the best spot to look down and along the incised Dunajec river. A rafting trip through the Dunajec gorge provides a different perspective on the sheer cliffs and the peaks above. Rafting has developed into a tourist business, with men garbed in traditional costumes steering the timber crafts. At its narrowest point the gorge shrinks to a width of 12m and the waters are quite fast, although for much of the journey the river is wider and calmer.

Close to the Pieniny is the impressive 14th century Niedzica castle, built by the Hungarians to protect their border with Poland. A few miles upstream on the opposite bank is the Polish equivalent – Czorsztyn castle. Timber churches are another notable feature of the area. The late 14th century Catholic church at Debno is the most visited example.

© National Parks Europe
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