Wieliczka - A Heritage in the Heart of Poland

The European continent has many magnificent caves that are famous worldwide, but in addition to natural caves gifted by nature, there are also man-made caves, built by human hands to serve various purposes.

One of the most famous man-made caves is Wieliczka – a salt mine in the southern region of Poland. This salt mine was used by the local people from the 13th century, operating until the 20th century when mining ceased and it was put into preservation.

Legend of the Guardian Deity

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of Poland's most famous tourist destinations and is well-known to many international visitors. This salt mine features a system of caves, tunnels, lakes, churches, sanatoriums, and passageways forming a unique underground city located in the town of Wieliczka, 13 km from the center of Krakow.

The Wieliczka salt mine is associated with the legend of Princess Kinga. She was the daughter of King Bela IV, the great Hungarian king. When she turned 15, due to the friendly relations between Hungary and Poland, Kinga was married to Boleslaw, Prince of Krakow. Before she left for Poland, King Bela IV asked his daughter what she wanted as a dowry. The princess replied that she wanted a gift for all the Polish people, and that gift was the salt from the Erdély region. The princess then dropped her wedding ring into the mine to assert her ownership and returned to Poland with a group of Hungarian miners. She then opened a salt mine on the outskirts of Krakow. This is the legendary story of the formation of the Wieliczka salt mine.

The story may be just a legend, but in the hearts of every Pole, Princess Kinga will forever remain a beautiful symbol of the filial devotion of a foreign bride to her husband's homeland. After the salt mining area developed, Princess Kinga was revered as the patron goddess of the salt mines and miners. To depict this legend, statues were carved of Princess Kinga and her entourage searching for the wedding ring in the salt mine.

Underground city

Just hearing the words "salt mine," most people probably imagine a typical "mining" area like coal or copper mines, with a cluttered living space. But the Wieliczka salt mine area is not like that; it's meticulously planned and organized. Without the signposts guiding you to the salt mine area, few would realize they're walking through a massive underground mining system located deep beneath the surface.

According to scientific research, about 20 million years ago, the Wieliczka area was originally a sea with natural caves. The area gradually became land, and sea salt accumulated in the caves and underground crevices, forming salt mines.

The main attraction of the Wieliczka Salt Mine is its spectacular man-made underground city. This is a massive underground system, stretching 300 km and reaching a maximum depth of 327 m. The mine is divided into three main levels for exploration. The first level is approximately 64 m deep, the second is further divided into two sections: the "upper" section is over 90 m deep, and the "lower" section is 125 m deep. The third level is 135 m deep. Today, all three levels are underground chambers for tourists to admire and learn more about the mining techniques used by the ancient miners.

With over 3,000 caves of varying sizes and 3 vast corridors ranging in height from 64 m to 135 m, the Wieliczka Salt Mine is a unique work of art because the architecture of its chambers is entirely made of salt.

With such a vast salt mine, it is estimated that the amount of salt here would be enough to feed the Polish population for centuries. However, if the Wieliczka salt mine were merely a mine for producing ordinary "table salt," it certainly wouldn't be so famous and attract so many tourists.

Due to the nature of their work, these miners always work hundreds of meters underground and are easily exposed to many unforeseen dangers. Therefore, they turned to religion and the gods who protected the mines. They not only sculpted statues of supreme beings but also carved underground churches to pray and rely on their faith.

It is from this very place that the underground churches and the vast system of the entire salt mine have become a magnificent legacy that the miners of old left to posterity, thanks to their talent and tireless efforts.

Many large caves in the mining area have been converted into churches, most notably St. Kinga Church, which began construction in 1896 and was completed in 1963. St. Kinga Church is 54 meters long, 15-18 meters wide, and 10-12 meters high, and features magnificent chandeliers on its ceiling.

Besides the 3-meter-tall statue of the Virgin Mary, there are many reliefs here, most notably a painting based on Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. Everything in the church is made of salt: the mythological statues, the altar, the ceiling, and the floor. Even the chandeliers are made of salt crystals. Everything is meticulously crafted and takes a long time to complete.

Here, visitors will be amazed by the wondrous beauty of nature, as well as the miraculous work of human hands. The rooms, shrines, small churches, and all the tools used by miners over the past 700 years speak volumes about the lives, work, and silent battle with nature of these miners.

A wondrous beauty combining nature and human ingenuity.

From the outside, the Wieliczka salt mine looks simple, with an old building resembling a train station nestled in a lush green garden filled with colorful flowers. But as you venture deeper underground via the staircases, you'll be overwhelmed by the gradually expanding space, a magnificent labyrinth.

When visiting the salt mine, tourists have two ways to descend into the mine shafts. One is to go down using the elevator that miners used in the past, but which has now been redesigned for visitor safety. The other is to walk down the stairs. It is estimated that visitors will have to walk approximately 2,000 meters underground to visit the salt mine.

The path down to the Wieliczka salt mine is made of deep wooden steps and corridors permeated with the dampness of salt. From here, dozens of sculptural structures such as galleries, libraries, infirmaries, churches, restaurants, and post offices—all made entirely of salt—will unfold before the eyes of visitors.

Concerts and other events are sometimes held in the salt mine's largest auditorium. In addition, there is a nursing home for people with asthma and allergies located approximately 135 meters underground. Furthermore, there is a huge museum showcasing salt mining equipment from the past centuries.

The soft pine logs lining the corridor, after absorbing the moisture of the salt over a long period, have become as hard as stone. Along the corridor are statues of famous figures in Polish history, such as the explorer Nicolas Copernicus, saints, and renowned Polish kings. All are sculpted from crystallized salt, possessing a mystical beauty unlike any other material.

Besides its unique architecture and sculptures, the Wieliczka salt mine also features underground salt lakes at deeper levels. Visitors can take a ferry across many of these salt lakes to visit the museum showcasing salt sculptures. This museum has been open to visitors since 1950.

Although the entire mining area is excavated very deep underground, strangely enough, at a depth of 130 meters, visitors can communicate with the outside world using mobile phones. This is a unique feature that remains difficult to explain and has become a fascinating attraction for visitors.

Since 1996, the Wieliczka Salt Mine ceased to function as a salt mine and became a tourist destination. In 1978, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Thanks to comprehensive tourism planning, visitors can now enjoy Polish cuisine at shops located right inside the cave, as well as buy souvenirs and send them at a small post office situated more than 100 meters underground.

It is estimated that Wieliczka welcomes over a million visitors to its salt mine each year. Even to enter the mine by elevator instead of walking, visitors need to book a reservation months in advance.

My Tong