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There’s A Salt Mine In Poland With Underground Lakes, Chapels, And Chandeliers Made Of Salt And It Looks Unreal (30 Pics)
Interview
Sitting on everyone’s kitchen counter is the kitchen staple so basic it’s borderline boring. And as I write, I’m already thinking of salt more than I have in this past year combined.
But the Wieliczka salt mine, near Krakow, Poland proves that salt can be a masterpiece on its own. The mine was first opened in the 13th century, and today, it’s a part of the First UNESCO World Heritage List. For a reason! The salt mine, which reaches -1072 ft at its deepest point, features underground lakes, 2,000 chambers, and chapels equipped with enormous chandeliers. And if that wasn’t enough, every little thing is made of salt. The mine is so unreal, it brings to mind a level in Tomb Raider, rather than a place thanks to which I season my dinner.
More info: Wieliczka-SaltMine.com
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Ann 5 years ago
Had my prom down there in the late 90s. If you never moshed to Nirvana 125 metres underground, well, your loss.
Loki Placenta 5 years ago (edited)
Ann!! That's such a beautiful memory to have 🤗🤗🤗 🐾
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TRACY KELLY 5 years ago
reetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I am Mrs Tracy Kelly, have been rejected by my husband after three(3) years of marriage just because another woman had a spell on him and he left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster,how this man of God help this woman to get back her husband through the power of GOD,and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a woman had a spell on my husband and he told me that he will help me and after 7 days that i will have my husband back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my husband. Thanks you prophet David,you can contact him on this info;https://www.kingjesuspalacemirac lesministry.org/
Elaine Mattingly 5 years ago
Someone said,"I have an idea," Someone else said, "Never happen." Person with idea said,"Take it back."
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#2
varwenea 5 years ago
This is the biggest chapel in this mine with the most figurines and decorations. The walls, the floor, the ceiling, the statues are all salt! Our guide told us we can taste it. Licked a finger damp, rubbed it against basically anything, and tasted it. Yup, it's salt. Haha, kinda gross but gotta try it.
Slune 5 years ago
......our guide told us we can taste it....Land what did I ? Liked my finger! Seriously!
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Elaine Mattingly 5 years ago
I keep waiting for someone to say,"You didn't believe that did you?" I do.
#3
varwenea 5 years ago
Being an underground lake without any other influences, this lake is so eerily still and quiet with the most pure color.
Anwar uz Zaman 5 years ago
Think the water density is high. You can't sink, like in Dead Sea.
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The history of Wieliczka salt mine dates back to the Middle Ages, when it used to be called the Magnum Sal, or the Great Salt. In the 13th century, it was the largest source of salt in the country, which was crucial to the country’s economy. Today, it’s one of the main tourist attractions in Poland.
Bored Panda contacted Aleksandra Sieradzka from the marketing and communications department at the Wieliczka Salt Mine to find out more about this breathtaking place.
Aleksandra told us that all the 2000 chambers in the mine are carved of salt. “The corridors and even the floor are made of salt.” There two chapels of St. Kinga and St. Anthony that are both made entirely of salt, including the altars and the statues of saints that were carved by the sculptor miners. “The chandeliers also contain crystal salt—the purest type of salt.”
#4
Heidi Kline 5 years ago
Gothic and Ghostly, I don't think I would want to be in there for very long.
Teresa Groth 5 years ago
My question would be does the damp of the cave make it devolve or make it weak?
M O'Connell 5 years ago
I think you may need to do additional research on that subject. I advise visiting a library instead of whatever special corner of the internet you are normally educated by.
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varwenea 5 years ago
The white beams are braces added to reinforce the mine. The brown wood platforms with the decorative chisels are the walking paths for tourists. It's a maze here, guided tours only.
Harley Hans Hoglin 5 years ago
Yeah. Several tons of earth being held up by a bunch of old trees. That's what the white beams are. Wood when you make it thick enough can take a lot of weight.
Load More Replies... Elaine Mattingly 5 years ago
A gift used by hands and a vision to follow through that is not bestowed on just anyone.
#6
Elaine Mattingly 5 years ago
Something so spectacular I don't mind being home bound. So many people worked to bring this to my lap top YES I believe there are far more good in this world than bad. Thank you all.
Salt may seem like a fragile and delicate material, but it has a hardness similar to that of gypsum. “The processing of salt itself is not difficult; however, in order to professionally carve in salt, one needs to have a lot of experience with this material,” explained Aleksandra. “Every block of salt is different—it differs not only in size or hardness, but also in color, which can be used in an interesting way in the act of creation.”
Aleksandra confirmed that, if you’re lucky, you can pop into a party or two at the Mine. “That is true, there are a couple of chambers where you can have a party. One big ballroom (Warszawa Chamber) and a few smaller ones. The Mine is famous for its New Year’s concerts that take place during the first weekend of January.”
#7
Esca Sav 5 years ago
They have mass here every Sunday by the way! I visited with my family a few years ago, one of the most beautiful things you could see with your own eyes. Highly recommend it when this virus goes away...
Elaine Mattingly 5 years ago
Imagine one voice singing Amazing Grace or Just As I Am. Or silence.
#8
Esca Sav 5 years ago
I'm not 100% sure if this is the room BUT, there is a hall in the mine that can be used for wedding parties and concerts (you can get married at the chapel here). I forgot how many people it can fit, but it is beautiful.
varwenea 5 years ago
Esca Sav, This is the room. It's the only one big enough for that.
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#9
We can only imagine how enormous the whole underground structure is, because only 2% of it is accessible to tourists. Meanwhile, the salt mine corridors form an actual labyrinth which stretches up to a whopping 498 ft in length. There are 9 levels in total and the lowest one is located at 1072 ft below ground.
But Wieliczka is only the fifth-biggest salt mine out there. Ontario is home to the biggest one in the world, which is located 1800 ft under Lake Huron. Compass Minerals’ Goderich salt mine is as deep as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall. The second-biggest is Khewra Salt Mines in Pakistan, and the third place belongs to Prahova Salt Mine in Romania.
#10
#11
Elaine Mattingly 5 years ago
You're separated from the tour and they hear a tiny little voice ,"hello...... hello?."
#12
#13
Pascale Ehrmann 4 years ago
Usually there's an orchestra playing for tourists in this great hall. When a group of tourists comes into the room, the musicians listen to their language, to know what country they are from, and begin to play a popular song from this country. They have quite an international "repertoire" ! For us (I'm French), they played "Les champs Elysées", a very popular song from the 70s that everybody in France knows.
Elaine Mattingly 5 years ago
When they leave we can go down to the ballroom but not until then. They always scream ghosts, ghosts! Why do they fear us so?
#14
Marlene Ricker 5 years ago
Me either. My hip and back would not allow me to go up them.
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Jodie Cooper 4 years ago
Don't worry, there's an elevator that takes you back up to the surface! You've only gotta climb about 100 or so stairs to get down
Joel Emmett 5 years ago
Is this where the Knights Templar keep the Declaration of Independence?
#16
Michal B 5 years ago
Considering the Wawel Dragon lives nearby, it might be more Lonely Mountain...
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Rhonda Krol 2 years ago
Yes! Choirs visiting together often take to singing here! We were once with such a group. Divine!
Load More Replies... Marlene Ricker 5 years ago
My eyes must be broken because as hard as I look, I can't see an organ.
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Maria Ribaulo 4 years ago
This is very creepy! I feel like there should be a body flayed open on the altar for a ritual sacrifice.
#19
#20
#21
Jodie Cooper 4 years ago
Those freaking floors are like ice, you've gotta watch your footing down there! I was like Bambi on ice in that chapel
Isabella Sherman 5 years ago
Is it just the perspective, or are those chandeliers really close to the ground? I can't tell.
#22
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#24
Elaine Mattingly 5 years ago
Wandered off the path. Go straight, turn back, just sit here? Turn into a pickled person? Let my jewelry rust on my dehydrated body and become part of the tour. Not if somebody wanders off the path and finds me. HELP, HELP, HELP!
#25
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#28
Teresa Groth 5 years ago
The work and effort to make this place of beauty was staggeringly and eminently breathtaking in my opinion!
#29
Marlene Ricker 5 years ago
Me tumbling down head over heels immediately comes to mind
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#30
Ed Martin 5 years ago
Everything about this place is so beautiful wonderful, it just feeds the imagination in so many ways. I would love to know who carved the statues, who made the beautiful Chandeliers and how long has it taken to do all this. Thank you Bored Panda Staff for this which as usual is what you do best only the most beautiful post and I love them all. Ed
Teresa Groth 5 years ago
I too agree 100% with Ed Martin so many questions I have but this was a brilliant Post!
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What do you think ?
Filipe Vieira 5 years ago
Went to Poland a couple of years ago to visit some historical places related to WWII, since I've got some free time I've made the tour in the Salt Mine without any expectation. Turned out to be the most astonishing place i've visited so far. Incredibe!
Esca Sav 5 years ago
There are a lot of other salt mines in Poland, but this one is by far the best I've been to
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Turnip and a Frog 5 years ago (edited)
They let you get married there. And on admission they tell you there is a sizeable portion of salt you have to have to lick off the walls before you leave. Kinda old joke, but I believed it. Just once 😌
Esca Sav 5 years ago
I still have the salt from the shop 😂 They also have Sunday mass in the chapel, I am not sure if it costs money, but I think that is pretty cool for anyone interested!
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Tomasz Jackowski 5 years ago
I only went there once when I was a kid, what I remember most is a statue of a dog made out of salt, that had a large indentation in its head because people licked it so much :D
von Funnyname 5 years ago
A lot of this remind me of the Phantom Of The Opera sets. Really neat stuff!
NamiKoa 5 years ago
I thought of Erebor from The Hobbit. It looks amazing either way!
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Troux 5 years ago
There's a salt mine open to tourists in Hutchinson, Kansas which goes over 600 feet down and is most notable for containing old film and TV reels, costumes and other memorabilia, as well as other relics such as newspapers from the time of Lincoln's assassination, all of which can only survive in the ultra low humidity and moderate temperature environment. The mine/museum is called Strataca and it might as well be a damn shoe closet after seeing this gorgeous transformation of earth in Poland!
Filipe Vieira 5 years ago
Went to Poland a couple of years ago to visit some historical places related to WWII, since I've got some free time I've made the tour in the Salt Mine without any expectation. Turned out to be the most astonishing place i've visited so far. Incredibe!
Esca Sav 5 years ago
There are a lot of other salt mines in Poland, but this one is by far the best I've been to
Load More Replies... Turnip and a Frog 5 years ago (edited)
They let you get married there. And on admission they tell you there is a sizeable portion of salt you have to have to lick off the walls before you leave. Kinda old joke, but I believed it. Just once 😌
Esca Sav 5 years ago
I still have the salt from the shop 😂 They also have Sunday mass in the chapel, I am not sure if it costs money, but I think that is pretty cool for anyone interested!
Load More Replies... Tomasz Jackowski 5 years ago
I only went there once when I was a kid, what I remember most is a statue of a dog made out of salt, that had a large indentation in its head because people licked it so much :D
von Funnyname 5 years ago
A lot of this remind me of the Phantom Of The Opera sets. Really neat stuff!
NamiKoa 5 years ago
I thought of Erebor from The Hobbit. It looks amazing either way!
Load More Replies... Troux 5 years ago
There's a salt mine open to tourists in Hutchinson, Kansas which goes over 600 feet down and is most notable for containing old film and TV reels, costumes and other memorabilia, as well as other relics such as newspapers from the time of Lincoln's assassination, all of which can only survive in the ultra low humidity and moderate temperature environment. The mine/museum is called Strataca and it might as well be a damn shoe closet after seeing this gorgeous transformation of earth in Poland!
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