The Mind Creative
If you are an avid traveller, then this salt mine should be a ‘must
see’ on your list simply because it is an attestation to the fact that
creativity of the mind pervades in the most unexpected quarters
of this world.
The Wieliczka Salt Mines, in a town on the southeast border of
Krakow has been producing salt since the middle ages until 1996.
Today, it is known for the wonderful underground world that it
houses; a world full of churches, sculptures, chapels and
engravings, all carved out of solid rock salt. Most of the carved
figures are Biblical and mythical characters depicted within the
winding labyrinths that open into more than 2000 large exacted
rooms. Often referred to as “The Underground Salt Cathedral of
Poland”, this awe-inspiring work is a unique product of creative
minds.
Incredible as it sounds, these underground masterpieces
(including sparkling chandeliers) were designed and created by
miners from the middle ages to the current era, with only pickaxes
and hammers. Driven by the fervour of religion and the desire to
add excitement to the drab work in the mines, these miners were
able to create a marvellous ensemble of art work. The collection
also contains certain depictions of non-Biblical events and
characters like the story of the origins of the mine.
The mines also have 16 subterranean lakes some of which were
destroyed by catastrophic floods in 1992. During the nine centuries
of mining in Wieliczka, nearly 200 miles of passages and 2040
rooms were created by the miners. The mines were finally closed
down in 1996 driven by the falling prices of salt and slow flooding
of certain areas within the mines. Today, around 20 chambers and
a museum is open to visitors in a two mile area in the oldest part
of the mines.
In 1978 it was placed on the original UNESCO list of the World
Heritage Sites
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