Wieliczka Salt Mine - famous tourist attraction in Poland

Walking tour in Wieliczka

Tour Price : Salt Mine group tour: - 1 person: EUR 55 - 2 persons: EUR 80 - 3 persons: EUR 10 Duration : 4-5 hours Languages: English

Wielicza Salt Mines are a very famous tourist attraction in Poland. They are located in the Krakow metropolitan area so we can combine a private tour in Krakow and a visit to the salt mines. According to the words of one French traveler the Wielicza Salt Mines are no less impressive and marvelous than the Egyptian pyramids. It is truly a flattering comparison, but without any doubt it is true.

As the matter of fact the Wielicza Salt Mines attract millions of tourists and travelers from all over the world. Lots of legendary and well-known people visited this place with great pleasure and interest. Among them are the following figures:  Sarah Bemhardt, Goethe, Nicolaus Copernicus, Alexander von Humboldt, Dmitri Mendeleyev, Fryderyk Chopin, Boleslaw Prus, Robert Baden-Powell, Karol Wojtyla (which has eventually become Pope John Paul II), and even the former president of the USA Bill Clinton.

Their interest in the salt mines could be easily explained – this place is definitely worth seeing. It is worth noting that it is the oldest mines in Europe, which was built in the 13th centuries and functioned up till 2007 producing table salt. But it is not the main feature of the mines. Its attractions include lots of statues, a beautiful chapel, which has been carved out of salt rock, long maze-like corridors, dark chambers, galleries, underground lakes, and caves. The sculptors are very old, but they are constantly being supplemented with new ones made by actual artists and sculptors. Sometimes this place is called the “Underground Salt Cathedral of Poland”. In the 80’s it was added to the UNESCO list of the World Heritage Sites.

As your private guide in Poland I will tell about the early years of the Salt Mines and about their current state. Among the most popular statues are the following ones: St. Barbara carved in rock salt, the statue of Pope John Paul II, “The Last Supper” by Leonardo carved in a wall and several others. 

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