The Pieniny Mountains The Pieniny Mountains have been attracting visitors since the 18th century. Originally, the Dunajec River Gorge was an attraction reserved for the local and visiting aristocracy, but today this scenic river and the surrounding mountain range are visited by over half a million tourists every year. One of the main attractions for the well over a hundred years in the Pieniny National Park is the white-water rafting trip through the Dunajec River Gorge. The rafts are formed from five narrow wooden boats roped together into small platforms and steered by raftsmen in folk costumes. The 15 kilometers stretch of the Dunajec river (which was the shooting location for the movie "The Chronicles of Narnia") has three enormous bends snaking down a scenic narrow gorge dominated by monumental cliffs and surrounded by the abundant wildlife. Over the centuries, the castle changed hands several times but it always remained inhabited. It has always been known for the elaborate balls, banquets and feasts organized here. There are many tales and legends associated with the Niedzica Castle. One of the stories talks about Sebastián Berzeviczy, one of the castle owners from the 1700s and his wife, the daughter of the last king of the Incas. The story names the castle grounds as a place which hides information about the great Inca treasure. In the 1960s "kipu" writings have been found in the castle, but then they mysteriously vanished, along with the museum curator who was working on deciphering them. There are other stories connecting the castle with the fantastic treasuries at Lake Titicaca in Peru. |
