"700-year-old the Wieliczka Salt Mine" Top 5 Page for this destination Wieliczka by matcrazy1

Wieliczka Travel Guide: 118 reviews and 490 photos

THE CASIMIR THE GREAT CHAMBER (THE HORSE GEAR)

On UNESCO's World Heritage List

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The Wieliczka Salt Mine, nowadays practically on the outskirts of Krakow, has been worked as a source of rock salt since the late 13th century.
It used to be one of the world's biggest and most profitable industrial establishments when common salt was commercially a medieval equivalent of today's oil. Always a magnet, since the mid 18th century the salt mine has become increasingly a tourist attraction in the first place.

Today visitors walk underground for about 2,000 m (6562 ft) in the oldest part of the salt mine, which takes two hours or so. Seven centuries of mining in Wieliczka produced a total of some 200 kilometers (124 miles) of passages as well as 2,040 caverns of varied size. The tourist route starts 64 m (210 ft) deep and ends 135 m (443 ft) below the earth surface, where the world's biggest museum of mining is located with the unique centuries-old equipment among its exhibits. Still below, some 210 m (689 ft) deep, there is a sanatorium for those suffering from asthma and allergy.

As a testament to its historical and artistic importance, the mine has been placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List of sites designated as having ``outstanding universal value to mankind.'' It receives up to a million visitors yearly, most of them during the warmer summer months.

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Nature and human wonder

THE MICHALOWICE CHAMBER

Millions of visitors, the crowned heads and such celebrities as Goethe and Sarah Bernhardt among them, have enthused over that subterranean world of labyrinthine passages, giant caverns, underground lakes and chapels with sculptures in the crystalline salt and rich ornamentation carved in the salt rock.

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The largest cavern

THE CHAPEL OF THE BLESSED KINGA

The largest of the chapels, the Chapel of the Blessed Kinga, is located 101 meters (331 ft) below the surface, it is over 50 meters (164 ft) long, 15 meters (49 ft) wide, 12 meters (39 ft) high, with a volume of 10,000 cubic meters (13,080 cubic yards).

MORE: www.wieliczka.com.pl (in English, German and Polish language)

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Pros and Cons

Pros:The most beautiful nature wonder I have ever seen
Cons:Rather not for visitors suffering from claustrophobia
In a nutshell:The mysterious underground world

Last visit to Wieliczka: Aug 1998
Intro Updated Aug 2, 2003
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Reviews (55)

Out of the tourist route Off The Beaten Path (10)

. Thanks to good friends I was lucky to visit a few places out of the tourist route. To be honest it's not so easy to... more travel advice

Strange salt formations Off The Beaten Path (10)

. You can see various strange salt rocky formations along the tourist route (and out of it). They maybe white, green,... more travel advice

5-25 mln years old cone Off The Beaten Path (10)

. I found a cone imprisoned in salt cone. My guide said that it's the example of flora from Myocene Epoch. I found... more travel advice

CORAL IN WIELICZKA SALT MINE - Wieliczka

Corals in Wieliczka? Off The Beaten Path (10)

. This coral on the picture derives from warm Myocen Epoch (5-25 mln years ago). Lucky epoch, it seems they haven't any... more travel advice

Things to Do (10)
See All Bas-reliefs in salt rocks
Favorites (10)
See All 700-year-old salt mine
Transportation (5)
See All From Krakow by a taxi

Warnings and Dangers (10)
See All Do NOT touch/lick salt sculptures
Local Customs (10)
See All How did they live in Wieliczka ?
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Comments (49)

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BruceDunning Jun 11, 2009 at 2:01 PM

We toured here in 2007 and your pictures are most favorable with great detail. Thanks for the input, and bring back memories.
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deeper_blue Jul 28, 2008 at 12:24 PM

Wieliczka is a fascinating place, really enjoyed my visit. Finally finished all my Polish pages, check them out sometime
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ChristinaNest Feb 2, 2007 at 6:32 AM

Amazing place!!! I will make sure to visit it next time I'm in Poland! Thank you for sharing. Christina
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Dabs Mar 19, 2006 at 3:46 PM

Great page on the salt mines, we really enjoyed our visit there!
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JLBG Apr 18, 2005 at 2:35 PM

I always enjoy visiting caves but I have never visited a salt cave. It has a very different look than the usual calcite caves. I had never heard of underground sanatorium in a salt mine ! I thought they were for convicts only ! Superb crystals !
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tpal Mar 29, 2005 at 10:42 AM

Hi Matt, I am disappointed in myself. I've been twice to Krakow and Auschwitz and have bypassed the salt mines both times. Next time I will stop for sure. Thanks for the great page...Tom
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Raimix Dec 5, 2004 at 2:39 AM

Waw! It is nice place and near Krakow! Hopefuly it can be visited like a part of trip to Krakow. Raimundas.
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HORSCHECK Nov 20, 2004 at 1:24 PM

Interesting page with fabulous photos. I think I should take Wieliczka into consideration for a daytrip from Krakow. Well done ... :o)
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Bavavia Aug 13, 2004 at 6:43 PM

Interesting about the underground salt mine! I would be afraid because i am afraid of closed in places, but it looks like an underground city there!
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clairegeordio Jul 27, 2004 at 4:48 AM

Really interesting page, would love to visit one day.