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Wieliczka Salt Mine. Photo by Gusim-

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Wieliczka Salt Mine

Wieliczka Salt Mine is in the town of Wieliczka, southern Poland, which lies within the Krakow metropolitan area. From the Neolithic times, table salt was produced here from the upwelling brine.

Nowadays, the mine never extracts salt by mining because extraction stopped in 1996. Salt is still produced from underground brine, it is then pumped to the surface and transformed into pure evaporated salt.

The mines are now the official Polish Historical Monument and 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 10 fascinating facts.

1. Wieliczka Salt Mine is Over 700 Years 

The history of the Wieliczka Salt mine dates back to the thirteenth century. Brine following up to the surface had been collected and processed for its sodium chloride content.

King Casimir II the Great contributed greatly to the development of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This granted the mines many privileges and he took the miners under his protection.

Over the time of the mine鈥檚 running, many chambers were dug and various technologies were added, such as the Hungarian horse treadmill. During World War II, the Germans used the mine as an underground facility for war-related manufacturing.

2. Most of The Mine Interior is Made of Salt

Image byGusim-

This is a salt mill, after all. Most tunnels have walls, floors, roofs, and even crystal decorations and statues carved in salt. Once you visit the mines, you can touch everything to feel.

There are wooden beams in the tunnels, and so are the dozens of sculptures and reliefs around the mine. The wood was used to protect the walls and ceilings made of salt, which is why there was no forest near Wieliczka in the 15th century.

There are most stunning crystals hanging from numerous chandeliers in the mine. They look like glass but are actually giant salt crystals from rock salt that have been dissolved and reconstructed.

3. Wieliczka is Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1978, the Wieliczka Salt Mines in Poland was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list alongside the historic city centre of Krakow. It is one of the oldest mines in the world.

The oldest document confirms its existence dates back to 1044. The mine site also includes the Wieliczka Saltworks Castle as well as the nearby Bochnia Salt Mine.

4. The Mine Has for Chapels

Photo by Cezary p-

 The conditions in the mines weren鈥檛 the best. So, the miners created four chapels to pray in. The mine is the only one with an underground church in Europe.

One of the chapels was the Chapel of St. Kinga, the most impressive part of the salt mines. It took over thirty years for three men to complete the chapel removing approximately 20,000 tonnes of salt.

Holy masses are carried out to this day on the occasion of the name day of St. Kinga and Christmas. There is also a large salt statue in honour of St. Kinga, where you can also see several of the chandeliers with their rock salt crystal.

5. In The Middle Age, Wieliczka Salt Mining Generated a Third of Poland鈥檚 Income

The income from salt mining accounted for a third of the income of the royal treasury in Poland. Salt was considered a noble metal and was called 鈥淲hite gold鈥�.

During that time, many transactions were paid using salt and work, which is why nowadays, the term 鈥渟alary鈥� is used to describe earnings.

As a result of 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 Many Unique Machinery and Structure

Wieliczka salt mine. Photo by Superchil-

There are the world’s largest mining machines made of wood, a horse treadmill from the 17th century and the horn of miners from the miner鈥檚 brotherhood from 1534. In the 17th century, the first horse was brought to the salt mine.

The few things in the mine that weren鈥檛 made of salt were buckets, winches, mining tools and some sculptures made of wood. Salt is an excellent preservative and many tools and apparatus are still in good condition.

7. Hot Air Ballooning and Bungee Jumping Have Took Place in the Mine

A hot air balloon was lifted 65 feet off the floor for four minutes in 2014. However, there is no evidence of that online outside their website.

Also, sports activities have taken place in the mines, such as soccer games and windsurfing on Subterrain Lake. Some areas can be hired out for formal dinners, weddings, and even concerts.

8. The Mine is Deep

The lowest part of the mine is 1073 feet below ground and the total length of the mine tunnel is 178 miles. 

The easiest route to the mines is the tourist route, which allows you to see the beauty of the mine and the most important parts of it. The distance is 3.5 kilometres and the depth you will reach is 135 meters.

Most rocks in the mine have a dull grey look; however, in some batches, the salts look fluffy white. The miners nicknamed this cauliflower.

9. The Mines Have Been 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 US, the Wieliczka Salt Mine was featured in a Modern Marvels episode on salt mines.

In the Australian television series Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord, the mines were featured as the Land of the Moloch. The mines have also appeared on multiple editions of a reality show; The Amazing Race, The Amazing Race Australia 1 and many more.

10. Breath Healthy Air During Your Visit

The air inside the Wieliczka salt mine is free from bacteria, viruses and pollutants. A visit to them can relieve people suffering from respiratory diseases and allergies and it also helps cure a hangover.

There is a private rehabilitation and wellness building underground. For as little as $40 a night, you can spend time underground breathing some of the cleanest air in the world.