Poland
Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
The Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines show the historic evolution of European mining techniques.
Connected to the same geological rock salt deposit, the two underground mines were active from the 13th century until the late 20th century. The mining of salt, an important economic commodity, was a government monopoly. Early galleries have been preserved that extend to great depths, as well as exhibits that reflect the miners’ social and religious traditions.
Community Perspective: The Wieliczka Salt Mine is a classic tourist destination in the Krakow area – some like it (for the sculptures made of salt, and the engineering feats), while others find it overrated (“tacky”, “tourist trap”). Nan reflects on the Bochnia mine, which is a recent extension of this WHS.
Site Info
Official Information
- Full Name
- Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (ID: 32)
- Country
- Poland
- Status
-
Inscribed 1978
Site history
History of Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
- 1978: Inscribed
- Inscribed
- 1989: In Danger
- serious degradation of this property (cave-ins, water seepage)
- 1998: Removed from Danger list
- 2013: Extended
- To include Bochnia Salt Mine
- 2013: Name change
- From "Wieliczka Salt Mine" to "Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines"
- WHS Type
- Cultural
- Criteria
- iv
Links
- UNESCO
- whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
- whc.unesco.org — whc.unesco.org/
Related Resources
- bochnia-mine.eu — Bochnia Royal Salt Mine
- fordham.edu — An account of a visit to the mines in 1850
- wieliczka-saltmine.com — Wieliczka Salt Mine
News Article
- Oct. 15, 2018 thenews.pl — Poland to pour millions into historic salt mine
Community Information
- Community Category
- Secular structure: Mines
Travel Information
One million visitors or more
Guided Tour Only
Recent Connections
-
Perfect Inscriptions
1978 -
Stand-alone Rock Reliefs
Includes "four chapels and numerous sta… -
European Route of Industrial Heritage
Cracow Salt-Works Museum in Wieliczka W…
Connections of Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
- Trivia
-
-
Subterranean Cultural Sites
-
Underground Boundaries
Both have mainly underground boundaries -
One million visitors or more
In 2024, the number of visitors increased by 13% compared to the same period in 2023, when the mine hosted 838.7 thousand people. Surpassing the million-visitor mark two weeks earlier than in the previous year. // The Wieliczka Salt Mine in August said it attracted 1.4 million visitors in the first seven months of this year and was on track to set its all-time annual record in the number of visitors. (Oct 2018) -
Versions of Da Vinci's last supper
In the main Chapel there is a version carved of salt
-
- Architecture
-
-
Stand-alone Rock Reliefs
Includes "four chapels and numerous statues carved by miners out of the rock salt, and more recent sculptures by contemporary artists" (wiki)
-
- World Heritage Process
-
-
Perfect Inscriptions
1978 -
Former In Danger List sites
1989-1998 -
Inscribed on a single criterion only
iv. to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history -
Extended
2013: To include Bochnia Salt Mine
-
- Human Activity
-
-
Oldest companies
"Żupy krakowskie" was a Polish salt mining company which operated continuously (At Wieliscka and elsewhere) from its inception in the 13th century ("Around 1290") to the late 20th century. (Production ceased in 1992 - UNESCO) -
Salt
-
- Constructions
-
-
Elevators
Used to bring tourists back to the surface after going underground by stairs
-
- WHS on Other Lists
-
-
European Route of Industrial Heritage
Cracow Salt-Works Museum in Wieliczka World Heritage SiteSee www.erih.net
-
- Timeline
-
-
Built in the 19th Century
Kinga underground Chapel 1895
-
- WHS Hotspots
- Science and Technology
-
-
Mines which can be visited underground
Salt. Wieliczka (Tourist route - normally stairs in, Miners route - elevator) and Bochnia Mine (Cage) -
Steam technology
Steam lift
-
- Visiting conditions
-
-
Guided Tour Only
By one of the regular tours (hourly in Polish and English, German, French, Russian, Italian and Spanish as well)
-
- 18
-
-
Featured in the Go Jetters
Series 1: Episode 22: The Wieliczka Salt Mine
-
News
- thenews.pl 10/15/2018
- Poland to pour millions into histo…
Recent Visitors
Visitors of Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
- AC
- Adrian Turtschi
- Ailton007
- Alberto Rodriguez Gutierrez
- Alessandro Votta
- alex
- Alexander Barabanov
- Alexander Lehmann
- Alexander Parsons
- Alex Baranda
- Alfons and Riki Verstraeten
- alicemears
- Alikander99
- Ali Zingstra
- Aljaz
- A. Mehmet Haksever
- Ammon Watkins
- Andrew_Kerr
- Andrew Wembridge
- Anna Wludarska
- Antonio J.
- Argo
- Artur Anuszewski
- AS
- Aspasia
- Assif
- Atila Ege
- Atuzhikova
- awestix
- awkwardkeychanged
- Bamse
- BaziFettehenne
- BeyondMonkey
- Bill Maurmann
- Bin
- Bodil Ankerly
- Bossc
- Bram de Bruin
- Brendan Carroll
- Brett Baumann
- Bropyk
- Bruno_Pires
- butterflybird
- Carlo Medina
- Carlos Sotelo
- cc1967
- CeeMon
- Cezar Grozavu
- ChenMing
- Chen Taotao
- Cheryl
- chessjsr
- Chindogu13
- CHJLondon
- Chris Law
- ChrisN
- Christer Sundberg
- Christian Wagner
- Christoph
- Christravelblog
- ClaireWhiteley
- ClaraHH
- Clyde
- Cobaltrage
- Cody Ayers
- Colossus
- Corinne Vail
- cosaflora
- Craig Harder
- Cristina Erba
- Csaba Nováczky
- ctravel
- CugelVance
- cutecid
- Cyberczar
- czesioszpachelka
- Dagmara
- Dani Cyr
- Daniel C-Hazard
- dankir
- Danny L
- Dan Pettigrew
- David Aaronson & Melanie Stowell
- David Berlanda
- DavidS
- d.dedisse@vogo.fr
- Dennis Nicklaus
- Dhhtravel
- Digits
- Dimitar Krastev
- Dimitrios Polychronopoulos
- Dirk-pieter
- Dolemite92
- Dorejd
- DouglasR
- Drazsika
- Dreamcatcher
- Echwel
- eddypc07
- edstar500
- Elaine McArdle
- Elena Y
- Elia Vettorato
- Elisabeth Fransisca Situmorang
- eljx1988
- Elliot
- Els Slots
- Emily Cullen
- Erfe91
- Eric PK
- Erik Jelinek
- Errol Neo
- Ertai
- Eva Kisgyorgy
- Fam39
- Fan Yibo
- Farinelli
- Federico P.
- Feldhase
- Felicité
- Femke Roos
- Filip Murlak
- finsbury_jo
- FK
- Frank Britton
- Frédéric M
- frizzle
- FS
- Gabor
- Garrett
- Gary Arndt
- Geert Luiken
- George Evangelou
- George Gdanski
- GeorgeIng61
- Gerlach
- Gernot
- Gianmarco
- Gilles
- GithaK
- Grzegorz Andruszkiewicz
- Guy00
- GZ
- Haining Guan
- Hanming
- HaraldOest
- Harald T.
- Harry Mitsidis
- Hasco
- H Beswick
- henrik_hannfors
- Highlander
- History Fangirl
- homadism
- hotpickle
- Hubert
- Hughes1920
- Hurrvinek
- hyoga
- Iain Jackson
- Ian Cade
- Ilya Burlak
- Ingemar Eriksson
- inomusay
- Ion-m
- IreneKD
- Ivan Rucek
- Izzet Ege
- Jacob Choi
- Jacob Otten
- Jakob Frenzel
- James Bowyer
- Janina Lehmann
- janis
- Jan Korpeg
- Jan Zimmermann
- Jarek Pokrzywnicki
- Jarrod_Byham
- jasm
- Javier
- Jay T
- jballard650
- Jeankedezeehond
- Jeanne OGrady
- JessicaDS
- Jezza
- João Aender
- JobStopar
- Joel on the Road
- john booth
- _johsch_
- Jonas Hagung
- Jonas Kremer
- Jonas Martinsson
- jonathanfr
- Jon Eshuijs
- Jon Opol
- Joyce van Soest
- Judit Dalla
- Juha Sjoeblom
- Julie July
- jungliemonkey
- Junwang111
- Juropa
- KarenBMoore
- Kasia M.
- Kasper
- Kbecq
- Kbtwhs
- Kelise
- Kelly Henry
- Kelly Rogers
- Ken DJ
- KentishTownRocks
- Kerékgyártó
- Kevin Padley-Knight
- kiank37
- Klaus Bondar
- Klaus Freisinger
- Knut
- Krijn
- Krzysztof B
- Kurt Lauer
- la caperucita roja
- La Concy
- Lara Adler
- Lars Bogstad
- LaVale
- Leafar98
- leckie118
- Lembu
- Leonie Geurts
- Leontine Helleman
- Lexxiface
- lichia
- Linda Sereno
- Lisu Marian
- ljowers
- Loic Pedras
- Londonium
- Longdutch
- Luboang
- Lucio Gorla
- LuHa
- Luis Filipe Gaspar
- luisfreire
- Lukasz N.
- Lukasz Palczewski
- luke725
- luki501
- lynnz317@aol.com
- Maciej Gil
- Maciej Gowin
- Mahuhe
- Maja
- Malgorzata Kopczynska
- Małgosia Łupicka
- Manuelfunk
- marcel staron
- Mardigny
- Mariam
- Marie
- Martina Rúčková
- Marty
- maryhattie
- Mateusz
- Matthewsharris
- MaYumin
- Mazeman
- MC
- MH
- Michael Ayers
- Michael Novins
- Michael Turtle
- Michael Wojcik
- Michal Kozok
- Michal Marciniak
- Michiel Dekker
- mikeyboyracer
- Mikita M
- Mikko
- Mikko Syrjä
- Milan Jirasek
- Miloš Tašković
- Ming_9734
- miri2808
- misio_pysio
- MMM
- Mo-han Je
- Mohboh
- monchan5396
- Monika and Rini
- MPK44
- Mtlmr
- n1ko2137
- Naim Y
- nan
- NataliaS
- NH1984
- nico4gr
- Nihal Ege
- NoahFranc
- NonDuality
- nongbulinqing
- Nur9704
- orphanos
- _oscar
- PabloNorte
- Paczeterson
- Pascal Cauliez
- patphilly
- Patrik
- Paul Schofield
- Paw90
- peacemaker2142
- Peter Alleblas
- Peter Lööv
- Petteri
- Philipp Leu
- Philipp Peterer
- phillipmeng
- Pierre T
- Pincze
- Piotr Wasil
- Potsdamer
- Purrfect
- Rafał Kałczuga
- Rahelka
- Randi Thomsen
- reinhardt
- Remigiusz
- Remski
- Reza
- Rick Ohm
- Robin Frank
- Rob Wilson
- rogerding
- Roger Ourset
- Roman Bruehwiler
- Roman Koeln
- Roman Raab
- RyanMak
- Sachin
- Sandmann15
- Sandra!
- Sazanami
- Sclowitz
- Sebasfhb
- Sergio Arjona
- Serimari
- SGPIUnesco
- Shandos Cleaver
- SHIHE HUANG
- sime147
- Simonf
- skalec
- Slavi
- Socon
- Solivagant
- Sophie
- Squiffy
- Squire Sullen
- Stanimir
- Stanislaw Warwas
- Stefan Loov
- stephhollett
- Stetrab
- Stijn
- Sturuss
- Svein Elias
- Szabolcs Mosonyi
- Szabo Viktoria
- Szucs Tamas
- Tamara Ratz
- Tarquinio_Superbo
- Tcchang0825
- Tevity
- Thibault Magnien
- Thomas Buechler
- Thomas Harold Watson
- Thomas Kunz
- Thomas van der Walt
- Thorben
- TimAllen
- Timonator
- Timothy C Easton
- TimPick
- tingmelvin
- tommasorossotti
- Tonisan
- trekkie900
- triath
- Truls Brekke
- Tsunami
- usagi1974
- Valentina
- valentinaui
- ValiaVeweth
- Van Hung
- VB73
- Vernon Prieto
- Vlad Lesnikov
- voyager
- WalGra
- Walter
- wantrain.
- Werner Huber
- Willem van Altena
- Wimmy
- Wojciech Fedoruk
- wolfboy
- wrung24
- Xiong Wei
- Xiquinho Silva
- YaroMir
- Yellowjohn
- Yevhen Ivanovych
- Yi Han Goh
- zfish
- Zhenjun Liu
- Złoty Tłok Czesław
- Zoë Sheng
- Zsuzsanna Forray
- Александар Стојиљковић
Community Reviews
Show full reviewsNan
Wieliczka And Bochnia Royal Salt Mines By Nan
Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (Inscribed)

First thing first, Wieliczka is a unique site well worth the visit. The artistry at display and how the miners transformed a mundane, industrial mine into architecture and art is astonishing. Having seen my fair share of mines hunting world heritage sites, I have not encountered anything like it. To me, discounting the darkness of Auschwitz, Wieliczka is the most unique site of Poland, a site truely eminating OUV.
With that in mind, I found myself with a spare day in Cracow. I was considering visiting yet another wooden church (which I love!). But then I figured by triangulation, that if Wieliczka is great and Bochnia is an extension of Wielizcka, then Bochnia, even if it's a lesser version of Wieliczka, should be pretty great, too. So instead of taking a bus to Dębno, I opted for a train ride to Bochnia.
First shock came when I reached the ticket booth: They only had a 3h tour and a 4h tour with an extra boat ride on offer. 3h in a mine... how?! why?! Spending long time underground is not really popular with me and it was messing with my schedule as I still had to get to Katowice the same day. Last but not least, the tours are fairly expensive (~ 15EUR).
Okay, I thought, 3h means that we go deep into the mine and explore some hidden parts. Alas, we did not. You mostly move along one long passage, probably the August Passage. Hubert already …
Keep reading 0 comments
The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Krakow area. We visited the mine on a weekday in August 2014. We arrived just in time to get tickets for the first English tour at 8.30 am. It was not very crowded, but the barrier tapes and signposts in several languages indicated that they expect a rush of visitors during the day.
The tour starts with 380 steps downstairs to the first level. And the first thing you see is - wood, lots of wood, massive trunks and beams for supporting the walls and ceiling. They must have cut down a whole forest only for the section of the visitors route. The inscribed area is almost 1000 hectare large and has about 300 kilometres galleries on nine levels, the deepest being more than 300 metres underground. But the guided walk is only about two kilometres long, less than one percent of the entire mine.
Salt mines are distinct from other mining sites: less dusty and narrow, but with spacious excavation chambers. First we walked through several small chambers where historic techniques of salt mining are shown, for example a horse powered winch for transporting the salt, water wheels, or the combustion of the methane gas. Sculptures carved from rock salt and small chapels illustrate the profound religiosity of the miners. What you would not expect one hundred metres underground: a church of remarkable size, entirely carved from the salt including all the necessary components: altar, …
Keep reading 0 comments
I visited this WHS in September 2014. It is very close to Krakow which is really a WHS hotspot and perhaps it is one of Poland's most famous WHS and/or tourist attractions. It was interesting to learn that in the past other "tourists" such as Goethe and Copernicus had visited the Wieliczka mine (even though most of what they visited is actually out of bounds due to safety restrictions). In fact what is now known as the Individual Tourist Route represents only around 1% of the Wieliczka salt mine! This is pretty impressive considering that its a 3 hour tour along a 2km trail which takes you down to a depth of 150 metres. The tour itself is quite interesting touching upon different aspects of salt production and giving some insight on other trivial stuff. Even though you're obliged to visit with a group, the place is really huge and nowhere near the claustrophobic size of other mines I've visited such as the Idrija Mine in Slovenia. The highlight of my visit was definitely the Underground Salt Chapel of St. Kinga and the intricate salt carvings and sculptures. I felt that some parts of the mine were quite kitsch to say the least but on the whole this salt mine really has an OUV and is worth seeing. One negative note was the mine exit though: the only way out seemed to be a very narrow and dark lift carrying at least 10 people when its original purpose seemed to …
Keep reading 0 commentsJohn Booth
Wieliczka And Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (Inscribed)

In October I visited both the Bochnia and Wieliczka salt mines.
Bochnia I accessed by train from Krakow Glowny. The mine was entered and exited via the Campi shaft. Although toured in a group, it was more laid back with plenty of stops for photographs. The commentary was only available in Polish.
Wieliczka I accesed by bus #304 from near Krakow Glowny station. Entry to the mine was via the Danilowicza shaft. This mine receives far more visitors than Bochnia and although I has a commentary in English, the group had to keep moving to keep ahead of the next one. The mine was more extensive, and included a restaurant where I stopped for lunch on the lowest level. I then exited via the St Regis shaft and returned to Krakow by train, which was far more comfortable than the bus.
Keep reading 0 comments
We joined the Cosmos Central Europe tour in March-April 2012 and the Wieliczka Salt Mine was offered as an optional excursion, paying EUR 40 per person. We didn't regret joining the tour of the salt mine. We've been all over Europe and it was our first experience to be in a salt mine. The St. Kinga Chapel was very impressive with the chapel carved entirely of salt. One advise: you should be able to walk for a very long period of time and be able to go up and down long flight of stairs.
Keep reading 0 comments
One of the most incredible places I have ever seen--truly breathtakingly unbelievable to walk into the cathedral 300 feet below ground level. The good news is that after walking down you get to ride up although be it in a cramped elevator--not good if you have claustrophobia. Had a private tour guide in English who was very knowledgable and wise. Highly recommend visiting this site.
Keep reading 0 commentsKlaus Freisinger
Wieliczka And Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (Inscribed)

As most of the other reviewers, I enjoyed my tour through the Wieliczka mine. Sure, some parts are very kitschy, but the guided tour gives you a very interesting overview of salt mining in general and the hard lives of the miners, as well as insight into the deep religious feelings and the historical conscience of Poles. Wieliczka is one of Poland's major tourist attractions, and while it is surprising that it was one of the first sites on the WH list, it definitely deserves its place there. On a separate visit a few years later, I also visited the Bochnia mine, which was added to the list as an extension of Wielieczka. It is a bit smaller, but no less interesting. Bochnia is on a direct train line from Krakow, and there is one English-speaking guided tour every day,
Keep reading 0 comments
Way overrated. It is very like visiting any limestone cavern. You might go if you've never been in a large cave before. Because, with the exception of a few second-rate bits of modern sculpture, that's all it is, really, a man-made cave. The only other attractions are the old wooden chapels built in the mines by miners, but they only show you two old ones, and the twentieth centruy big church.
As for that, go to India (Ajunta and others) if you want to see really spectacular ancient religious buildings carved into the living stone. Or to any of several monestaries in the Judean desert.
There are only two interesting bits of sculpture, two old figures kneeling in worship in an old oterwise wooden chapel. they are interestign because the old-time miners carved them and because, being salt, theyhave 'melted' or weathered.
Oh, it's not like it looks like salt. It's not white, not crystalline, doesn't glisten. It just looks like stone.
and lots of ther carved objects are disappointing. I had hears about the chandaliers carved at salk. they are wooden frames, with salt melted and formed into clear 'crystals' that are just lumps of clear salt. A few have crude faceting. Not like cut crystals at all.
big waste of time.
Keep reading 0 comments
Ann and Brian Wortley and Dorothy Hopkins - England
After we had negotiated the incredible number of steps to get down to the first level in the mine, we realised that what we saw was very much worth the effort. The total size of the mine was aweinspiring and the carvings absolutely remarkable. The icing on the cake had to be the very large concert hall, again with carvings and sheer size. I would certainly recommend this visit to anyone!!
Keep reading 0 comments
To have not visited the Wieliczka Salt Mine would have left a large void in my trip to Poland. What is overlooked is the engineering feats performed to make this mine what it is. Let us also remember the torch bearers who in some cases took this job of seeking out methane gas by going forward with lit torches knowing that death was a high reality. Many, it is said, took this job in order to make amends for their past sins. The main Cathedral does nothing less than take your breath away. In my mind I could see religious services being conducted as well as people dancing on what appears to be tile but in reality is salt with etchings to make it look as though it is tile. A must visit sight on your trip to our beloved Motherland, Poland.
Keep reading 0 commentsDavid Berlanda
Wieliczka And Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (Inscribed)

In our trip to Poland we have visited the Wieliczka salt mine, the most ancient in Europe, exploited since the 13th century (it has never been closed) and constructed on nine levels with 300 km of galleries. It has a maximal depth of 327 m and it’s 5 km long and 1 km large. In the galleries are found wells, corridors, labyrinths, excavations, rooms and chapel cut out of the salt with altars, pulpits and statues. There is also a subterranean lake. If you visit the mines you enter from the Dani³owicz Shaft, a steam engine built in 1874, and visit these rooms: Dani³owicz Shaft Bottom, Nicholas Copernicus Chamber, Chapel of St. Anthony, Janowice Chamber, Burnt Out (Spalone) Chamber, Sielec Chamber, Casimir The Great Chamber, Kunegunda Gallery, Pieskowa Ska³a Chamber, Kunegunda Traverse, Kunegunda Shaft Bottom, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Chapel of St. Kinga (54 m long, 15-18 m wide and 10-12 m high), Erazm Bar¹cz Chamber, Micha³owice Chamber, Drozdowice Chamber, Weimar Chamber, Józef Pi³sudski Chamber, Crossing of The Kazanów Longitudinal Gallery with The Poniatowski Traverse, Stanis³aw Staszic Chamber (36 m high), Warden, Witold Budryk Chamber, Warsaw Chamber (54 m long, 17 m wide and 9 m high), Vistula Chamber, Prinzinger Inclined Drift, Chapel of St. John and Jan Haluszka Chamber.
The mine is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen because of the beauty and the originality of the salt chambers and of the works of art. It's absolutely worth to be visited (if you want …
Keep reading 0 commentsRob Wilson
Wieliczka And Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (Inscribed)

The Blessed Kinga chapel is a masterpiece and well worthy of its place on the UNESCO list, but, and it is a big but, the whole site is being turned into tourist trap of the worst sort. Being greeted by recent carvings of what looked like the seven dwarfs (with added recordings of 'hello' in a variety of languages) is pathetic. As was the 'sound and light' show in the last cave.
A great shame.
Keep reading 0 comments
This trip is a total waste of money. You are stuck down a mine for over two hours in the cold with no escape. It was the most boring thing I have ever done in my life and was annoyed that I wasted virtually a full day of a short trip to Krakow underground and bored when I could have spent that time in the sunshine. Tacky to the point where I had to laugh or I would have cried!!
Keep reading 0 comments
Many caverns/galleries contain works of art, often altars and statues sculpted by miners/artists. We visited several levels by stairs or elevator, and saw many works of art, carved entirely out of salt.
Most spectacular was the Blessed Kinga Chapel, carved in one of the largest galleries. There were beautiful three dimensional 'salt' statues, such as the 'Last Supper'. The floor looked like a carefully laid tile design, but further examination shows it's salt carved to look like individual tiles. The huge chandeliers in this Cathedral are made of salt, each consisting of many dangling salt crystals.
Keep reading 0 comments
It is definatly worth a visit here from Krakow. The first time i visited the tour was in Polish and i was left a little disapointed but i went back a few months later and had a tour in English, which i could understand much better!, an i was really impressed. The main Chapple?Cathedral is hugly impresive it looks similar to most cathedrals but the entire thing i carved out of one giant piece of salt! worth the entrance fee alone!.
Keep reading 0 comments
The Salt mines at Wieliczka are impressive, the initial climb down is a little harrowing it is a very long way! But the complex is fascinating. The initial parts seem nice there are some nice chapels carved out of the salt, but nothing real matches the Cathedral like complex in the middle. It is a church carved entirely out of salt, including the floor, sight of an altar of salt surrounded by the last supper again carved out of the same piece of salt is awe-inspiring.
I must admit the first time I took the tour in Polish and was a little under whelmed so defiantly aim for a tour in a language you fully understand!
The site is easy to get to as there is a regular train there from the centre of Krakow, a journey of about 40 minutes!
It is defiantly worth the effort to drag your-self away from Krakow's bars for an afternoon.
(the camera I had when I visited was not so good, so alas the pictures I have are all of the surface but trust me the mines themselves are much more interesting!!)
Keep reading 0 comments
The Salt Mines were the best thing about our trip to Krakow. Get a mini bus from opposite the new Galleria Krakowski shopping centre for 2.5zl (about 70p in £ sterling)and it only takes about 20 minutes.
Thought the mines were fascinating and our guide was very knowledgeable. The Kinga Chapel is breathtaking.
Be prepared that the lift back to the surface is somewhat primitive, small and very crowded. But it's over in a few seconds so don't let it put you off.
You'll kick yourself if you miss this one!
Keep reading 0 comments
The Wieliczka Salt Mine is an important attraction in the Krakow area. It has a long history of tourism: already in the 15th-century visitors were taken underground. Prominent Europeans like Copernicus, Goethe and Chopin also visited. The site nowadays attracts thousands of visitors every day in summer, and group tours are conducted in several languages. Fortunately, I was here in February, when it wasn't too busy. There are frequent minibusses from Krakow to bring you here.
The underground tour takes you on a walk of two km. It passes through 20 caves, many of them adorned with sculptures the miners made. It's quite clean and spacious here, unlike in a coal mine for example. The walls are dark grey everywhere; you can only see they are made of crystals when you hold a light to it. The gangways are held upright by complex wooden structures.
The highlight of the tour undoubtedly is the Underground Cathedral. Everything in it is made of salt: the wall decorations (The Last Supper and other biblical scenes), the altar, the religious statues, the floor and the ceiling. Even the chandeliers are made from salt crystals. This masterpiece was created by three miners in their spare time, taking 68 years of work.
Keep reading 0 comments