Journey to the Center of the Earth

How deep is the center of the Earth? It is probably 327 m underground in Kraków. Situated 14 km southeast of Kraków, Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the largest salt mines in Europe. It is a subterranean labyrinth of tunnels and chambers distributed over 9 levels. Tourists can either participate in the Tourist Route or the Miners Route in the 300 km journey. 

Instead of diamonds (from the novel), tourists are able to unveil the mystery of rock salt. Since Neolithic times, salt has been extracted from brine springs. Yet in the 13th century, rock salt was first discovered in Wieliczka. This World Heritage Site was mined continuously until 1996, leading to rock salt, aka white gold, being an economic contributor within 2 centuries. 

Being an adventure seeker, no one can resist the myths, as if you were Professor Otto Lidenbrock. Since Princess Kinga asked for a lump of salt before marrying the Polish Prince, Bela IV of Hungary brought her the salt mine in Maramos. She dropped the engagement ring in the shaft. The miners dug a pit by her order, split the rock in two and found her ring mysteriously.

Miners used to work 8 hours a day, while horses used to work and live underground. From the 13th to the 18th century, miners carried an oil lamp, until the advent of electricity. So, eexcept for the wooden construction, some of the tunnels were painted in white for better lighting. Don’t forget to close the back door before you open the front door, or it will be out of oxygen.

For Otto, science was the religion; but for the underground miners, it was Roman Catholicism. Built in 1896, the St. Kinga Church is the largest attraction down there. Massive wooden pillars, with “The Last Supper” and “Jesus Appears to Thomas” on the wall, carved out of the rock salt. How stunning it is with the light of the chandeliers, which were also made of rock salt.

You would not be ejected from a volcanic chimney. The underground lake used to allow the tourists to transit via boat to the exit. Due to over tourism (2 millions tourists in 2023), they can still return to the ground via elevator. The mini music concert of Frédéric Chopin will accompany the “salted out” one alongside the underground journey. What is it but a majestic ending?