Sign in Subscribe
Poland

Wieliczka

Matthew Alfred Jones

• 4 min read
Share
Sign for the Wieliczka Salt Mine featuring two miners holding tools on either side of the mine's emblem, mounted on a white wall.
The iconic emblem of the Wieliczka Salt Mine welcomes visitors to one of Poland's most famous historic and UNESCO-listed attractions.

The Salt Mines - Wieliczka

3th August

After resting for a day, I went to Wieliczka which is about 30 mins from where I was staying to go to the salt mines there. They have been used for more than 700 years, since the Middle Ages and only about 2% of the mines can be visited now due to parts of it being neglected over the years.

Now some differences between salt mines, compared to coal mines is that you don't get loads of flammable coal dust everywhere, which is an explosion waiting to happen, but unlike coal mines where you can use metal to strengthen mine shafts/drifts, you can't in a salt mine, due to the salt corroding anything metal. This meant that they had to use wooden logs but interconnected in such a way that they didn't require metal nails.

Stacked timber supports coated with salt deposits inside the Wieliczka Salt Mine, illuminated by dim underground lighting.
Historic wooden supports preserved within the Wieliczka Salt Mine show how miners reinforced underground chambers while extracting salt over centuries.
Hand touching a salt-covered wall inside the Wieliczka Salt Mine, with white crystalline deposits illuminated by underground lighting.
A close-up of the salt-rich walls of the Wieliczka Salt Mine, where visitors can see and touch the mineral deposits that formed over millions of years.
Thick white salt crystals covering the walls and ceiling of a chamber inside the Wieliczka Salt Mine, illuminated by artificial lighting.
Dense salt deposits line the underground walls of the Wieliczka Salt Mine, forming striking natural crystal formations created by centuries of mineral-rich water seepage.

There are currently two paths available in the mine, the tourist route, where you can admire loads of different salt related structures, or the miners’ route, where we got to discover some of the activities that the miners would have undertaken in as part of their daily activities. I decided on the miners’ route as it looked more appealing to me.

Visitor wearing a red safety helmet, grey protective overalls and a mining lamp stands inside the Wieliczka Salt Mine visitor centre, making a peace sign before an underground tour.
Dressed in protective mining gear before descending into the Wieliczka Salt Mine for an underground exploration of the historic workings.
Visitors wearing mining overalls, helmets and headlamps use a large two-person saw to cut a log during a hands-on activity inside the Wieliczka Salt Mine.
Participants try traditional mining-era woodworking techniques during an interactive experience deep within the Wieliczka Salt Mine.
Table displaying historic mining and rescue equipment inside the Wieliczka Salt Mine, including breathing apparatus, helmets, gas masks and lamps, illuminated by visitors' headlamps.
A collection of mining and rescue equipment used underground at the Wieliczka Salt Mine highlights the tools and safety gear that supported generations of miners.

We also visited the chapel, which was quite good to see, especially after we all turned out headlamps off and turn off the main lights. Sat there in complete darkness, with the sounds of water dripping in the distance and the odd piece of wood creaking, was quite unnerving, but immense as we don't really stop to listen any more in this noise polluted world.

Visitors wearing helmets and headlamps sit around a large underground chamber inside the Wieliczka Salt Mine, illuminated only by pools of light in the darkness.
Participants pause in a vast subterranean chamber during an underground mining experience at the Wieliczka Salt Mine, relying on headlamps to navigate the historic workings.
Religious artwork depicting the crucifixion displayed in a carved niche within an underground salt chamber at the Wieliczka Salt Mine, illuminated by a spotlight against dark rock walls.
A sacred artwork set into the salt-rock walls of the Wieliczka Salt Mine reflects the strong religious traditions and spiritual heritage of generations of Polish miners.
Stone obelisk monument standing in an underground chamber at the Wieliczka Salt Mine, surrounded by dark salt-rock walls and a pile of loose rocks in the foreground.
An historic memorial deep within the Wieliczka Salt Mine commemorates figures associated with the mine's long history, set within one of the site's excavated underground chambers.
Close-up selfie of a visitor wearing glasses inside the Wieliczka Salt Mine, standing beneath a large illuminated crystal chandelier that creates a halo-like effect against the salt-rock walls.
A selfie beneath one of the Wieliczka Salt Mine's famous chandeliers, crafted from salt crystals and displayed within the mine's spectacular underground chambers.

We each got a souvenir salt crystal from there, that we had to forage for in piles of salt, which was a good reminder of what we did.

Chunk of rock salt displayed on a dark tabletop, showing translucent crystals and naturally irregular surfaces.
A souvenir piece of rock salt from the Wieliczka Salt Mine, revealing the crystalline mineral that has been extracted from the site for centuries.

Afterwards, I went to get some lunch and got some Zurek, which is a Polish sour Rye soup with egg and sausage in it and some pork perogies.

Bowl of żurek, a traditional Polish sour rye soup, served with pieces of sausage, accompanied by slices of bread in wicker baskets.
Traditional Polish żurek, a hearty sour rye soup with sausage, served with fresh bread on the side.
Plate of traditional Polish pierogi filled dumplings, topped with fried onions and herbs, served with a garnish of fresh sprouts.
Traditional Polish pierogi served with caramelised onions and herbs, showcasing one of Poland's most popular and comforting dishes.

Next time, I will be heading to Energylandia!!!!