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. The masterpiece is the extraordinary Chapel of St. Kinga, a church where everything – from its chandeliers to the altar – is made from salt.

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.

Today, with the history of more than seven hundred years, the historic “Wieliczka” Salt Mine is Poland’s oldest business venture. Since 1978 it features on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. The interactive time axis allows to present its extraordinary history.

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.

The Pilgrims’ Route

Magnificent chapels, religious sculptures carved in salt, unique views. Beautiful chambers, galleries and passageways. Here, faith gives one strength for each step.

The Pilgrims’ Route, blessed by His Eminence Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz in early 2010, is a beautiful testimony to the piousness of generations of Wieliczka miners working here.

You can admire the magnificent sculptures in the chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony, with features blurred as a result of activity of the forces of nature and the relentless passage of time.

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The wooden Golgotha of the Wieliczka miners will delight you with its artistry and elegance of execution.

Chapel of St. Kinga

Your journey will be crowned by visiting the wonderful Chapel of St. Kinga where you will find splendid altars, a carved pulpit, a copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper and a salt statue of John Paul II.

The Chapel of St. Kinga is located 101 meters underground.

See the panorama of the Chapel HERE

The Chapel of St. Kinga is located 101 meters underground, its dimensions are of 31 x 15 m, and its floor area is of 465 m2. Its splendours make it the dreamland location for a Holy Mass, a wedding, a classical or religious music concert for groups of up to 400 people.

The next stop for prayer is the Chapel of St. John characteristic for its wooden polychrome interior.

the Chapel of St. John

Part of the route leads through the excavations of the “Wieliczka” Krakow Saltworks Museum where, in the one-and-only underground chapel dedicated to John Paul II, a cleric accompanying the pilgrimage group can say Holy Mass.

The Chapel of St. Kinga is the crown jewel of the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine and the miners’ pride.

The pilgrims can also enjoy various dishes prepared especially for them and purchase religious souvenirs.

The Pilgrims’ Route leads through the excavations of the Tourist Route and the “Wieliczka” Krakow Saltworks Museum.

The tour of the “God Bless” Pilgrims’ Route takes about 2.5 hours. The priest accompanying the group can celebrate a Mass at the end of the visit.

the Chapel of St. John

Good to know:

• The visit is always conducted under the supervision of a guide.
• Bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes.
• Temperature underground ranges between 14° and 16° C.
• You will descend into the mine by stairs to the depth of 64m and return to the surface by elevator from the depth of 135m.
• You can leave your luggage in storage located next to the tourist information office.
• Smoking and the use of open fire is not allowed at the mine.

Who was St. Kinga?

Kinga, also called Kunegunda was born in 1234 and died 24 July 1292, in Stary Sacz.

She was the daughter of the King of Hungary Bela IV and the wife of the Polish ruler, Boleslaw V the Chaste. Later, she joined the Poor Clares monastery and became a saint of the Catholic Church.

According to the legend she also endowed Hungarian salt which during her times was being exploited in Wieliczka and Bochnia on a large scale.

About the mine

The historic salt mine underground enjoys the interest of many event organisers – conferences, symposiums, banquets and training sessions.

The natural beauty of the underground, unique interiors, the convenient location of the Mine and the professional staff guarantee successful events at the highest organisational level and unforgettable experiences for the participants.

The Mine operates several exceptional underground conference and banquet halls, ranging from 58 to 680 square metres, suitable for all kinds of events – from small dinners and business meetings, to large banquets and concerts for hundreds of people.

The underground chambers are furnished with state of the art equipment, with Internet and mobile phone network coverage available in most of them.

Every chamber has its own dining facilities and our chefs make every effort to ensure the highest possible level of service and a menu that will sate the appetite of even the most demanding guests.

Conferences and other events can also be organised in the Grand Sal**** Hotel, which belongs to the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine, located in a picturesque park right next to the Daniłowicz Shaft, which is used by tourists for going underground.

Additional attractions of the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine:

• a performance by the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine Representative Brass Orchestra
• being granted the title of an Honorary Guest of the Mine
• a ferry ride across a brine lake
• a miners’ welcome drink
• an Underground Escapade, or a short tour filled with adventures – an excursion that combines fun, sightseeing and effective team building
• Discover the Mine by Night – visit the salt underground with the only light provided by your personal mining lamp
• a night stay in the Słowacki Chamber, 125 metres underground
• salt souvenirs for guests

Source: www.wieliczka-saltmine.com