{"id":2134,"date":"2025-04-19T08:37:57","date_gmt":"2025-04-19T08:37:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mojezakopane.com\/?p=2134"},"modified":"2025-04-19T08:42:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-19T08:42:10","slug":"zamek-niedzica-sekrety-inkaskiego-skarbu-i-najlepsze-atrakcje","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mojezakopane.com\/en\/zamek-niedzica-sekrety-inkaskiego-skarbu-i-najlepsze-atrakcje\/","title":{"rendered":"Niedzica Castle \u2013 Secrets of the Inca Treasure and Top Attractions"},"content":{"rendered":"

I present a guide to one of the most beautiful castles in Podhale \u2013 Dunajec Castle in Niedzica. It was built in the first half of the 14th century by the Hungarian knight Kokosz Berzewicz as a stronghold guarding the northern border of Hungary. zamekniedzica.pl<\/a>. Situated on a limestone hill, at an altitude of 566 m above sea level, it towers over the Dunajec River bend and the Czorsztyn reservoir, offering breathtaking views Dzieciochatki.pl | Holidays with children<\/a> Wikipedia<\/a>The castle is also famous for the colorful legend of the Inca princess Umina, whose treasure \u2013 according to legend \u2013 was hidden within its walls. Pieniny Tour<\/a>Today, the medieval chambers house a museum with a collection of historical memorabilia, and the place attracts history buffs, photographers and adventure seekers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The history of the castle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The castle \u2013 originally called Dunajec \u2013 was built between 1320 and 1330 on the initiative of Kokosz Berzeviczy, a knight of the Spi\u0161 Berzeviczy family. Spisz and Podhale<\/a>For centuries, it served as a guard of the trade route connecting Poland with Hungary and witnessed the conclusion of important agreements, including the repayment of the loan of the Polish king Sigismund to W\u0142adys\u0142aw Jagie\u0142\u0142o Spisz and Podhale<\/a>In the 16th century it became the property of the Horv\u00e1th family from Palocsa, who gave it a Renaissance character, and in the 19th century they expanded the lower courtyard. Spisz and Podhale<\/a>The last private owners were the Salamon family \u2013 until 1943. After the war, the castle fell into ruin, and the reconstruction was completed only in 1963 under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture. Wikipedia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Jak<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Architecture and location<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The castle was built on a limestone hill, 300 m from the Dunajec River, thanks to which the natural conditions of the terrain enhanced its defensive capabilities. Dzieciochatki.pl | Holidays with children<\/a>The densely built-up complex consists of the upper castle \u2013 with a tower and a perimeter wall \u2013 and the expanded lower castle with a courtyard, arcades and further residential wings. 2018.dnidziedzictwa.pl<\/a>The dominant style is Gothic with later Renaissance and 19th century reconstructions, visible especially in the lower storey. Trail around the Tatra Mountains<\/a>. From the castle terraces there is a panorama of the Pieniny Mountains: on the opposite shore of Lake Czorszty\u0144skie the ruins of the castle in Czorsztyn dominate, and in the background loom the peaks of Trzy Korony and Sokolica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Legend of the Inca Treasure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most famous stories associated with the castle is the story of the Inca princess Umina. According to tradition, Sebasti\u00e1n Berzeviczy, a descendant of the castle's owners, traveled to South America in the 18th century, where he married an Indian woman - the fruit of the marriage was a daughter, Umina. Pieniny Tour<\/a>After the defeat of the uprising of T\u00fapac Amaru II, the family took refuge in Europe, and part of the Inca treasure was supposedly hidden in the castle's cellars. In the legend, Umina was murdered by agents of the Spanish Inquisition, and the treasure was never found. Mountains for you<\/a> Our Trails travel blog<\/a>To this day, seekers of kipu systems and secret passages explore the walls of the Dunajec, dreaming of finding a valuable deposit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sightseeing and attractions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Currently, the castle serves as a museum with an ethnographic exhibition of Spisz, a collection of clocks, historical weapons and memorabilia of its former owners. Wikipedia<\/a>. You can see fragments of Gothic walls, a torture chamber, a knights' hall and a chapel with fragments of medieval polychromes. Wikipedia<\/a>. In the season, there are workshops for children, concerts of early music and night tours with torches. Right at the foot of the castle, rafts float down the Dunajec gorge \u2013 one of the icons of Podhale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical advice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n