Pieniny National Park (Poland)

Lore & Background

The idea for the creation of the National Park in Pieniny came from Prof. Władysław Szafer, a member of the National Commission for the Preservation of Nature, in 1921. That same year, a private preserve of 75,000 m² was opened by Stanisław Drohojowski around the ruins of the Czorsztyn castle. In 1928, the Polish government made its first land purchases, and on May 23, 1932, the Ministry of Agriculture created a 'National Park in the Pieniny' with an area of 7.36 km². After World War II, the decision was confirmed by an October 30, 1954 act of the government, which officially created Pieniny National Park.

The Pieniny Mountains consist mostly of limestone, with almost vertical cliffs descending to the Dunajec River. The most famous summit, Trzy Korony (Three Crowns), is 982 meters above sea level, though the highest mountain in the range, Wysokie Skałki (1050 meters), is not located in the national park. The park is small but hosts hundreds of plant species, including 640 kinds of mushrooms, and its meadows are among the richest plant ecosystems in Poland, with 30 to 40 species of flowers per square meter.

So far, around 6,500 animal species are known to live in the Pieniny, with estimates up to 15,000. Among the notable predators are otters, which thrive on the shores of the Dunajec. The first permanent human settlements in the area date to 1257, when Polish princess Kinga was given nearby lands. In 1280, she founded a monastery at Stary Sącz, and later the Czorsztyn castle was built. On the southern side of the Dunajec valley, the Hungarians built their own castle, then called Dunajec (today Niedzica, belonging to Poland). In 1997, the Dunajec valley was flooded due to construction of a river dam.

Reader's Guide

Pieniny National Park holds significance as the oldest national park in Poland, marking an early milestone in the country's conservation history. Its creation, initiated by Prof. Władysław Szafer in 1921 and formalized in 1932 and 1954, reflects a long-standing commitment to preserving the unique limestone landscape and biodiversity of the Pieniny Mountains. The park's small area—23.46 square kilometers—belies its ecological richness, with hundreds of plant species, 640 kinds of mushrooms, and an estimated 15,000 animal species, including the lynx as its top predator. The Dunajec River, which flows through the park, shapes its dramatic cliffs and provides a popular attraction: river trips on wooden rafts. The park also preserves cultural history, with castles like Czorsztyn and Niedzica dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. On the Slovak side, a parallel park, the Pieninský národný park, extends protection across the border. The park's legacy lies in its role as a model for protected areas in Poland, its contribution to biodiversity conservation, and its appeal as a destination for hiking and rafting, offering views of the Tatra Mountains and the Dunajec gorge.

Did You Know?

• Pieniny National Park was officially created in 1954 but first established in 1932, making it one of Poland's oldest national parks, though Białowieża National Park holds the title of the oldest.
• The park's area is 23.46 square kilometers, with 13.11 km² forested and 7.5 km² strictly protected.
• The park's meadows have 30 to 40 species of flowers per square meter, among the richest plant ecosystems in Poland.