Travel
The Wieliczka Salt Mine, located in the town of Wieliczka, is within Krakow’s metropolitan area. It had been producing table salt, since the 13th century. It is one of the world’s oldest operating salt mines. Active mining was discontinued in 1996 due to low salt prices and mine flooding. The mine remains a major tourist attraction.
The mine reaches down to a depth of 327 meters and is over 300 km long. The Wieliczka salt mine features a 3.5 km tour for visitors (less than 1% of the length of the mine’s passages) that includes statues of historic and mythic figures. The works were sculpted by miners out of rock salt. 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 like granite.
The mine is often referred to as “the Underground Cathedral of Poland.” (see photo above).
in 1978 the Wieliczka salt mine was placed on the original UNESCO roster of World Heritage Sites.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
Friday, August 1, 2008
