Wieliczka Salt Mine

Even the chandelier crystals are salt

After being let down at Auschwitz, we were blown away at Wieliczka. This is Polish Disney world, or a working medieval salt mine on the outskirts of Krakow. This place knew how to get a lot of people through small enclosed spaces, whilst never feeling claustrophobic or rushed by other tourists. The salt mine was opened in the 13th century and was working continuously until 2007. It was awesome!

You go down in this tiny little 3-level elevator, where as many people are crammed in as possible, and then a few more people are added. And I'm thinking, oh man, what have I got myself in for, is this going to be super uncomfortable and claustrophobic the whole time. But after the trip down, you get out into this large cavern and tunnels. No need to duck your head. You are surrounded by salt, but it's not just boring tunnels, the miners got really artistic and started carving statues and even a whole cathedral down there.

It's really quite amazing, and not at all what I was expecting. I was thinking some really small cave-like mine. All rough-hewn with rocks all over the place, and maybe a few glimpses of salt. But these are perfectly smooth tunnels, carved directly in the salt. And it's huge, 300m deep and 287 km long, when you visit you are walking along tunnels that were made in the 16th and 17th centuries. Which is crazy to think about. You definitely want to visit this place when you come to Krakow, it is for sure worth it.

The Last Supper - in salt

The amazing cathedral

They have gone full tourist with this experience too, there are shops and cafes and meeting rooms down there. You can even spend the night or get married down there. I did not expect there to be something like this in Krakow. I really should have done more research before visiting. I have really been remiss in my central European studies.