The snow capped Tatry Mountains, seen from Lake Czorsztyn
Mountains and water are, for me, a pretty irresistible combination. On my recent visit to Poland, this is as near as I got to the Tatry Mountain range, but what a magnificent backdrop they make!
Situated to the south of Kraków, they form a natural border with Slovakia, and are the highest mountain range in the Carpathians. At 2499 metres Rysy is the highest peak on the Polish side of the range. Zakopane is regarded as the ‘winter capital of Poland’ but is a highly popular destination for hiking in summertime too. I was lucky enough to be there for Silver Wedding celebrations in 2009 and Z is for Zgorzelec and Zakopane tells that story.
This post will take a very different path, and includes a ferry crossing on Lake Czorsztyn.
Imagine this view from your garden!
And the ruins of Czorsztyn Castle at the bottom of your street
On our trip to the Pieniny Mountain range, much lower than the Tatrys, we passed alongside of the lake and I gazed in awe at the spectacle beyond. I knew that if it were at all possible I would be back for a closer look. And so my return to Kraków was by a very roundabout route.
To the gondolas? Or the castle?
The castle first, of course
And then the boat
The Tatras, as they are known in English (Tatry is the Polish plural) sit tantalisingly out of reach but ever present on the horizon.
Looking out across the lake, I can just see the tips!
And then we’re off, in search of another castle!
Majestic Niedzica Castle this time, and not just a ruin
Another castle sign (and a tractor in the background)
I won’t attempt to show you around the castle, because I think it deserves a post of its own. But I will give you a couple of views from the battlements, to tempt you back.
This one looks down on the sturdy dam, blocking off the lake to the east
While this is my favourite, of the castle rooftops
And for the foodies among you, some typical Polish ‘fayre’
I had Pierogi z jagodami and delicious it was!
We were assisted in our enterprise by a very charming couple from Warsaw, who observed me struggling with the language and the bus timetables. They had been to the area a number of times and were off on a hiking expedition to Trzy Korony (Three Crowns). It would have been very tempting to join them, but instead they ensured that we were dropped at the right spot and pointed in the direction of the lake.
They also suggested that we might find a bus connection from Niedzica directly back to Kraków, which we did, instead of returning across the lake. But not before sampling some typical mountain food- filling but delicious pierogi or dumplings, at “Karczma Hajdur” restaurant, by the lake. I can highly recommend it!
Just one last shot of the Tatry Mountains, taken on another expedition, on the River Dunajec.
The Tatry Mountains seen from the Dunajec River
I’m going to be a little ambitious and link this to three different challenges. For some time I’ve been trying to complete my Personal A-Z of Poland and this is yet another step in that direction. Many thanks to Julie Dawn Fox for setting me on the path. I’ve also been joining Frizz whenever I can. This week he’s Tagged T, which just happens to be a perfect fit. He’s another very kind host, so do visit and take a look around.
I’m sure most of you know Cee. She’s a legend in the world of photo challenges. I have joined in on her Which Way challenge in the past but have struggled to find the time lately, so I’m hoping she won’t mind “sharing me”. Cee loves directions and signposts in her challenge, and wherever I go now, I find myself snapping away every time I see a sign. It’s addictive!
So there you are! I hope you’ll find the time to join in on one of them, while I think about where you might like to go next. 
restlessjo 
I’m with you about the water / mountain combination. Irresistable. About how far are the Tatry Mountains from Warsaw? Easy drive or train ride?
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Fast train would be about 5 hours, Jackie, by bus around 8. It’s quite a distance. The roads are good but it’s single lane traffic when you get into the area, and if you ever do it avoid Bank Holidays and weekends. 🙂
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Beautiful sights
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Thank you, Alagbe. I think so too 🙂
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I think you have met all three challenges beautifully Jo. I first learned about The Tatras (you had me with the Polish) from a photography workshop written about in some travel magazine and thought how wonderful to have a holiday in such a scenic place and learn something at the same time. And then I got married 😉
http://tatraphotographyworkshop.com/portfolio-items/peaks-valleys-tatras-slovakia/
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I hear Cee has discontinued Which Way so I just made it 🙂 Ah, marriage! Heaven knows where I’d be without it.
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Has she? I haven’t read anything about it, but noticed that there wasn’t a black & white challenge this week – and neither challenge appear on her menu now. Oh, well, there are enough challenges out there and I’m cutting down on posting. I do have more walks for you, when I get time to write them up!
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It looks idyllic, Jude. The other half might enjoy it too? 🙂
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The OH suffers from vertigo so mountains are not his favourite scenery – to look at , yes, but to walk in, definitely no! Besides,nowadays he is happiest at home! Dunno what I’m going to do about him 😉
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I have one of those too! It’s a problem 🙂
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Oh wow, Jo – rivers and lakes and forests and snow dusted mountains … All that and castles too! 🙂
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Put like that, it is pretty darn perfect, isn’t it, Meredith? 🙂 Thanks, hon.
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What a lovely part of the world – so idyllic
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Glad you like it, Suzanne. 🙂 So do I!
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Gorgeous views Jo, especially from the castle battlements. Can’t wait to look inside 🙂
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Just one of the beauties I found in Southern Poland, Madhu. It was a superb trip 🙂
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I can see Jo. Can’t wait to read more.
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Can I go now please? 🙂
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I don’t see why not? It’s a pretty cheap place to eat and to stay 🙂
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Your rooftop pic is so amazing, Jo. I had no idea Poland was so beautiful. I wouldn’t have a clue where to begin with the food on offer. Thanks so much for sharing your visit. 🙂
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I don’t think you’d struggle with eating the food, Ad. They eat a lot of pork and use delicious marinades. I have cake photos to come at some point too 🙂
It is beautiful, Ad, and I hadn’t realised myself till we started to visit.
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I love the shot of the ‘rolling’ rooftops…wow. i want a rooftop like that. Actually if I could design my ‘dream house’…it might freak a few people out.
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That would make a fun post, Jo 🙂 I’d love to see your dream house.
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There would be lion doorknockers and spiral staircases that could be made in to slides. Bathrooms where the tubs were on a turntable and whooshed you outside under the stars. Waterfall showers and hidden rooms.
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Sounds wonderful fun 🙂 I could do with a room to hide in sometimes, and the more water the better!
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great post and LOVE this first sentence – “Mountains and water are, for me, a pretty irresistible combination…”
\ and the photo looking out across the lake – with the planter on the angle – and the tree to the left – and then the “tips” – just has your feel and your style dear Jo!
the wavy rooflines was awesome and oh baby = “Polish ‘fayre’” – yummmmm are these the same as perigees? Well when my brother came to visit – he brought fresh perogies – hand folded by a Polish chef from western NY – and I grabbed a picture of some a she lightly seared them – so I will have to show that later –
anyhow, really enjoyed this post 🙂
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I only know them as pierogi, Yvette. They’re usually cooked in boiling water like a dumpling and the stuffing can be savoury or sweet. 🙂
Thank you for liking my ‘style’. I get a lot of help from my surroundings.
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Jo…loved this post! Lovely photos…now I want to go there…
Minou
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The whole area is beautiful, Minou, and it’s very cheap to eat and stay there. Many thanks for your lovely visit. 🙂
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I like the rooftops too, but they are all beautiful shots.
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Thanks, Gilly! 🙂 There was so much beauty to choose from!
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I couldn’t have known you very long then, haven’t things changed? I know quite a bit about Poland now thanks to you and Meg and I’ve even surprised a couple of polish people at work with little snippets I’ve learnt. Best of all, now I’ve known you at least two years and I’m really chuffed, you’re an absolute darling x:-)x
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Bless you, sweetheart! What a lovely thing to say 🙂 I just had a look back at this post and it’s surprising how many people aren’t still blogging Gilly. But we’ll still be going a while, won’t we? 🙂 Hugs!
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So many gorgeous views and beautifully composed scenes in this post! Thank you for this share Jo. I LOVE IT. Hopefully I will show you the view from the other side of these mountains this summer 😉
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I am already looking forward to that, Paula 🙂 Thank you so much!
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Jo those wavy rooftops are great. I’m just back from a run and at first I thought my eyes were blurring with sweat. Fabulous mountains and yes please to a plate of those perogies!
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My favourite shot, those wavy roofs, Sue. I’m sure you’ve got way bigger and much better mountains living where you do, but I did my best 🙂
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Yours are pretty impressive Jo! As the snow gets out of ours I will be able to get out there for some hikes and share them. Looking forward to some Monday walks!
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That will be worth waiting for Sue. I’ll look forward to it. 🙂
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T is also for your terrific post, Jo! I enjoy mountain vistas as much as I do views of a coastline. These are beautiful!
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I think I was lucky with the choice I made, Elisa. I had thought about Zakopane or one of the nearby villages but I was more than happy with the variety in the Pieninys. Thank you 🙂 I wished I’d had a better camera so I could have got sharper views of the mountains but they’re there in my memory, clear and bright.
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Water, mountains and sunshine – what else do you need. Looks great Jo.
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It’s a lovely part of the world, Robin 🙂 The missus might like the pierogi too. Bit fattening with all that cream though.
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I’m drooling over that first photo, Jo! I love that! I’m happy you chose the castle route. Such a beautiful place.
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I had read about Lake Czorsztyn, Jill, but when I passed by it I was hooked! That first shot is the very edge of the village before you walk down to the lake. It was deserted. Quite fabulous! 🙂
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It’s a spectacular photo, Jo!
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The Tatras, sit tantalisingly … I love the sound of that,Jo Great views of the mountains and forts.
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I wanted to reach out and touch them, Lynne. 🙂 I hadn’t been sure whether to spend our couple of days in Zakopane or Szczawnica. I think I made the right choice!
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Aha! A fellow snowy-peaks tragic! I found another patch today by looking back behind me. Clouds are a really great aid to photography and you’ve captured some lovely cloudscapes. My favourites today? Those rough-hewn turrets and the wavy rooftops. I’ve just eaten, or the pierogis would be up there too. Staple diet for us in Warsaw when we’d been grandparenting and parenting all day. CanI follow in your footsteps?
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You’ve chosen my two favourite shots, Meg 🙂 I was lucky with those clouds but I would have liked clearer views of the Tatrys (or a better camera). Your shots of Bled were superb!
Please do! I’ll come looking for today’s instalment when I’ve finished answering comments.
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Stunning – although (blame my eyesight) I did read “tarty” mountains first and thought “ooh, what fun!”
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Love it, Tanya 🙂 I think you’d love the pierogi.
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