Search engine for touristic excursions to any place in the world Wieliczka Salt Mine is within the area of Wieliczka, southern Poland, which lies inside Krakow metropolitan area. From the Neolithic times, table salt was produced here from your upwelling brine.
Nowadays, the mine never extracts salt by mining because extraction stopped in 1996. Salt remains to be produced from underground brine, it is then pumped on the surface and become pure evaporated salt.
The mines are the state Polish Historical Monument plus a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its attraction includes four chapels, an underground lake, historic salt-mining and labyrinthine technology displays.
Find out more on Wieliczka Salt Mine in these top 10 fascinating facts.
1. Wieliczka Salt Mine is finished 700 Years
A history in the Wieliczka Salt mine extends back for the thirteenth century. Brine following up to the surface had been collected and processed due to the sodium chloride content.
King Casimir II the fantastic contributed greatly towards the continuing development of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This granted the mines many privileges anf the husband took the miners under his protection.
On the period of the mine’s running, many chambers were dug and other technologies were added, like the Hungarian horse treadmill. During Wwii, the Germans used the mine being an underground facility for war-related manufacturing.
2. Most of The Mine Interior is constructed of Salt
This can be a salt mill, in the end. Most tunnels have walls, floors, roofs, and even crystal decorations and statues carved in salt. When you visit the mines, it is possible to touch something to feel.
You can find wooden beams in the tunnels, and are also the dozens of sculptures and reliefs around the mine. The wood was adopted to protect the ceilings and walls made from salt, which is the reason there wasn’t any forest near Wieliczka inside the 15th century.
You will find most stunning crystals hanging from numerous chandeliers from the mine. They are like glass but you are actually giant salt crystals from rock salt which were dissolved and reconstructed.
3. Wieliczka is Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1978, the Wieliczka Salt Mines in Poland was placed in the UNESCO World Heritage list plus the historic city centre of Krakow. It is among the oldest mines on the planet.
The oldest document confirms its existence extends back to 1044. The mine site comes with the Wieliczka Saltworks Castle plus the nearby Bochnia Salt Mine.
4. The Mine Has for Chapels
The circumstances from the mines weren’t the most effective. So, the miners created four chapels to wish in. The mine is the only 1 by having an underground church in Europe.
Among the chapels was the Chapel of St. Kinga, essentially the most impressive the main salt mines. It took control of many years for several men to finish the chapel removing approximately 20,000 tonnes of salt.
Holy masses are finished today for the occasion in the name day of St. Kinga and Christmas. There’s also a large salt statue in honour of St. Kinga, where you can also see some of the chandeliers with their rock salt crystal.
5. In The Middle Age, Wieliczka Salt Mining Generated a Third of Poland’s Income
The wages from salt mining accounted for a 3rd with the wages of the royal treasury in Poland. Salt was considered a noble metal and was called “White gold”.
During that time, many transactions were paid using salt and work, which is the reason nowadays, the definition of “salary” is utilized to describe earnings.
Due to salt income, tenement houses and royal residences were built. This created a fortune for families with names growing out of salt.
6. The Mines have numerous Unique Machinery and Structure
You will find the world’s largest mining machines made of wood, a horse treadmill from your 17th century and also the horn of miners from your miner’s brotherhood from 1534. Within the 17th century, the 1st horse was taken to the salt mine.
The few things from the mine that weren’t created from salt were buckets, winches, mining tools and a few sculptures made from wood. Salt is an excellent preservative and several tools and apparatus remain in good condition.
7. Hot Air Ballooning and Sailing Have Came about in the Mine
A fashionable air balloon was lifted 65 feet up for four minutes in 2014. However, there is no proof of that online outside their website.
Also, sports activities happened from the mines, for example soccer games and windsurfing on Subterrain Lake. Some areas could be hired out for formal dinners, weddings, and in many cases concerts.
8. The Mine is Deep
The minimum the main mine is 1073 feet underground and the total whole mine tunnel is 178 miles.
The easiest approach to the mines may be the tourist route, which lets you start to see the attractiveness of the mine as well as the most crucial areas of it. The gap is 3.5 kilometres and also the depth you’ll reach is 135 meters.
Most rocks inside the mine have a very dull grey look; however, in certain batches, the salts look fluffy white. The miners nicknamed this cauliflower.
9. The Mines Happen to be Featured in Culture
In 1995, Preisner’s Music, a compilation of film music by Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner was recorded by Sinfonia Varsovia in the Wieliczka mines chapel. Also, in 1999 in the usa, the Wieliczka Salt Mine was featured in the Modern Marvels episode on salt mines.
Inside the Australian television series Spellbinder: Land from the Dragon Lord, the mines were featured because the Land from the Moloch. The mines in addition have appeared on multiple editions of an reality show; The astounding Race, The Amazing Race Australia 1 and many more.
10. Breath Healthy Air Within your Visit
Mid-air inside Wieliczka salt mine is provided for free from bacteria, viruses and pollutants. A trip to them can relieve people suffering from respiratory diseases and allergies looked after helps cure a hangover.
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