Wieliczka Local Customs

  DIGGING SALT ROCKS
by matcrazy1
 
  • DIGGING  SALT  ROCKS
      DIGGING SALT ROCKS
    by matcrazy1
  • SCULPTURES  OF  BLESSED  KINGA  AND  MINER
      SCULPTURES OF BLESSED KINGA AND ...
    by matcrazy1
  • BLESSED  KINGA  CHAPEL
      BLESSED KINGA CHAPEL
    by matcrazy1
  • VASE  FOR  SALT
      VASE FOR SALT
    by matcrazy1
  • MINER'S  UNIFORM
      MINER'S UNIFORM
    by matcrazy1
 

Most Recent Local Customs in Wieliczka

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How did they live in Wieliczka ?
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matcrazy1 8368 reviews
WIELICZKA  CITY  RECONTRUCTIVE  MODEL

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In the underground Museum Of Salt-Works you can see detailed and simply fantastic model of Wieliczka from 17th century.

The details could be reconstructed thanks to very detailed maps of Martin German. He was an geometrist and came from SWEDEN. He was working a few years since 1631 and created oryginal, detailed map of Wieliczka.
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Written Dec 28, 2002

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They digged wells in the Middle Ages
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MEDIEVAL  WELL (reconstruction)

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The first wells (to dig salt rocks) were built not before the Middle Ages. Why? Because the superficial resources of salt were almost exhausted. So people started to look for the salt (which was "white gold", sth like oil - dark gold - now hehe) underground.
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Written Dec 28, 2002

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The salt-works are 3500 years old
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PREHISTORIC  HOUSE  AND  SALT-WORKS

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The archeologic excavations revealed salt-works from the Neolithic period ca 3500 years ago in Wieliczka. They extracted salt from superficial salt-waters.
You can see reconstructed salt-works in the big and very detailed model.

Btw do you like such houses? I wander have they got any fire-brigades that time? he?
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Updated Dec 28, 2002

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Blessed Kinga Chapel
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BLESSED  KINGA  CHAPEL

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Queen Kinga decided to serve the God instead of living in luxury Royal Wawel Castle in Krakow and she entered Roman Catholic convent.
She became the patron of miners and then she was blessed.
To honour her great serving to God miners built Kinga Chapel in salt rocks.
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Updated Dec 28, 2002

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Underground music
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UNDERGROUND MINERS' ORCHESTRA

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There was miners' orchestra playing during the Holy Mass in the Blessed Kinga Chapel.
They played rather NOT underground music hehe. But the unique acoustics of the place had made hearing music here an exceptional experience.

Written Dec 28, 2002

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Legend of Queen Kinga
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SCULPTURES  OF  BLESSED  KINGA  AND  MINER

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King of Poland Boleslav the Shy became engaged to be married with blessed Kinga in 1238. Kinga (vel Kunegunda) was daughter of Bela IV - king of Hungary. Leaving Hungary for Krakow (capitol of Poland that time) she didn't want to ask her father to give her any dowry in gold or silver. Instead of it she asked him to give her something which could serve either rich and poor people. Bela IV agreed, gave her wedding-ring and Kinga married Boleslav the Shy. After coming to Krakow she asked to dig the earth in Wieliczka and the salt was found there and - according to the legend - the queen's wedding-ring was found in the first rock of salt.

The above legend was an inspiration for miner-sculpturer Mieczyslaw Kluska. He carved natural size statues illustrating the legend in salt rocks.
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Written Dec 28, 2002

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Health benefits
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deeper_blue 957 reviews

The natural fumes from the mine are said to be good for your lungs. There is an underground spa here, you can use to unwind in.

Written Jan 6, 2008

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How did they store salt ?
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VASE  FOR  SALT

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They stored salt in special clay vases - look at the picture.
Could I buy such original vase anywhere? Hmm... rather copy of it :-)
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Written Dec 28, 2002

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How did they dig the salt rocks?
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DIGGING  SALT  ROCKS

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Look at the picture how did the miners dig the salt in the past? It seems it was a very hard manually work, they used miner's hacks only.
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Updated Dec 28, 2002

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Underground Holy Mass
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UNDERGROUND  HOLY  MASS

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According to the very long tradition a few times a year a holy mass takes place in the Blessed Kinga Chapel. I was lucky to see it once - unforgettable experience.
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Written Dec 28, 2002

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 .According to the very long tradition a few times a year a holy mass takes place in the Blessed Kinga Chapel. I was lucky to see it once - unforgettable... 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  I have read that there is a lift to take people up to the surface at the end of the visit, but can one take a lift down? I am... 

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A: I hope it's not too late. I don't think it should be a problem, but you should contact them and ask:... 

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Top Wieliczka Writers

1

A visit to a salt mine

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2

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3

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ThiagoRamos profile photo

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700-year-old the Wieliczka Salt Mine

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 Would you like to receive a postcard from Poland? Click here, please! Thank you very, very much :-))) The Wieliczka Salt Mine, nowadays practically on the outskirts of Krakow, has been worked as a... 

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WIELICZKA SALT MINE

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 Sunday May 30, 2010 - VT Group Tour to Wieliczka Salt Mine The Historic WIELICZKA SALT MINE, located 10 km from the centre of Krakow, is the only mine in the world where mining has been continuous... 

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