Wieliczka salt mine - memories of European Meetup '18 - Kraków

[ErmesT]

You cannot say that you have visited Kraków, if you missed to visit Wieliczka salt mine.

The oldest part of the mine was excavated from the 13th century when, according to their website, the first rock of salt was discovered. The salt excavation terminated on 1964, when on level V the Allergy Treatment Health Resort “Kinga” opens. It was the first clinic for Salt Therapy. The Underground Museum of Saltwork opened on 1966, and was continuously improved, up to the actual status. On 1978 the mine is entered on UNESCO’s First World List of Natural and Cultural Heritage.

My first visit to the mine was several years ago, so I was very happy when @TorM told me that the mine was part of the meet-up activity. The mine is huge, with 287 Km of galleries (well, the tourist route is just 3 km) and 327 meters in deep.

So, when entering in the mine, be ready to go down, down, down for 350 steps, to reach the level of - 135 meters, where the tourist tour starts.

One of the first important chamber that you reach is Janowice Chamber (XVII century), with the sculptures placed in 1967, representing Princess Kinga and the discover of the first rock of salt

The visit last two hours, passing from narrow galleries to huge cavern. All around, statues are showing how the work in a mine was

Slowly, you reach one of the most impressive Churches that I have ever seen. Entirely excavated in the salt inside a huge cavern of salt, The Chapel of St. Kinga is incredible. Sculptures and bas-relief - carved from the salt, crossed by the light.

You will find a representation of the last supper, a nativity, and a huge amount of statue, including the one of pope Jean Paul II, that in the church was used to celebrate the mass

There is much more to see, and the photoalbum is here for you.

So, this is a small part of what you missed at European Meet Up 2018/ Poland

And of course, you missed the opportunity for meeting @TorM, @JanVanHaver, @helga19, @NatalkaR, @AntonellaGr, @LudwigGermany, @davide7O, @barrazacarlos, @ikaramon

This year the European Meet-up is in Ghent (2nd European Meet-up (Ghent, Belgium), hosted by @JanVanHaver

See you there

[helga19]

Thank you very much @ErmesT for mention me in your post.

It is a great pleasure to see our photos again and remember this my first expierence in Meet-Up.

Best wishes,

Inga

[ErmesT]

Youi are welcome @helga19 , It was a pleasure to meet you in there

[DeniGu]

Hi @ErmesT ,

Great post!

I’ve never been inside a salt mine (or any mine for that matter), and it was quite interesting to see the tunnels and scenes representing salt mining. The sculptures and bas-reliefs are amazing!

Thank you for sharing this curious part of the First European meet-up.

[ErmesT]

The place is amazing @DeniGu

I visited Salzburg mine too. It is a funny place, but in Wieliczka you really feel the spirit of the mine. Dark and deep, with a lot of history and culture. The sculptures, with the light passing through, are impressive. I really suggest a visit

[davidhyno]

Hi @ErmesT !

Great post and I really love the salt mines!

You reminded me when I visited this salt mine in Hallein (Austria) almost four years ago where you can have a wonderful experience with the whole family thanks to the descent with a little train, a boat trip and a descent on the old wooden chutes used by miners!
Here is a small funny video with me and my daughter: go go go !

I see some old friends in your photos so I take it easy to say goodbye @helga19 , @NatalkaR , @AntonellaGr , and @davide7O !

Have a great day,

David

[DeniGu]

I trust your judgement, and I’ll add this place to my list, @ErmesT .

Thank you again!

[ErmesT]

Thank you @davidhyno , yes, I remember the mine, very funny.

Wieliczka is not so funny, but is very interesting, and you have to walk a lot

[NatalkaR]

dear @ErmesT ! thanks for good memories!!! it was amazing trip! I’m happy that we did it. of course, I’ll try to come to Belgium for seeing you and other amazing people@TorM, @JanVanHaver, @INGA1, @NatalkaR, @AntonellaGr, @LudwigGermany, @davide7O, @barrazacarlos, @ikaramon

[ErmesT]

Yessss @NatalkaR

Can’t wait to meet you again.We are getting a good trend of International meeting, isn’t it?

[NatalkaR]

o, yes @ErmesT :-))))))))) it’s very good tradition! I like it so much!

[FaridTDF]

Es un viaje increíble a las entrañas de la Tierra, tantos metros en lo profundo, casi que intimida un poco, pero poder ver lo que realizaron a lo largo de tantos años de esculpirla y crear tantas obras de arte, es un lugar que me gustaría visitar, sería toda una aventura @ErmesT .

Farid.

[ErmesT]

Yes @FaridTDF , the mine is interesting, and you can really see how they was working on the XVI century, for extracting the salt.

BTW, in ther you feel very comfortable. The air is not humid, as the salt is drying the hair, the temperature is perfect (16 - 17 °C) for a long walk, so you don’t have any sense of oppression when in there.

[FaridTDF]

@ErmesT , realmente me impresiona esta obra, muy linda las Fotos que compartiste, es un sitio donde que vistaré.

Farid.

[IlankovanT]

Beautiful @ErmesT , Thank you for sharing this European meetup memory with us

[Fikus]

Very interesting photos. It creates the impression of complete immersion in the environment where the photo was taken.

[BeatrizAguilar]

@ErmesT you and other European local guides experienced great moments. This visit will be unforgettable. Thanks for the photos and the description of this particular mine of salt. I have been in a similar mine in Zipaquirá, Colombia. It is also a salt mine but it doesn’t look so clear and brithg as Wieliczka’s. I took a look at this place on Google Maps and I was fascinated by its floor, so clean and polish; do you know if it’s made of salt too?

[ErmesT]

Thank you @BeatrizAguilar

The floor of some part of the mine is made of salt, indeed. Also the statues are made of salt. This is the most fascinating part: the light passing through the statues. It makes everything irreal, is like if everything is living, the light seems to come from the statue itself.

The history of the mine is interesting too. The salt was previously coming from Hungary. The discovery of the first rock of salt changed completely the economy of the area. That’s why Princess Kinga is so celebrate and respected. The village and the small castle are interesting too. A lot of history in there

[ErmesT]

Thank you @FaridTDF

hope I will be able to guide you there, in the future

[Ivi_Ge]

Thanks @ErmesT for this post! As I can see you had a great experience.

While I was reading your post I just remembered my firs visit to the mine one year ago in Japan - Kazuno city. It was amazing day there. Here you can see some photos.