Wieliczka Salt Mine
On Geocoins.io
- Category
- Tributes
- Rarity
- Epic
- Published
- 28 August 2026
- Extension
- Reviewer
- Forge
- Not craftable
- Collected by
- 17 player(s)
On geocaching.com
- Cache type
- EarthCache
- GC code
- GC1K2TN
- Owner
- znackarml
- Published
- 23 December 2008
The Wieliczka Salt Mine earthcache (GC1K2TN) lies some fifteen kilometres south-east of Kraków, in Poland. Salt deposits line this front, and the one at Wieliczka has been worked since the 13th century.
Salt made the fortune of the kings of Poland: for centuries the Kraków Royal Salt Works were the most profitable business in the kingdom. Underground, the miners carved the salt: the Saint Kinga chapel with an altar, bas-reliefs and chandeliers of salt, and great subterranean lakes.
In 1978 the mine appeared on the very first UNESCO World Heritage list, before spending ten years on the list of sites in danger: beyond 75% humidity, the salt of the sculptures begins to melt.
It is by far the most impressive underground place I have ever been able to contemplate - to be visited without the slightest hesitation.