Wieliczka Salt Mine

After Rynek Underground, I toured a salt mine. This mine is over 750 years old and stopped performing as an active salt mine as recently as the 90s. Underground, there were many statues made entirely from salt, carved predominantly by miners. All of the structural supports of the mine were made from wood, as the salt air petrifies the wood and allows it to last for centuries.

Interestingly enough, for multiple centuries, horses were used in the mines to transport the salt blocks and crank the pulley systems. Since it was so difficult to get a horse into the mine, these horses stayed there their entire lives. They had stalls and carers and lived long lives because of the salt air, which contains healing properties.

Within the mine, there are 12 chapels, with the greatest being an entire Catholic cathedral carved entirely from the salt. This cathedral is operational and holds mass every Sunday, 210 feet below the surface. This cathedral was completed by 3 miners over the course of 70 years.

The salt mine also holds 3 underground lakes whose water is saltier than the Dead Sea.Read more