Thinking about salt mines Poland, probably everybody would thing about Wieliczka Salt Mine. In deed, it is the most popular mine in the country. Yet, that’s not all! There are several other salt mines Poland and they are worth visiting as well. One of their advantages over Wieliczka is that you won’t meet so many tourists in there.
Salt Mines Poland – Bochnia
Historical Salt Mine in Bochnia was working from 1251 to 1990 constantly. It’s regarded as the official national Polish monument and is incsribed on UNESCO list of world heritages. What’s more, it’s the one of the oldest salt mines Poland and in the whole world!
It is located in Southern Poland, only about 30 km away from Wieliczka Salt Mine. Although it’s smaller, it’s equally, if not more attractive! By visiting the mine, you’ll be able to familiarize with traditional mining techniques. Due to the specific „stark” outlook of mine’s corridors, visitors can feel as if they went back in time. It’s an amazing underground labyrinth that will provide you with remarkable aesthetic experiences.
However, one of the most attractive features of Bochnia salt mine is its variety of routes. Three basic routes are:
- Basic route with multimedia exhibition – discover the history of unique interiors of salt mine You’ll see beautiful chapels, salt figures and impressive mining tools. The route (3km long) is devoted to take in on foot, however, it’s possible to get into a ferry in the last part. The visit ends with a visit in the biggest chamber of the salt mine, where a restaurant is located.
- Old Mountain Expedition – prepare for an adventure underground! It’s a vist in the extreme, oldest part of the mine featuring tiny corrdors and narrow cracks, that you’ll be trying to squeeze by. It requires a lot of physical effort but it’s worth its price!
- Natural Route – discover geological history of the mine. Durong natural route, you’ll have a chance to see different natural resources of mine on the form of different rocks and minerals. It’s a great route for those who want to see how human activity impacted today mine’s outlook.
Salt Mines Poland – KLODAWA
Salt Mine in Kłodawa is the biggest active mine of rock salt in the country, created in 1950. It is located in central Poland, about 180 km away from Warsaw. It’s 63 meters long and 4 km wide.
The mine is open for visitors since few years. It features the deepest touristc route in the world – 600 meters underground! At the deepest level one can find a chapel made of salt – „St. Kinga Chapel”. St Kinga is a patron of all salt miners and is suppoused to protect their work and save them from dangerous factors in mines. The Chapel in Klodawa features a memorlial with 20 evgraved names of miners, who lost their lives underground. In 2007, the odlest part of the mine was inscribed on the list of national monuments.
As you see, Wieliczka Salt Mine is not the only salt mines Poland worth visiting. In fact, there are different kinds of mines in coutry, such us mine of gold, silver or chulk. Discover them all and see how various country Poland is!