WIELICZKA SALT MINE

On Monday after speaking in the

Krakow Branch on Sunday

we went to the Wielczka Salt Mine.

It has been worked from the 1200's

to 1996!!

There are 9 different levels and we

went to the third level from the top.

We visited 22 different chambers

connected by galleries.

The shaft we were on originally was

sunk in the 1600's!!

To begin we went down wooden stairs-

built seven stairs then a landing then 7 stairs

in the opposite direction the a landing and 7 stairs

and a landing and 7 more for about 350 stairs!!!!

Elder Moon going down the stairs.

There were signs telling of the mining in

the areas we were traveling through.

This was mined before 1666!

THE NICHOLAS COPERNICUS CHAMBER Statue of salt. The walls, floors and
ceilings were salt! There were some reinforcements
or doors that were made of wood
but statues and everything is salt. A wooden doorway but the
walls and steps here are salt.
You are even invited to lick the walls if you
would like but please DO NOT lick
or touch the stautes!!

THE JANOWICE CHAMBER Interesting statues showing the history of the
and how salt came to be found in this mine.

Another part of the scene and the sign says this
hallway was mined before 1642

The oldest part of the mine are unsafe to go to.Salt and water seen on the ceiling of a gallery.Ways of translporting salt. These carts....these carts.....these carts pulled by horses. Salt logs are made for easier transport. This
weighs about 2 tons (if I remember right).These steps were originally used by men
to carry salt out. They would carry about 70 pounds
of salt on a tray or in a bag on their back.
Often then were slick and smooth so it would be difficult!!ST. KINGA'S CHAPEL
to a depth of 101 meters and we've been walking
for nearly 1 km.
This is one of many religious reliefs carved in the
walls of the chapel of course of salt. All the work was done
by miners who were not professional artists!
A view of the Kinga's Chapel. I hope you can imagine
the magnitude of this hall.
It is over 54 m long, 15 - 18 m wide and
10 - 12 m high!!
These beautiful chandeliers and framed of wood
and the "crystals" on them are of salt.
Of course here are the salt alters and balustrades.
Gorgeous interior!!
THE MICHALOWICE CHAMBER
109 m underground
A section of wood casing. A near vertical shaft of
green salt had been mined and it needed special
strengthening so large cubes of rock salt were brought here
from another area of the mine to reinforce the walls
and in the 1870's the casing of timbers was constructed.
The sign saying we are 130 m underground.
That is about 427 feet.
Some of the walls were covered with timbers like these.
Another part of the mine.

Some of the tools used. The small rectangular
"dish" (hardly scooped out) in the center was used
to carry about 70 pounds of salt up those salt step
seen previously.
They would also use a bag with a long handle

over their shoulder to hang on their back to carry

70 pounds. No children or women were ever used

to work in the mine and at times it was an honor

to work in the mine and they were paid well.

To leave the mine we rode a lift the to top.

GREAT EXPERIENCE!!