Wieliczka is a small Polish town half an hour's drive from Krakow with a population of only 20,000 people. Annually about one million tourists from all over the world come here to see the famous salt deposits known from ancient times. Once Wieliczka's graveyard was the largest in Europe, and today it is the most popular landmark of Poland, since 1978 it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Under the city there are nine floors in depth, the system of underground corridors stretching for 300 km in total, and the chambers there are about 3000. To visit the tourists, only a small part is opened - "only" 3,5 km, but this section also gives an exhaustive picture of one of the symbolic places in the salt history of Europe.

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Christmas and New Year tours. Rest in Zakopane.
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How to get to Wieliczka

First of all, it is necessary to get to Krakow, nearest to Wieliczka, a large city in Poland. From the central station in Kraków Główny to salt mines (Kopalnia Soli Wieliczka) can be reached by suburban train to Wieliczka-Market Square or by bus No. 304 to the Salt Mine stop (from the Krakow Gallery - Kourniki Street).

From Krakow Main Post Office (crossing the streets of Westerplatte and Starovislna) every 10-15 minutes to Wieliczka there are shuttle buses (direction Wieliczka - Market Square, stop on demand at the intersection of Dembovski and Danilovichi streets).

By car in Wieliczka you can get there if you move southeast along the E-40 highway, the distance from the center of Krakow is 10 km.

The history of the appearance of salt copies in Wieliczka

The formation of the mine occurred naturally - from the salt source .The source eventually emptied and turned into a well, and when it was all dug out, the first miners descended the remaining wide tunnel to the salt deposits .The development of salt was conducted here from the 13th to the 20th century, the total length of the galleries of the mine was about three hundred kilometers at nine underground levels, up to a depth of 327 m .In the 11th century in Wieliczka salt was evaporated from brines, and in 14 - stone salt was mined already by the mine method .This is the only mining and industrial facility in the world, continuously functioning from the Middle Ages to the present day .

Current state

Nowadays, in the caves of the great copies, excursions are conducted, during which one can trace how the technologies of salt extraction and processing developed and changed, learn almost everything about the millennial history of the mine, enjoy the bizarre beauty of the underground lakes and the splendor of the chapels..Dozens of salt sculptures and bas-reliefs created by great saltmobiles are also available to tourists and make an indelible impression..In the dungeon you can hold a conference, wedding or other solemn event .Sports competitions and concerts are often held here .

How much is and how to get

Opening hours: The mine is open daily from 7.30 to 19.30 (closing and closing time of the last tourists to the mine) from 1 April to 31 October and from 8.00 to 17.00 from 2 November to 31 March. Weekends: January 1, the first day of Easter, November 1, December 24, 25.

Tickets must be purchased in the building of the supernova building of the Danilovicha mine, and the inspection begins there. In the tourist season, organized groups purchase tickets at the box offices located outside, near the Danilovicha mine. Visiting is possible only accompanied by a guide. For individual tourists, the cost of a group excursion with a guide speaking a foreign language (Russian, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian) - 68 zł.

Those who wish can book an excursion for their group in advance, in this case it is necessary to pay an entrance ticket for each member of the group and additionally the guide services:

• for groups from 5 to 35 people: admission ticket 43 zł. per person and PLN 235. for guide services
• for groups of up to 5 people: entrance ticket 68 zł. per person and PLN 268. for guide services.

Orders are accepted by phones: +48 12-278-73-02 or 012-278-73-66, as well as by turystyka@kopalnia.pl and biuro.promocji@kopalnia.pl.

The climate of Wieliczka is

Rules for visiting Wieliczka Salt Mine

The excursion starts from the descent of 380 steps to a depth of 64 meters (this is only the first level of the mine), continues with an examination of 20 old exhausted chambers and ends with a study of the exhibits of the museum of the Krakow salt mines .After the end of the tour, tourists rest in the camera complex at a depth of 125 m where you can buy souvenirs, dine at the Miners' Tavern and even send a card to friends directly from the dungeon .Lifting to the surface is carried out on the shaft of Danilevich .The time spent in the ground is about three hours .The constant temperature inside the mine is +14 ° C, so even in summer one should not forget about warm clothing .Of course, smoking is prohibited and the use of open fire is .

A special - pilgrimage - tour is offered on pre-booking for organized groups. Particular attention is paid to visiting the chapels, in which the miners performed daily prayers. After the tour is over, you can send a divine service in the chapel of St. John.

For fans of everywhere and everywhere to go by non-tourist paths a special program "Mystery of the Great Mines" is developed .It is also available only for pre-booking .This is almost four hours of incredible adventures in the bowels of the earth .Each visitor is equipped with a helmet, special overalls, a real miner's lamp and a protective filter-absorber .Descent under the ground is carried out only after passing the proper instruction .Of course, the price of such an excursion is higher than usual, but tremendous emotions that are possible only far from the usual tourist route are guaranteed!

Treatment in Wieliczka

On the medicinal properties of salt began talking in the 16th century, and in the 19th century getting an appointment from a doctor to a salt bath became a common occurrence. Today, Wieliczka operates an underground sanatorium founded by Dr. Mechislav Skulimovsky in 1958, for the treatment of bronchial asthma, an allergic rhinitis and inflammation of the bronchi. And a simple stay in the salt mine is extremely useful for people suffering from upper respiratory tract diseases and allergies.

Author - Gulshat Zakirova