Dursztyn – Limestone Cliffs, Hiking Trails and Spisz Traditions
Accommodation in Dursztyn
Among Limestone Cliffs and Gorges
Dursztyn lies on the western edge of the Pieniny Spiskie, at an altitude of 710 to 740 m, amid limestone cliffs overgrown with spruce trees. Near Dursztyn, the Dziurawy stream cuts small gorges into the limestone ridges. The landscape of the village is thus shaped by rock and water. At the entrance to Dursztyn, on the road from Krempachy, is Czerwona Skałka.
File:Krempachy Dursztynskie Skalki 01.jpg
Photo: Andrzej Otrębski via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hiking Trails with Different Routes
A green and a red hiking trail pass through Dursztyn. The green trail comes from Szaflary and runs through Gronków and Krempachy, passing through the village. The red trail also passes through Dursztyn, running from Chochołów across the Spisko-Gubałowskie Foothills. The green and red trails meet in the centre. These places and the route across the foothills give you points of reference when choosing a hike based on its route.
The shortest and most convenient red-marked route to the summit of Góra Żar starts in Dursztyn. If this summit is your destination, this gives you a specific route option directly from Dursztyn. The trails differ in their described routes and destinations: two pass through Dursztyn from places farther away, while a red-marked route leads from Dursztyn to the summit of Góra Żar.
Spisz Traditions and Cheese from the Pasture
The Spisz dialect, distinctive traditional dress and customs are still maintained in Dursztyn today. The dialect is very similar to the Podhale language. For visitors interested in regional traditions, the landscape is not the only part of the village’s character: language, clothing and customs are also part of its living local culture.
Another traditional aspect can be seen in the pasture at the foot of Czarna Góra near Dursztyn. Around 1,000 sheep from villages in Podhale are still traditionally herded there. Sheep’s cheese, Bundz and smoked cheeses called Oszczypki are made on the same pasture and can be bought there by tourists. Sheep farming and cheesemaking come together here in one specific place. If you would like to discover local produce, you can take this connection to the pasture into account.
Monastery and Accommodation
The monastery of the Franciscan Recollects in Dursztyn organises retreats and meetings for young people and seminarians that include time for recreation. The Franciscan Retreat Centre in Dursztyn has 47 places to stay in single, double, triple and quadruple rooms with private bathrooms.
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Dursztyn, you can take your planned priorities into account when choosing a location: the marked hiking trails, the route to Góra Żar, or regional traditions and produce. The features described here give you specific things to consider when deciding whether Dursztyn is right for your trip.
If you would like to compare other destinations, you can also find Kluszkowce, Huba, Falsztyn, Rogoźnik, Zubrzyca Górna, Kacwin, Mizerna and Chochołów here.
For the broader travel overview: Nowotarski.
