Wieliczka Salt Mine is incorporated in the area of Wieliczka, southern Poland, which lies inside the Krakow metropolitan area. Through the Neolithic times, table salt was produced here through the upwelling brine.
Nowadays, the mine never extracts salt by mining because extraction stopped in 1996. Salt is still created from underground brine, then it is pumped on the surface and changed into pure evaporated salt.
The mines have become a state Polish Historical Monument as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its attraction includes four chapels, an underground lake, historic salt-mining and labyrinthine technology displays.
Learn more about Wieliczka Salt Mine in these top fascinating facts.
1. Wieliczka Salt Mine is finished 700 Years
The historical past from the Wieliczka Salt mine dates back on the thirteenth century. Brine following up to the surface ended up collected and processed because of its sodium chloride content.
King Casimir II the fantastic contributed greatly for the growth and development of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This granted the mines many privileges and that he took the miners under his protection.
Over the time of the mine’s running, many chambers were dug and various technologies were added, like the Hungarian horse treadmill. During World War II, the Germans used the mine as a possible underground facility for war-related manufacturing.
2. A lot of the Mine Interior is made from Salt
It is a salt mill, after all. Most tunnels have walls, floors, roofs, as well as crystal decorations and statues carved in salt. Once you go to the mines, you’ll be able to touch everything to feel.
There are wooden beams from the tunnels, and are generally the lots of sculptures and reliefs around the mine. The wood was adopted to shield the walls and ceilings manufactured from salt, which explains why there was no forest near Wieliczka from the 15th century.
You will find most stunning crystals hanging from numerous chandeliers within the mine. They look like glass but they are actually giant salt crystals from rock salt that have been dissolved and reconstructed.
3. Wieliczka belongs to a UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1978, the Wieliczka Salt Mines in Poland was indexed by the UNESCO World Heritage list plus the historic city centre of Krakow. It really 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 within the mines weren’t the best. So, the miners created four chapels to hope in. The mine will be the only 1 by having an underground church in Europe.
One of several chapels was the Chapel of St. Kinga, probably the most impressive the main salt mines. It took over thirty years for 3 men to complete the chapel removing approximately 20,000 tonnes of salt.
Holy masses are carried out even today around the occasion from the name day of St. Kinga and yuletide. Gleam large salt statue in honour of St. Kinga, which you could also see a lot of the chandeliers using their rock salt crystal.
5. In The Middle Age, Wieliczka Salt Mining Generated one third of Poland’s Income
The wages from salt mining landed a third 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 word “salary” is employed to spell it out earnings.
Because of salt income, tenement houses and royal residences were built. This designed a fortune for families with names growing away from salt.
6. The Mines have several Unique Machinery and Structure
You’ll find the world’s largest mining machines made of wood, a horse treadmill from your 17th century as well as the horn of miners from your miner’s brotherhood from 1534. Inside the 17th century, the first horse was exposed to the salt mine.
The few things in the mine that weren’t manufactured from salt were buckets, winches, mining tools and several sculptures made from wood. Salt is a superb preservative and many tools and apparatus are nevertheless in excellent.
7. Hot Air Ballooning and Horseriding Have Took Place from the Mine
A hot air balloon was lifted 65 feet up and running for four minutes in 2014. However, there is absolutely no proof of that online outside their site.
Also, sporting activities have taken place in the mines, including soccer games and windsurfing on Subterrain Lake. Some areas might be hired out for formal dinners, weddings, and even concerts.
8. The Mine is Deep
The cheapest part of the mine is 1073 feet below ground along with the total length of the mine tunnel is 178 miles.
The easiest path to the mines is the tourist route, which lets you understand the great thing about the mine along with the most crucial elements of it. The gap is 3.5 kilometres and the depth you are going to reach is 135 meters.
Most rocks inside the mine use a dull grey look; however, in most batches, the salts look fluffy white. The miners nicknamed this cauliflower.
9. The Mines Have already been Featured in Culture
In 1995, Preisner’s Music, a selection of film music by Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner was recorded by Sinfonia Varsovia in the Wieliczka mines chapel. Also, in 1999 in the US, the Wieliczka Salt Mine was featured within a Modern Marvels episode on salt mines.
In the Australian television series Spellbinder: Land in the Dragon Lord, the mines were featured as the Land with the Moloch. The mines have appeared on multiple editions of an reality show; The Amazing Race, The astonishing Race Australia 1 and others.
10. Breath Healthy Air During Your Visit
The air inside the 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 you’ll take pride in helps cure a hangover.
More info about Auschwitz and Salt Mine tours you can check our new net page