Wieliczka Salt Mine, Poland

The famous Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the 7 Wonders of Poland. In 1978, it was registered on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. It is a place that you can find only a few places in the world and if you ever have a trip to Krakow, don’t forget to visit Wieliczka.

History of the Wieliczka Salt Mine

For centuries, brewer’s salt was obtained in various ways in this area. Its source was known to be located in these places, but no one had yet tried to get it underground. This only changed in the 13th century, when whole lumps of rock salt were found during accidental digging of a brine well. Thanks to this discovery, the first shaft was drilled in the second half of the 13th century.

Salt was a very expensive item at that time. During the reign of Casimir the Great, it represented up to 1/3 of the income of the state treasury. It is not surprising that this monarch is also the founder of the statute of the Kraków salt mine issued in 1368. At the same time, he created mining laws and introduced traditions that influenced the further development and increase of mining.

For a long time until the 16th century, salt was mined on only one level, today it is known as the first, highest underground parto. The third level was then reached in the middle of the 17th century. The subsequent division of Poland did not stop the development of the mine, but even accelerated it. For the Austrians, it was one of the most important enterprises in the empire. At the same time, tourism in the mine has become an increasingly important source of income.

In the inter-war period, mining reached 203,000 tonnes per year, and approximately 120,000 tourists visited the mines. The peak of mining then occurred in the 1970s. Since 1964, rock salt has not been mined in the mine, and since 1996, even industrial salt boiled using the wet mining method has not been produced here. However, miners are still working in the mine. They take care of the corridors and chambers and protect them from the seepage of fresh water, and even create new salt sculptures. Salt is also produced, obtained from brine as it used to be centuries ago.

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What awaits you during the mine tour?

The entire Wielicka salt mine eventually completed the number of 300 km of corridors on 9-level floors. However, due to water seepage and the instability of human structures on the surface of the mine, it is gradually partially filled in. The deepest floor and a total of 50 km of corridors no longer exist, and intensive work is underway to backfill another 50 km. But don’t worry, it won’t affect the places where tourists go because it’s a tiny fraction of the entire underground maze of the Wieliczka Salt Mine.

It all starts in the Daniłowicz shaft. From here, the guide will take you on a journey deep underground. During the tour, you will have to climb 800 steps, visit about 20 chambers carved into the rocks, pass by statues, one of which weighs as much as 3 African elephants, see a salt lake where you will listen to Chopin’s music and, of course, learn something about the history of the mine. The whole tour takes 2-3 hours and, apart from the stairs, you will have to walk about 3 km. But don’t worry, the mine is also fun for kids of all ages, and they will be entertained. You just need to consider whether your child can handle the length of the tour and the number of steps covered.

As I already indicated, visiting Wieliczka is also fun for children. Here, you will learn that salt is not only salty but also creates brightly colored crystals of various shapes. In addition to the miners and horses who helped with the mining, they will also meet a bunch of goblins here, and if they are careful, they will also find a dragon lurking around the corner.

The salt-carved corridors of Wieliczka will make an incredible impression on you, but 100 meters underground, you will be even more amazed. Because many people’s breath was taken away by the sight of St. Michael’s Chapel bathed in the glow of the salt chandeliers. King. Her subjects loved Kinga so much for the miracle she performed that they built an actual temple in her honor. It is beautiful, spacious, full of statues, bas-reliefs and details. The relics of the saint are kept here. Kingy, named the patron saint of salt miners, you can admire her statue inspired by the work of Leonardo da Vinci, a bas-relief depicting the Last Supper and a monument to Pope John Paul II. – the only such salt monument in the world. The chapel was carved with great precision and artistry. Show your children this extraordinary and unique place in Europe.

Tourist Route in Wieliczka Salt Mine?

The Tourist Route is the most popular and the most frequent choice for a tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The tours take place several times an hour and you can choose from 7 world languages ​​in which you can follow the route with the guide.

The start of the mine’s Tourist Route is in the Daniłowicz shaft. From here you descend 380 steps to the first of 9 levels below. On the rest of the route, you will also encounter other stairs. In total, about 800 of them are waiting for you here. In 2 hours, you will also cover a distance of about 3.5 km through beautiful corridors and unique excavations. The maximum depth you can reach is 135 meters underground.

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Antonio’s shaft

In Antonio’s shaft, you are introduced to the miners’ work through mannequins and the tools they used. Wooden structures created together with the use of ropes give you the opportunity to feel the touch of this history. Antonio’s shaft connects the first and third floors of the mine. You can feel the air flowing here.

Chamber of Ursula

Upon entering Urszula’s chamber, the alternately arranged beams – parallel and perpendicular to the floor – make a huge impression. The wooden wall is intended to support the ceiling. If you look closely, you will see small salt crystals appear.

Nicholas Copernicus Chamber

Along the route you will also see a collection of tools and equipment used in mining. You can find one of them right in front of Nicholas Copernicus’s chamber. When entering the chamber itself, you will be attracted by the first salt sculpture on the route. It is a statue of the scientist himself. He probably also visited the mine during his lifetime.

Chamber of Janowice

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In the Janowice Chamber, you will hear the legend of St. Kinga (note. St. Kinga is a well-known Polish princess), you will learn how salt was discovered in Poland and why the legend of the engagement ring is connected with it.

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Corridor of Kunegund and Casimir the Great’s Chamber

Each place on the tourist route of the Wieliczka Salt Mine has its name. This is no different at the Kunegund walkway from before 1825, where you can walk to Casimir the Great’s chamber. Here, the forms of the secondary stage of salt crystallization are stunning (stalactites, to be exact). An authentic machine from the 18th century brought large pieces of salt to the surface.

Chapel of St. Kinga – the most beautiful place in the whole mine

During the underground tour, the most beautiful and most photographed place in the entire Wieliczka mine, the famous chapel of St. Kinga, cannot be missed. If you don’t have your own photo from here, it’s as if you haven’t even visited Wieliczka. The chapel of Saint Kinga is carved entirely from salt and is lit by huge crystal chandeliers. It is considered the largest underground temple in Europe. The guides are aware of the weight of this place and, therefore, give you a few extra minutes here without an explanation so that you can absorb the perfect power of this place.

Weimar Chamber and Salt Lake

The Weimar Chamber offers an unforgettable cultural experience. A salt lake, sound and music productions, and the play of lights create an unusual atmosphere. Visitors can stay for hours and relax while listening to classical music.

Chamber of Michałowice and wooden structures

Michałowice Chamber is a beautiful place with majestic wooden structures. White high beams in combination with stairs and balconies in natural color create a wonderful impression. It is a place where many couples have already pledged their love and fidelity.

It is interesting that the first tourist route once led through this chamber. The first visitors to Wieliczka descended precisely on these stairs, by candlelight and accompanied by a mining orchestra.

Salt sculptures

Did you know that you can see sculptures carved from salt in the mine? The first such monument on our route was Nicolaus Copernicus. In addition, we also saw the salt statue of John Paul II, Saint Kinga, the bas-relief “The Last Supper” and the salt chandelier.

Meeting the dwarves

You will also meet dwarves on the route, and many of them also have glowing lanterns. Where else could you encounter goblins other than in an underground mine? And they are not just in one chamber, but you meet them at various random places along the route. And when they look really hard, they come across a (cute) dragon. These creatures are here mainly as a supplement and to make the tour easier for small visitors. Children and the world of fairy tales simply belong together, and a 2-hour long tour might otherwise get boring for some.

Useful information

1. Guided tours – guided tours in groups of 30 people, with whom you will experience an unusual adventure in exploring the salt kingdom in Wieliczka, and the entrance is always scheduled at a certain time.
2. Choice of 7 world languages ​​- when buying a ticket, you get to choose in which language you would like to complete the tour (Czech is not on offer – 6/2024)
3. You will be out of signal – you can take a break from your phone in the mine as there is no coverage underground. However, if you need access to the network and WIFI, this is only possible during the last stage of the tour, where the signal suddenly jumps up.
4. For everyone regardless of age – you can explore the underground world in any age. Just consider whether your state of health or your children’s little legs can handle the amount of stairs and the route of the tour, which is over 3 km long.
5. Clothing and temperature in the underground – it is a constant 17-18 (said to be a little less) degrees Celsius, but the air does not flow as much here, so the feeling temperature is higher. We started the tour in sweatshirts, but we gradually took them off. That and the 3.5 km jog between chambers will warm up your body. You can also take a small backpack with you to carry drinks and necessities.
6. Toilets – even in the underground and even during the tour you will come across toilets here. You will encounter them twice in the mines. The first time about halfway through the tour.
7. Food and drink – bring something to drink if you like. There won’t be time for food. And if you happen to forget a bottle of water on the surface or get a craving for coffee, for example. About halfway along the sightseeing route, you will stop at an underground buffet and souvenir shop, where you can buy supplies. At the end of the route, there is even a self-service restaurant waiting for you at reasonable prices.
8. Mine elevator – 800 steps and 3.5 km underground can take a lot of work, so you travel back to the surface using the original mine elevator.

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Not just salt (cultural activities of the mine)

Various events are often held in the beautiful salt halls. The mine often hosts classical and sacred music concerts, exhibitions, dance tournaments, martial arts tournaments, and football matches. There have been daredevils who have bungee jumped or flown in a hot air balloon here, earning an entry in the Guinness Book of Records. In the chapel of St. Kinga, many couples have already said “yes” . The chapel is open to all interested parties. Masses are held here every Sunday and once a year, even at midnight. Sitting here, more than a hundred meters underground, in these beautiful spaces, is an unforgettable experience.

And would you like to spend the night here? That’s no problem either. In the Słowacka Chamber, exactly 125 m underground, an entire recreation complex was built, where you have comfortable beds, a TV room, games, a reading room, a restaurant and all sanitary facilities at your disposal.

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