Salt mine in Wieliczka: once only the elite were allowed here

This unusual salt mine is known far beyond Poland. It gained such fame not only because it is one of the oldest salt deposits of rock salt in Europe, but also because the first tourists appeared here in the 15th century. True, these were mostly very rich and noble people, and it was possible to get into the mine itself on an excursion only after receiving special permission from the highest officials of the state. Let’s see why the Wieliczka mine is so remarkable that it was even included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and more than 1 million people become its visitors every year.

Rock salt in the small town of Wieliczka in Poland began to be mined in the XIII century. Over the centuries, the methods of salt extraction became more and more perfect: manual labor was partially replaced by the use of mechanisms, a steam lifting machine, electricity and an elevator appeared. Until the 20th century, labor in the mine was incredibly difficult, and workers received very little, although the extraction of salt itself brought enormous profits to the owners of the mine. Both convicts and civilian miners worked here, and horses were used to move the trolleys.

Meter by meter, miners advanced inland, and over 700 years of mine development, many corridors and galleries with a total length of about 290 kilometers were made in it. This figure is simply astounding, especially considering the fact that most of these corridors are the result of manual labor.

These corridors, or rather a small part of them, adapted for conducting excursions, are visited by numerous tourists. Commercial salt production was discontinued in 1996, and today the Wieliczka Salt Mine is an exclusively tourist attraction. Specialists have to make a lot of efforts to maintain the mine at the proper level. There are problems with high humidity, which affects salt sculptures badly and destroys salt walls, but an improved ventilation system still copes with them.

Watch the video: MUST VISIT! Krakow Salt Mines - Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour. Poland Travel Vlog 2018 (May 2024).