Lonely Planet says, ' More than salt ', boasts the advert promoting a visit to the ultra-deep mine on the outskirts of Krakow. However, it is actually nothing more than salt and that is why it is so impressive. It is an eerie underground world of pits and chambers, filled with finely crafted sculptures and bas-reliefs. Everything has been carved from salt by hand. The mine has been registered as a Unesco World Heritage site for more than 30 years.
The tour starts with a giddying descent down 380 wooden stairs to reach a depth of 135m. Every single element here, from chandeliers to altarpieces, is made from salt. It took over 30 years for one man and then his brother to complete the underground chapel in 1895.
The Wieliczka Salt Mine was built back in the 13th century, continuing table salt production right up until 2007, making it one of the world's oldest operating salt mines. Over the nine centuries of salt extraction the mine has transformed into an underground city in which a specific, therapeutic micro-climate has developed. Kilometres of underground corridors with impressive chambers, chapels, and emerald salt lakes hide the secrets and history of the mine.....these are unveiled to you by a local guide, who will tell you how, over the centuries, the mine extracted the white gold - the salt.
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The incredible main chamber |
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The legend of St. Kinga is illustrated by a group of sculptures located in the Janowice Chamber |
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The Last Supper |
This was a fascinating and informative tour and is really worth seeing. One word of advice would be to wear very comfortable shoes. You will walk a long way!
