There are so many interesting places to visit in Poland. Once in a while I will give you an idea about a new place. If you are in Kraków area you should definitely reserve some time to see famous Salt Mine (kopalnia soli).
The Wieliczka Salt Mine, located in the town of Wieliczka in southern Poland, lies within the Kraków metropolitan area. The mine continuously produced table salt from the 13th century until 2007 as one of the world’s oldest operating salt mines (the oldest being the Bochnia Salt Mine). It is believed to be the world’s 14th-oldest company still in operation.
The mine’s attractions for tourists include dozens of statues and an entire chapel that has been carved out of the rock salt by the miners. About 1.2 million people visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine annually.
Commercial mining was discontinued in 1996 due to low salt prices and mine flooding.
The Wieliczka salt mine reaches a depth of 327 meters and is over 300 km long. It features a 3.5-km touring route for visitors (less than 1% of the length of the mine’s passages) that includes historic statues and mythical figures. The oldest sculptures were carved out of rock salt by miners; more recent figures have been fashioned by contemporary artists. Even the crystals of the chandeliers are made from rock salt that has been dissolved and reconstituted to achieve a clear, glass-like appearance. The rock salt is naturally grey in various shades, so that the carvings resemble unpolished granite rather than the white or crystalline look that many visitors expect. The carvings may appear white in the photos, but the actual carved figures are not white.
Image by Pete Reed on Flickr.com
At the end of the tour, there is a large cathedral and reception room that can be reserved for private functions such as weddings or private parties. Also featured is a large chamber with walls carved to resemble wooden chapels built by miners in earlier centuries; an underground lake; and exhibits on the history of salt mining. The Wieliczka mine is often referred to as “the Underground Salt Cathedral of Poland.” It also houses a private rehabilitation and wellness complex.
Over the centuries, visitors to this site have included Nicolaus Copernicus, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Alexander von Humboldt, Dmitri Mendeleyev, Bolesław Prus, Ignacy Paderewski, Robert Baden-Powell, Jacob Bronowski (who filmed segments of The Ascent of Man in the mine), Karol Wojtyła (the later Pope John Paul II), former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and many others. During World War II, the salt mine was used by the occupying Germans as facilities for war-related industries.
To get down to the 64-metre level of the mine, visitors must descend a wooden stairway of 378 steps. After the three-kilometer tour of the mine’s corridors, chapels, statues and lake, 135 metres underground, visitors take an elevator back up to the surface. The elevator holds 36 people (nine per car) and takes some 30 seconds to reach the surface.
The salt mine helped inspire the Labyrinth scenes in Bolesław Prus’ 1895 historical novel “Faraon”.
In 1978 the Wieliczka salt mine was placed on the original UNESCO list of the World Heritage Sites.
If you have visited the mine, please share your impressions in comments below.
Do następnego razu! (Till next time…)
Comments:
inda:
I would like to recommend the salt mine at Bochnia. It is less known, therefore less touristic, but it’s a great fun.
The mine also functions as a hostel, you can spend the night down there (you need previous reservation for this).
George Szymanski:
I visited the mine with a group of international business men. The guide understood and spoke some words of every language in that group including English, German, French, Finish, Danish, Romanian and Dutch. I also noticed the same guide escorting Michael Palin around the mine when he visited Poland as part of his TV series.
russ:
I enjoyed my Wieliczka visit a few years ago. The cathedral is quite impressive!
By the way, a well-received Polish strategy board game “Magnum Sal” was published this year about the history of the mine. (I was one of the translators of the English version of the rules.)
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/73316/magnum-sal
Melissa:
I went during this past year. It is a very neat place, but the room with the “light/sound” show was a little overly dramatic, and therefore more amusing than anything.
They still have alot of the original tools, so it’s a very interesting tour. Just note that on the way down there are ALOT of stairs…some of the older memebers of the group were having difficulties with these.
Basia:
I went with my American husband to visit the salt mines while we were visiting my family in Poland. We both loved it. This was a few years ago, though, and they were renovating certain areas, so some of it was closed off. I agree with one of the other comments – the stairs going down would not be so easy for the elderly!
Polish Mama on the Prairie:
I’ve been to Wieliszka several times and each time it is so breathtaking and beautiful to me all over again. Thank you for posting these gorgeous pictures. I always wanted to get married there, perhaps my daughters will…
rob i hazel:
My wife and I visited the salt mine a few years ago. It was a wonderful experience seeing the figurines and carvings. Also the lake and huge timber support structure. As the caverns are so huge you feel really comfortable down there. I would reccomend this visit to everyone and the entry price is very cheap. Poland has much to offer visiters and its fellow countrymen.
Jan Romatowski:
I was in wieliczka salt mine krakow two years ago and i purchased a dvd tour of the salt mine in english could you please tell me if i can purchase another one.