This statue (and all statues in the mine) is (are) made out of big slab of salt.
Wieliczka Salt Mines (try saying that three times) is located in Southern Poland, approximately 30 minutes away from Krakow Galleria. This is the oldest operating salt mines in the world and was producing salt until 2007. Currently, Wieliczka Salt Mines is a popular tourist destination. It’s estimated that the mines are 327 meters (roughly 1,973 feet) deep and is over 300 kilometers (190 miles) long. The tour only went down 1/4 of that or roughly 56 flights of stairs deep.
My friend, Mike, was very interested on seeing the salt mines. We decided to take the city buses, which proved to be quite challenging. Unlike Hawai’i's city bus, where you pay as you enter, we had to buy tickets from a ticket dispenser. With no bus employee or any English speaking person around, I’m sure we purchased tickets at a much expensive rate. Mike was smart enough to ask around and he quickly found out that Krakow’s mini bus can take us near there. After we got of the bus, we were dropped in the middle of a town that seemed to be deserted. We saw a salt mine sign pointing up the mountain. Naturally, we started to follow the sign and a nice Polish man stopped us and told us that we had to walk down the mountain instead. To this day, I thank that man. I don’t know what he looked like, but I’m grateful that he told us the right direction.
Our tour was roughly 15-20 with an English speaking tour guide. In the mine, there are many passageways, which are confusing. Definitely not a tour you can guide yourself in. Each stop told us the history behind the mine, as we went further down the mine, the more current the history became.
The woman standing is a Polish Princess, who accepted the prince’s proposal. Instead of a ring, he gave salt. Back then, salt was viewed as valuable as gold.
The whole mine is built out of salt, except for the doors and beams. There are different types of salt, if you can believe that. The only two names I remembered are the spaghetti and cauliflower salt. The names are pretty explanatory on the look of the salt. The look of the salt doesn’t alter a different taste. It all taste the same….salty. There are different colors as well. The most common is white, but a rare color is reddish pink.
This is the cauliflower salt. See how it looks bumpy like a cauliflower?
Blackish white salt
White salt…a whole wall of it.
There are amazing treasures inside the mines, like a huge cathedral with huge chandeliers made out of…yep, you guessed it, salt. It’s common to have weddings in the mine, which seems odd. BUT…once you get a look at the cathedral, you understand why people want their weddings down there.
This photo is NOT doing any justice on how beautiful the cathedral was.
Chandelier made out of salt
When our guide had mention that everything in the mine is salt, I didn’t quite believe her. She was quick to say, “Go ahead, if you are adventurous and lick the walls.” Well, with an invitation like that, can’t be turned down.
I licked the wall. At that moment, I wanted a tequila shot.
Another treasure in the mines are the statues. There is a great statue of Pope John Paul II and Di Vinci’s Last Supper.
Di Vinci’s Last Supper made out of salt, which was 3D. From a far, you can see the depth of the sculpture.
Pope John Paul II
So…is the Wieliczka Salt Mines a must see? Yes and no. Do you want to experience something different that most people won’t have the opportunity to see? The salt mines are for you. Do you hate tours and statues? You shall pass on this. I enjoyed myself. I don’t regret it.
***TIP*** Right before you leave the underground mine, we were given an opportunity to shop at the gift shop. Everything in the underground gift shop is DOUBLE the price then the above ground gift shop. They had the same things and it was the same company.
Why is the underground more expensive? Beats me, but I feel like it was a trick. We were never told that there was another gift shop upstairs, so we all thought this was our only opportunity to buy our Wieliczka salt. Don’t do it. Wait until the second ABOVE ground to buy your merchandise. You’ll thank me later.
Wieliczka Salt Mines TripAdvisor
That is amazeballs! I honestly didn’t know you could mine salt. Stupid huh? Well, I’ve always known salt to be “harvested” from those big things near the beaches in Portugal. Learn something new eh?
Amazing…
You are not stupid. I have NO CLUE that this is how salt was made. I thought the same way as you…I thought salt was made at beaches. LOL Look at us city girls….let’s just look pretty. LOL
This is so AWESOME! I have no idea how you managed to get up and down all those stairs but it was all so worth it. I’m so glad you shared this with us. I’ll probably never get to see all this coolness in person.
Walking down the stairs was kinda dizzying. Well, I feel dizzy. Luckily, we didn’t have to walk those stairs back up. They let us use the elevators. It was interesting and different, which is something I like to do while traveling. If you have the chance to go to Poland (which you should…so cheap–currency wise), try the salt mines. Your lips will feel salty all day….until you lick it off. LOL
Still wandering? Boy that looks great. There are a bunch of mines and caves in Romania, one that looks a bit like that one, named Salina Turda.
Physically, I’m back, but mentally I feel like I’m still in Europe. Seriously George, you should go to Europe. I went to Potsdam, Germany and there is a HUGE movie culture there. You might already know this…but apparently, back in 1930-60, it was were Hollywood went to film. I went to this one hotel were all the decor was the Oscar man and all these pictures of actors everywhere. It was quite interesting. Definitely something you would enjoy.
I visit Romania annually, and occasionally I’ll knock out another city/country (last year: Austria, this year: Paris) in Europe. I haven’t seen much of Germany, though, and that sounds great!
That is so awesome that you visit Romania annually. Do you have family up there? I’ve never been to Paris before…man, you are so lucky. I’ve been to Vienna (Vien) for a day. It was a raining day, so most of the time I was stuck in a tourist bus. Despite the rain, it was still a beautiful city and I really wished I had some time to watch a Mozart play.
Yes, I have a whole bunch of family there. That sounds great! There’s an estate outside of Vienna named Schlosshoff. If you’re ever there for more time, I suggest you check it out.
Cool! I’m going to add Schlosshoff to my list. When are you going to Romania/Paris?
I left in June and came back a few weeks ago.
OHHHH, cool. You must’ve had fun, uh?
I did!
That’s awesome! You are so lucky to travel every year. I want to do the same.
how is the salt produced?
i love fascinating history like this. thanks for sharing!
You know what…they didn’t talk about too much of the production side of salt mining. I remember the guide said that salt mining is very similar to coal mining. Men go down into the earth and pick/dig out salt rocks, then they bring it up….and that’s where my guide stopped. I didn’t even think to ask what happens next. Sorry, I couldn’t fully answer your question. I feel bad.
Crazy – a whole salt cathedral. Way to take up your guide on the challenge and lick the wall! That’s a good memory.
When my guide told me about the salt cathedral with salt chandeliers, I was quite skeptical. It was so beautiful. I couldn’t believe the huge chandeliers were made out of salt. I wish I was a fly on the wall when they made it. So…cool.
Licking the wall was the best part of the tour. LOL I will always remember that. Come to think of it, my friend and I were the only ones licking the wall.
I wonder how many other people licked that wall? LOL. That’s ok, dried spit is all good and salt is supposed to kill germs right? The princess/prince proposal scene is a bit corny but kitsch works for me. I’d see the salt mines.
I know…I kept it classy, while licking that wall. LOL I couldn’t help myself. I live with the YOLO (you only live once) philosophy. Plus, you know Hawai’i girls…we don’t take challenges lightly. LOL
You are totally right with the “reenactment” scenes. It kinda reminded me of “It’s a Small World” at DisneyLand. Nonetheless, it was fun.
I went to Poland in January/February and have never heard of this place til now (then again I didn’t go to Krakow) – thanks so much for sharing! It looks super cool – I love exploring mines and caves. I think I want, nay, need a salt chandelier for my apartment.
If I go one day, I’m totally bringing tequila and lemon/lime, too.
Wasn’t Poland just great? I really loved it there. If you ever go to Krakow, check out the salt mines. It’s a great interesting experience. The telling of the history is kinda boring at times, but the water canals and cathedral really makes up for it. There is even a fully functional day spa. IF I had know before hand, I would’ve gotten a massage or a salt scrub. Have a shot of tequila for me!!!!
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on my blog, “Foreign” Tom. I want to know more about your RTW trip in 2013!
I would have licked the wall, too
Great minds think alike, Gwen. LOL It was a fun experience.
Wow! That is so spectacular. Truly beautiful. I’m always so amazed at how creative people can be, and how PATIENT the people who carved all those sculptures and built the cathedral were. How long have the sculptures and the cathedral been there?
Totally! I wished I was more patient and creative. LOL The Polish people are very religious, so there was mini shrines in the mine, but the actually Cathedral has been there for many many years. I think it’s older than the USA. The Pope sculpture was made shortly after his death. Eventually his face will disappear, because the moisture in the air will dissolve the salt (in the sculpture). The Last Supper is much older…around the 1960s…I think. If you look closely, some of the eyes have dissolved, but it’s still beautiful.
What an interesting place! And that cathedral was gorgeous. Yay for helpful strangers pointing us foreigners in the right direction!
That man was God sent! Seriously. He just went out of his way to show us the way. That is so nice of him. I’m so grateful for him.
I thought the cathedral was the best part of the tour. I wished I had known before hand the day spa there. I would’ve love to soak in a salt bath or something. That would be so much fun!