Polana Sosny

Niedzica is known above all for its beautiful medieval castle and for the dam on the Dunajec below it, which holds back the river to form Lake Czorsztyn (Jezioro Czorsztyńskie). It is also increasingly popular with skiers: on the southern shore of the lower Sromowce reservoir (Zbiornik Sromowiecki) lies Polana Sosny, a small but exceptionally scenic ski resort. The lifts are on the north-facing slope of a border hill that drops straight into the lake. On the one hand the north-facing aspect keeps the snow cover longer; on the other, the two bodies of water reduce daily temperature swings, which is not always helpful, for example when the snow cannons are running. The resort has three T-bars, the longest about 400 metres long. Along it runs a red piste, steep especially in its lower part, as well as a blue piste that follows a wide curve. The third way down is a very gentle piste (marked green on the resort's maps), whose lower part runs alongside the lift for the youngest skiers. Off to one side stands the third lift, with a blue piste and a special run for snowboarders. The resort has a rental shop and a ski service, as well as a restaurant and a bar on the slope. With fairly gentle pistes and quiet slopes, it is ideal for beginners and young children. Indeed, a few seasons ago it won a vote for the best resort in Małopolska in the best family resort category. Nearly 2 km of downhill pistes are complemented by a cross-country trail running along the border towards Kacwin (about 8 km long, only when snow conditions allow). Niedzica's undeniable strength is its magnificent setting: the view from the slopes over the Dunajec valley with its two lakes and the dam, above which the beautiful castle rises, and further off the Pieniny range with the bold peaks of Macelak, Nowa Góra and Trzy Korony (Three Crowns), is among the most beautiful skiing backdrops in Poland. The top of the hill also opens up a superb panorama of the snow-covered Tatras. When skiing in Niedzica, don't miss a visit to the castle; another major attraction is a tour of the inside of the Dunajec dam.