Day Three - Wieliczka Salt Mines

This is a fascinating tour. I highly recommend it if you are visiting Krakow. Luckily for us it was raining this morning - so being underground was a welcome break to walking the streets of town. Our driver Chester collected us promptly at the hotel and took us out the mine (a 30 minute ride from the City center). We throughly enjoy it and highly recommend the museum tour offered after the main mine. It is a great (and free) addition.

Poland's original economy was based on salt production which was mainly used for the preservation of meat. Several mines across the country aided the rulers and royalty in making fortunes from the production of salt. Today, the economics have shifted and tourism of the mine is much more profitable.

Stairway

Salt Scupture

Original mine wall of wood

Catherdral of Salt

Pope John Paul II

Mine support structures and Salt chandelier

Map of the extensive salt mine

Early lift operated by horses