Krościenko nad Dunajcem

Krościenko nad Dunajcem is a village in Poland, located in Nowy Targ County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in the western Lemkivshchyna region. The village lies in the valley of the Dunajec River, where the Krośnica stream flows into it, at the meeting point of three mountain ranges: the Sądecki Beskids, Pieniny, and Gorce. Surrounded by picturesque mountain ridges, it serves as the administrative center of the Krościenko nad Dunajcem commune.

The history of Krościenko nad Dunajcem dates back to the late 12th century, when it was a settlement serving the now non-existent Pieniny Castle. In 1348, King Casimir the Great granted it Magdeburg rights, fostering its development. In 1770, the village was annexed by the Habsburg Monarchy, later becoming part of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Krościenko was a county seat, and in 1932 it lost its town status.

Krościenko nad Dunajcem is known as a tourist and spa destination, located near Pieniny National Park. The village is home to three mineral water springs, including “Stefan i Michalina,” “Maria,” and “Zdrój Ziemroźka.” Notable landmarks include the 15th-century All Saints’ Church, Pieniny Castle, several chapels, the Dziewolski family manor, and numerous natural monuments. The area is a gateway to the nature of the Pieniny, Sądecki Beskids, and Gorce mountains.

Visitors can explore over 20 hiking trails, such as “Krościenko nad Dunajcem – Burzana,” “Sromowce Niżne – Krościenko nad Dunajcem,” and “Krościenko nad Dunajcem – Sosnów Pass.” Mountain enthusiasts can summit peaks like Trzy Korony, Sokolica, Wysoki Wierch, Palenica, and Jarmuta. Attractions include the Czorsztyn Reservoir, Czorsztyn Castle, Dunajec rafting, and the Józef Szalay Pieniny Museum. Mountain huts in the region include “Trzy Korony,” PTTK Orlica, Pod Durbaszką, and Na Przehybie. Local cheese and żętyca can be tasted at the shepherd’s hut in Pieniny National Park.

Getting there from Ukraine

Lviv – Szczawnica ≈384 km, ≈5 h 25 min without queues: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Brzesko (≈198 km) → DK75 to Nowy Sącz → DW969 via Stary Sącz and Łącko to Krościenko nad Dunajcem → Szczawnica. ≈306 km, ≈4 h from the border.

Джерела: Вікіпедія, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap, дані Karpaty.rocks. Докладніше — у Вікіпедії