Landscape Photography

Reflection across Lake Czorsztynskie Poland

Niedzica Castle lies right on the modern-day border between Poland and Slovakia. But, it has not always been the case! The original castle featured earthen walls and a small fortified Keep, built in the 14th century CE on what was then the northern-most frontier of the Kingdom of Hungary. Prior to the flooding of the river Dunajec the castle sat 300m above what was as shallow river-ford, thereby controlling an important passage between the two kingdoms.

The castle has storied history featuring as an important place of Polish-Hungarian relations and trade across the centuries, passing hands between the original Brezovica family who built it, to the Zápolya, Drugeth, Łaski, Horváth, and finally the Salamon family, who inhabited the castle right up to 1943. Between the changes of ownership, the castle swapped between Polish and Hungarian status, and has featured extensive modification and expansion across the centuries. The final version we see standing today features the restoration and expansion works completed in the early 19th century.

Banners hanging over the Castle entrance hall.

Visiting the castle museum today, you can see that the Salamon family gradually withdrew their habitation quarters to a few rooms in the Keep, which is presented as it were in the 1940s before the family fled. Visitors can also view the original barracks and dungeons beneath the Keep. The dungeons in particular feature the favoured methods of extracting information of the period...

View atop the castle featuring one of the towers, and a view towards the reservoir wall.

view across the castle roof towards the ruins of Czorsztyn Castle across the lake.

Climbing the narrow wooden staircase one emerges atop the roof of the Keep, helping to realise the commanding perspective this castle would have afforded before the formation of the reservoir.

Rolling Fields of Slovakia with the distant Tatra Mountains looming in the distance.

Sun bathed Tatra Mountains loom in the distance against the rolling green hills and forests of Southern Poland.

I'd be remiss if I said my sole reason for visiting Niedzica was to immerse myself in the interesting history, and remarkable greenery of the natural landscape, which is worth a trip unto itself. I had also scoped out the location and its orientation to the setting sun hoping to capture some scenic landscapes of the spectacular lake and castle!

Although, as you can see from the panorama atop this post, the weather was not at all too agreeable initially. While I love the drama in the presentation of the clouds, rays shooting forth from the small gaps. It was not what I had originally envisaged. I had actually given up and foraged in search of dinner nearby, when, enjoying a nice cold beverage the golden hour light began to bathe the scene. I rushed back to my spot on the walls of the reservoir, and it was certainly worth it!

Not only was the castle's silhouette against the setting sun, bathing the lake in golden hues all I had hoped for, but the distant Tatra mountains cleared. Providing a wondrous scene as the last light of day, reflecting of the mountain's peaks, radiated warm, reddish-hues.

The sun sets behind Niedzica Castle, reflecting off the calm waters of the lake as a flock of ducks paddle gentle across the lake.

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These photos where taken on June 6th, 2025.

If staying in Kraków as I did, then the journey to the castle is a very pleasant 1 hour and 40 minute drive along some very high quality motorway. The roads are smooth, and the traffic was very minimal. Once you arrive at the castle, there's a spacious car park, and cosy authentic food options abound.

Equipment used to take these photos:

Sony A7RV Body
Sony 14mm f1.8 GM Lens
Sony 50mm f1.2 GM Lens
Sony 135mm f1.8 GM Lens
Panaroma stitched together in post from 6 images with the 35mm.

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