Niedzica Castle also known as Dunajec Castle is located in
the southern most part of Poland in Niedzica. It was erected between the years
1320 and 1326 by Kokos of Brezovica on the site of an ancient stronghold surrounded
by
earthen walls in the Pieniny
Mountains. the Niedzica Castle stands at an altitude of 566 m
on a hill 300 m upstream from the Dunajec River Mouth, measured from the center
of the dam on Czorstyn Lake. The outline of Niedzica Castle can be best
be viewed from the ruins Czorsztyn Castle on the other side of lake.It is also
known as one of the most picturesque castles in the country and adorns the
cover of many books.
The castle was an important
center of Polish - Hungarian relations since the 14th century. It
was a place where the money lent by the Polish King to the Hungarian King
Sigismund had to be returned following an agreement signed in 1412.
At the time of the Turkish invasion five
hundred years ago, a deal was struck at Niedzica to make it a Polish
Protectorate.
The
castle was built by a Hungarian known as Kokos from Brezovica with family
rights dating back to 1325. In 1470 it
became the property of the aristocratic Zapolya family. However in 1528, the entire county including the castle
was given away by John Zapolya aspiring to the Hungarian throne, and became the
property of Viliam Drugeth who received it as a reward for his support. Sixty
years later it became the property of Hieronim Laski and his son Olbracht. At
the end of the 16th century the castle the castle was bought by Jan Horvath
from Plavec. the fortress was renovated many times in the 15th, 16th, 18th and
in the beginning of the 19th centuryby its successive owners. the last
Hungarian inhabitants remained there until in 1943 when the coming of the front
in World War II inspired the Salamon family to abandon it. The last countess
left with her children two years before the Red Army marched in. The final
reconstruction of the castle was
completed in 1963 under the supervision of the Polish.
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