As the Poland people are very
proud of their bequest because a land of Polska are listed under
My journey towards a salt mine of
Wieliczka near Krakow which is not so much popular outside the central Europe
but the beauty inside which lies over 200 meter beneath the ground has a
wonders of beauty like sculptures, chandeliers, galleries and chapels which
looks to reveals a history of past 800 years.
Helena our guide who walked with
us below 100 meters under the ground as we walked deeper and deeper we felt
like we travelling down to Hades the beauty inside was discovered 20 million
years ago through a gradual process of
denudation and degradation leaving a beauty of sodium chloride when the wave of
sea covered a beauty of part. As we walked deep into caves the doors had some
code which our Guide unlocked effortlessly and we travelled deep discovering a
beauty of this part.
Mining of salt in Wieliczka
started during the Middle Ages when the rock salt deposits was discovered as
the salt is produced after boiling brine from a surface of salt springs as the
method started as early as 3500 BC the people started mining a deep of sources
and as a result a surface got gradually exhausted even that did not stop people
to dig deep till they reach the first block of the rock salt. Their search for
Brine started sinking deeper and deeper and as a result they finally discover a
first block of rock salt. From its beginning until 1772, the salt mines were
owned by the Duke of Cracow, later the king of Poland.
From there 3 km stretch tourist
route looks to display beautiful chambers, lakes and a unique museum of mining
history which in turn engulfs a beauty of modern tools which was used as early
as 13th century and protection devices for the miners.
Statues of legendary Polish
astronomer Nicholas Copernicus and the bust of King Kazimierz the Great,
Krakow’s most famous ruler carved in a beauty of green salt. A beauty of Saxon
type Horse which was used to haul salt from lower to upper floors took back
into 18th century where a wooden machine acted as a tool to carry a
salt from the blocks to blocks.
Beauty of Janowice Chamber which
is figured in six life size looks to reveals a beauty of rock salt in Poland.
As the beauty like all fairy tales has its history and with the involvement of
princess Kinga of Hungary who got engaged to a Krakow prince she was gifted one
of the salt mines of Marmaros, Hungary.
As the history says she threw her
engagement ring into a min before leaving a Poland and amazingly it travelled
to Wieliczka and later when she arrived back to Poland the miners had already
started the process of digging and found her ring in the first block of salt
and since then Poland have never felt the dearth of salt. Kinga, the patroness
of miners, later attained sainthood.
Helena our Guide pointed to salt
crystal formation which indeed looked like a cauliflowers. My journey to St.
Anthony’s Chapel where a beauty of Jesus statues was lightens under a beauty of
Mary. Holy cross church at an entrance of Mensa are figured by a beauty
kneeling monks carved in salt and the interiors are designed with a beauty of
chandelier which is made out of wood and salt crystals.
So far as chapels are concerned
St. Kingas is the most exquisite and designated amongst all spacious in size
magnificent chandeliers, salt crystals over ceilings, and beautiful ambiance
which is made of purified teardrop. The rock salt floor, the balustrade, and
the exquisitely carved biblical scenes on the walls are incredible.
Weimer chamber where a beauty of
green salt lake appears so beautifully and along with that a figure of Warden
which is believed to be a warning sign for a miners and whenever it appears
they runs into safe place to avoid an accident.
Helena advices us to deep breath
as an environment is filled with in sodium, calcium and magnesium chloride
which is therapeutic and its essence would refresh a mind. Sanatorium which is
440 feet underground is a patent remedy to cure allergies an overnight stay
here would cure the disease.
As the commercial mining was stop
due to flooding and low salt price during 1996. For safety measures less then
than one per cent of the mines are open to visitors.
As we were too tired and
exhausted after our journey we rested at an underground restaurant and had our
lunch.
The coop lift brings us back to
the facade in a jiffy. Still a bit bemused, I look back at the salt mine with
converted admiration for Wieliczka over and done heroes.
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