Bochnia Salt Mine, Salt mine in Bochnia, Poland
Bochnia Salt Mine is an underground excavation with chambers and corridors that spread for kilometers beneath the surface. The site reaches significant depths where visitors walk through layers of salt deposits and experience the spatial layout created by centuries of mining work.
Salt extraction began in 1248 when rock salt deposits were discovered during the deepening of brine wells. This early discovery launched mining operations that shaped the region for centuries to come.
The St. Kinga Chapel serves as an underground place of worship where people gather for services, with salt crystal chandeliers illuminating the sacred space. The chapel reflects how miners brought their faith into the depths and created a spiritual sanctuary within the working mine.
Visitors enter through the Campi shaft and follow clearly marked routes that lead safely through the underground chambers. The pathways are well lit and accessible for most visitors, so wearing comfortable shoes is recommended for navigating the passages.
A train runs through the center of St. Kinga Chapel, making it the only underground church with a railway passing through its interior. This unusual arrangement exists because the transport track predates the construction of the altar.
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