SALT MINE

The Wieliczka Salt Mine

The historic Wieliczka Salt Mine is the only one mining site in the world still open since the medieval times. Its original excavations (pavements, traverses, chambers, lakes, windows, shafts), which are about 300 km long and are located on 9 stories that go as deep as 327 m down, present all historical eras of mining. Among its 3,000 chambers, only 1% is open to visitors. As we follow the guide, we can only see a glimpse of what’s hidden in all those halls. But even seeing so little can excite and take one’s breath away.

The basic aim of today’s works in the Wieliczka Salt Mine is to save the historical matter of this place; it’s a legally protected landmark. In 1976, it was registered as a national landmark, and two years after that, it was added to the first World Cultural and Natural Heritage List of UNESCO. In 1994, it was made Historic Monument by Polish President.