Greetings !

I read that UNESCO declared the mine one of the 12 most priceless monuments in the world. The most popular cavern complete with salt chandeliers, altar, stairs, banisters and relief works.

Anyone have visited this place before ?
Is it a must see ?

TQ.

In Poland - my relas been there n becos we are Christians we always visit abbeys, and other religious sites. they said it there is this wonderful church = beautiful.

http://www.to-poland.com/tour_cracow.php
http://www.to-poland.com/wieliczka.php3

I can imagine how awesome..at home, i have a small salt crystal lamp which is left on for years, n it glows orange.... supposed to work as an ionizer...wished it was much more affordable I would have a huge rock instead!!! There are many salt crystals in the world but Poland's is the most sought after ones.

I'm going there next month :-)

Just read in jmill42's page yesterday.
U both wanna join me?

Dear Mei Leng,

Like ur new pic-sorry no comments on Poland-all I know is Auschiwtz(?) the concentration camp. Nearest place to Poland I'll been is Prague! Must catch up in one of the Vt meets soon! BTW, wen are u going to Poland?

Hi,

I went last year and yes it is a must place to visit. The underground church is beautiful.

There is the Last Supper carved on the salt wall besides many sculptures and chandeliers.

If you go on yr own, take the van bus in front of Krakow train station, cost a few zloty. It will stop at a bus stop about 100m from the salt mine. Everyone must join the guided tour which is included in the ticket price.

As for the salt lamp, u will not believe how cheap they are, the only thing is to lugged them back : (.

Beside the salt mine, u should go to Zakopane. Great scenery.

Don't forget to try local food. Delicious.

Have a nice trip.

YuenK

Sharrie - wished I could join you....
I am going to Melaka during the first week May - then going to Frankfurt and to SPburg.
wished I could just be in your roller bag...but I am a bit oversized for that!!!

Peter - we are having a huge VT meet tonight...sigh !! u ain't coming.

Sharrie, wish I could join but I'm actually doing the research for my parents.

do go to wielizca.. it's a real wonder!
but go independently as someone suggested... get the van from the station (and say u'r going to kopalna sol - or something like that)- not the organized tour from krakow. inside the mine - however - you'll need to join an organized visit

Yes, Wieliczka is must see! It is really like underground town.
I havent been there, but I have been to old salt mine of Bochnia(20km from Wieliczka), it is called *The daughter of Wieliczka* and it was very attractive undergroun town. So, Wieliczka could be also better becouse it is one of the 12 most priceless monuments in the world.
Of course Wieliczka is located near considered the most beautiful European city-Krakow.

Hi

The Wieliczka Salt Mines started commerical operation in 1254, so they're 750 yrs old and now the major producer of salt in Central Europe. But that's the business side.

Over these 750 years anonymous miners have carved incredible works of art into the walls. There are salt lakes and grottos, and vast 300 metre high chambers. And the most spectacular of all is the Kinga Chapel - as you say complete with salt chandeliers, altar, stairs, banisters and relief works - plus what looks like polished Italian floor tiles covering 500 sq.m. all sculpted out of salt.

I have friends who recently held their wedding in this chapel. You can visit it as a tourist, but it's also used for private functions like weddings, or rock/jazz/classical concerts, and banquets for the likes of George Bush!

The whole tourist route of 2.5 kms is spectacular and really interesting, but it can become a tourist trap, especially in the high season (Apr-Oct) when you can queue for hours to get a ticket. If your time is limited, and your budget is large enough, it 's worth paying the extra for an organised tour from Krakow, because you will queue jump and see it all in 3 hours, instead of 6 hours independently.

I lived in Wielicka for 4 years and have taken so many visiting friends there, I've lost count of the number of times I've been down the mines. They are SPECTACULAR and deservedly a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but there's only one way down and one way up, and to avoid the bottleneck of this, it's worth paying the extra for the organised tour directly from Krakow, unless of course you have lots if time to spare. There are picturesque bars and barbeque grills in the waiting area to help you pass the time.

Marisha