Underground Treasures
by A look at the famous salt mine in Wieliczka, Poland.
Salt has always been a precious commodity in the world. Since the Middle Ages, trade in salt has flourished. In Africa, long caravans with camels laden with the salty “gold” have traversed the deserts. In some countries, salt was used as a form of currency.
Also since the Middle Ages, a mine in Poland has operated continuously. This is a mine called Wieliczka, in the south of Poland near the city of Krakow.
The first existing documentation referring to the mine is dated 1044 and refers to it as “magnum sal (great salt) alias Wieliczka.”
“Lying on nine levels, its original excavations (longitudinals, traverses, chambers, lakes, as well as minor and major shafts) stretch for the total of about 300 kilometres: reaching the depth of 327 metres they illustrate all the stages of mining technology development over time,” quotes the application for UNESCO World site. Wieliczka has been a UNESCO site since 1978.
But it is not only the depth or length of the mine that is astounding. There are unparalleled treasures to be seen.
This is a chapel dedicated to Saint Kinga, carved entirely in salt.
Here is a chandelier made of salt crystals.
The illuminated statue of Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners, carved in salt.
Da Vinci’s”The Last Supper” carved in salt.
There are several scenes and figures carved out of salt to represent events in the history of Poland.
Health
Wieliczka is not just known for its beauties though. Since 1826, brine baths were used there as a treatment for 36 various ailments from runny nose to infertility. In 1958 it was discovered that the special microclimate in the mine helped in treatment of respiratory diseases such as asthma, inflammation of upper and lower respiratory tracts, and some allergies. The underground clinic founded in the 50s for these purposes operates to this day.
Tourism
In the 14th century already the mine was shown to royal court visitors as a site of interest. True tourist activity, however, did not begin until the end of the 15th century. In the early 19th century, the mine had about 100 visitors a week. Among the attractions at the time were: crossing a bridge over a chasm, boating on a brine lake, a show of the so-called ‘devilish ride’ showing miners being let down on a rope, and listening to the reverberating echoes of a pistol shot. The mine is now visited by a million tourist a year.
For more information please see the official site for the mine, the Wikipedia Wieliczka page, and the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Liked it
