Castle ruins, lakes and … beer (at least for these weary parents). That seems like the theme for our road trip this year–all in Poland. Here’s another castle on Lake Czorsztyn in southern Poland: the 14th-century Castle Dunajec atop an outcrop that guards the entrance to when the lake turns into the Dunajec river.
What is it about throwing stones into a pool of water that is so fascinating to kids (and the kids at heart)? Before they stormed the Dunajec castle (in the background), the boys had a little stone-throwing competition.
It is the more developed and therefore more touristy. But if you are trying to do whatever you can to avoid mountain hiking in the Pieniny mountains. . . in the rain (LIKE US!), this be the perfect alternative! The Dunajec castle is anothert family-friendly, kid-approved thing to see in southern Poland.
Going up and into the castle of Dunajec. Oh, so pretty!
Check out the other castle on the north side of the lake–Czorsztyn Castle!
Dunajec castle circa 14th century. . . or so says the model’s artist.
When the sun shines, sometimes . . . Polish castles are quite beautiful.
‘Twas a tale of three boats, they say. . . I’m just kidding. Three different types of boat rides around the lake. . . and to Czorsztyn castle in the background, on the other side of the lake.
A royal bedroom with a royal toilet by the window. And to think that it was considered an honor to empty the King’s loo.
The boys, having second thoughts about the cold lake water. Well, that’s summer in Poland!
Soldiers’ quarters flank the castle’s courtyard.
Before it became a dam, boats flowed freely through the Dunajec river. . .of course, the lords of the castles must have taxed the heck out of them.
Room of the king’s guards.
Waterbikes on uncrowded beach of Dunajec castle with Czorztyn castle in the background.
I wonder why a picture of the pope-became-saint hangs on a 500-year old royal tomb. Do they care? The dead, I mean?
21 days of family camping road trip number 5. This time it’s all in Polska–the beautiful land of Poles.
Here’s the rest of what we plan to see and do in Poland’s south/southeast region on this year’s family camping road trip:
Olsztyn and the trail of the Eagle’s nest,
Black Madonna of Częstochowa,
Krakow and the nearby attractions (Energylandia, Wadowice, Wieliczka Salt Mine),
Pieniny mountain,
drive through Slovakia’s southern Carpathian mountain,
stop by the Saint Magdalene church in Dukla,
do some trekking in the Bieszczady mountains and cross over into cross over to Ukraine (… maybe ; ),
go see about a famous beetle in Szczebrzeszyn,
and a charming art town of Kazimierz Dolny.
Some things to see in the south/southeast of Poland during our family camping road trip. This is from a family-friendly, kid-approved book that we mainly use for planning road trips: MAPS by Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielinski/Big Pictures Press. Go get it! Highly Recommended!(and no, NO, NOOOOoo, we are not getting paid for mentioning this!)
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