Lake Czorsztyn

On one shore stand the ruins of Czorsztyn Castle, on the other Dunajec Castle in Niedzica, and between them lies water that as recently as the 1990s was a valley of villages and fields. Lake Czorsztyn is a reservoir on the Dunajec River, squeezed between the Pieniny and Gorce mountains, with the Tatras visible on the horizon on a clear day. People come for a boat trip between the castles, a cycling loop and the beaches — but the history lying at the bottom is worth knowing too.

The Niedzica dam

The decision to build a system of reservoirs on the Dunajec was taken in 1964, work began in the late 1960s, and the whole project was completed in 1997. The earth dam in Niedzica is 404 m long and about 56 m high (some sources give almost 60 m). The lake is 9 km long, covers about 10.5 km² at normal level, and has a shoreline of almost 30 km. Near the dam it is about 50 m deep. Below it lies the smaller Lake Sromowce, which evens out the flow of the Dunajec.

Power and flood protection

The reservoir's main job is to protect the Dunajec valley from floods. It passed the test almost immediately: during the July 1997 flood, inflow into the lake was estimated at almost 1,400 m³/s, while outflow was kept at around 600 m³/s. The dam houses a pumped-storage power plant with a capacity of 90.5 MW, generating about 140 GWh a year. Nearly half of that comes from water pumped back up from the lower reservoir.

A village under water

The construction changed the map of the area. The old village of Maniowy disappeared under the water — residents were resettled on higher ground, and some historic buildings were moved to the Osada Czorsztyn open-air museum in Kluszkowce. When the water level drops sharply, house foundations and old roads re-emerge, as happened in February 2025. It is one of the most moving sights in the Pieniny, although impossible to plan for.

Things to do at the lake

• Boat trip from the pier at Niedzica-Zamek — in season from May to October, about 50 minutes on the water with views of both castles.
• VeloDunajec and the cycling loop around the lake — with a footbridge, viewpoints and the Niedzica dam along the way.
• Castles: the ruins in Czorsztyn, inside Pieniny National Park, and Dunajec Castle in Niedzica with its museum.
• Bird Island — an artificial islet built as a nesting site for waterbirds.
• Mount Wdżar in Kluszkowce, of volcanic origin, with a ski area in winter and an alpine coaster in summer.

Tripto tips

Half a day is enough for a boat trip and one castle; for a full day add a bike ride or a walk across the dam. Good bases are Niedzica, Falsztyn, Frydman, Kluszkowce and Czorsztyn. In July and August the castles and the pier get crowded, so arrive early. The water in this mountain reservoir can be cold even in summer, and you should only swim in designated areas. Check the boat timetable and prices with the operator before you go, as they change from season to season.