May 28, 2014

From the Wieliczka website. “The “Wieliczka” Salt Mine is one of the most valuable monuments of material and spiritual culture in Poland. Each year it is visited by more than one million tourists from all over the world.

It is also a world class monument, featuring among twelve objects on the UNESCO’s World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.

Today, the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine combines many centuries of tradition and modernity, the history of several hundred years and an underground metropolis with extensive infrastructure.

The mine is a product of work of tens of generations of miners, a monument to the history of Poland and to the Polish nation – a brand, present in Polish consciousness for centuries.”

I remembered visiting the Salt Mine of Berchtesgaden, with Patricia in 1973, and thinking it was really cool.

Allan and Alex were not overly excited about this visit. However, they were both glad we went. 2000 feet below ground, the chambers, lakes, and canals are all man made. Cobbled paths, chandeliers, magnificent carvings and statues are all made from salt. Many of these sculptures were done by regular miners, not artists.

Click on image to start slideshow.