Niedzica Castle – Secrets of the Inca Treasure and Top Attractions
I present a guide to one of the most beautiful castles in Podhale – 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. 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 WikipediaThe castle is also famous for the colorful legend of the Inca princess Umina, whose treasure – according to legend – was hidden within its walls. Pieniny TourToday, the medieval chambers house a museum with a collection of historical memorabilia, and the place attracts history buffs, photographers and adventure seekers.
The history of the castle
The castle – originally called Dunajec – was built between 1320 and 1330 on the initiative of Kokosz Berzeviczy, a knight of the Spiš Berzeviczy family. Spisz and PodhaleFor 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 Władysław Jagiełło Spisz and PodhaleIn the 16th century it became the property of the Horváth family from Palocsa, who gave it a Renaissance character, and in the 19th century they expanded the lower courtyard. Spisz and PodhaleThe last private owners were the Salamon family – 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.
Architecture and location
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 childrenThe densely built-up complex consists of the upper castle – with a tower and a perimeter wall – and the expanded lower castle with a courtyard, arcades and further residential wings. 2018.dnidziedzictwa.plThe dominant style is Gothic with later Renaissance and 19th century reconstructions, visible especially in the lower storey. Trail around the Tatra Mountains. From the castle terraces there is a panorama of the Pieniny Mountains: on the opposite shore of Lake Czorsztyńskie the ruins of the castle in Czorsztyn dominate, and in the background loom the peaks of Trzy Korony and Sokolica.
The Legend of the Inca Treasure
One of the most famous stories associated with the castle is the story of the Inca princess Umina. According to tradition, Sebastián 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 TourAfter the defeat of the uprising of Túpac 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 Our Trails travel blogTo this day, seekers of kipu systems and secret passages explore the walls of the Dunajec, dreaming of finding a valuable deposit.
Sightseeing and attractions
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. You can see fragments of Gothic walls, a torture chamber, a knights' hall and a chapel with fragments of medieval polychromes. Wikipedia. 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 – one of the icons of Podhale.
Practical advice
- Opening hours: April to October usually 9:00–18:00, longer in the summer season; check the current schedule on the museum's website zamekniedzica.pl.
- Tickets and reservations: available online on the castle's official website; discounted for seniors, students and families.
- Access: from Zakopane approx. 30 km, by car via Czorsztyn or by bus to Niedzica-Zamek (stop right at the gate).
- Clothing and footwear: comfortable shoes – sightseeing requires conquering steep stairs and uneven stone paving.
- Photography: the panorama from the castle terraces is one of the best views in the region – it’s worth taking a tripod at sunset!
Summary
Niedzica Castle (also called Dunajec) is a Gothic fortress built between 1320 and 1330 by Kokosz Berzeviczy as a border guard of Hungary. Situated at 566 m above sea level on a rock above the Czorsztyn Reservoir, the castle delights with a panorama of the Pieniny Mountains and the surrounding lakes. You will find here colorful legends about the Inca treasure of Princess Umina, rich museum exhibitions since 1963 and comfortable Houses of Creative Work. Below you will find a complete guide: from history and architecture, through attractions, legends and museum, to practical advice and keyword suggestions for SEO.
History
The castle was built in the years 1320-1330 on the initiative of the knightly Berzeviczy family, as part of the defensive system of the northern border of the then Kingdom of Hungary. Over the centuries, it passed into the hands of various families (including Berzeviczy, Zapolya, Drugeth, Horváth, Salamon), and its lower courtyards and wings were rebuilt many times in the Renaissance and Classicist style. After World War II, it came under the management of the Association of Art Historians, and in 1963 a museum was opened here, which has been operating continuously to this day.
Architecture and location
- Height: 566 m above sea level
- Location: The right bank of the Czorsztyn Reservoir, 300 m from the Dunajec River.
- Facility layout:
- Upper Castle (Gothic tower and perimeter walls)
- Middle Castle (courtyard, living quarters)
- The Lower Castle (House of Creative Work, guest rooms)
- Views: The terraces offer a panoramic view of Lake Czorsztyn, the ruins of the castle in Czorsztyn and the peaks of Trzy Korony and Sokolica.
The Legend of the Inca Treasure
According to the most famous story, Sebastián Berzeviczy, a descendant of the castle owners, married the Inca princess Umina in the 18th century. After the suppression of the Túpac Amaru II uprising, the couple took refuge in Europe, and part of the legendary treasure was supposedly hidden in the Niedzica cellars. To this day, enthusiasts try to find the kipu and secret passages, dreaming of the Inca treasure.
Museum and exhibitions
- Openly: 1963
- Main sections:
- Torture chamber and knights' kitchen
- The chambers of the Spiš zupan
- The Salamon family bedrooms
- The clock tower of the chapel
- Ethnography of Spisz, collection of clocks, weapons and memorabilia of the castle's inhabitants
- House of Creative Work: comfortable rooms in the Lower Castle, restaurant and space for artists.
Sightseeing and practical advice
- Museum opening hours:
- Summer season (1 May–30 September): 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m
- Off-season (October 1–April 30): 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (closed on Mondays)
- Tickets: online purchase on the official website, discount tickets for children, students, seniors.
- Access: 30 km from Zakopane by car or bus to the stop “Niedzica-Zamek”. Paid parking, e-ticket reservation.
- Costumes: comfortable hiking shoes – there are some steep stairs and uneven ground ahead.
- Additional attractions: evening tours with torches, workshops for children, rafting on the Dunajec River.
With its combination of fascinating history, picturesque location and colourful legends, Dunajec Castle in Niedzica is a must-see on every trip to Podhale. If you are looking for a place where the spirit of the Middle Ages meets tales of hidden treasures, don't hesitate - set off on an adventure in the footsteps of the Inca princess and Polish-Hungarian knights!
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