Wieliczka, Historic municipality in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland.
Wieliczka is a municipality in Lesser Poland Voivodeship in Poland, located roughly 13 kilometers southeast of Kraków. It spreads across raised ground at 261 meters elevation and forms part of the Kraków metropolitan area.
The settlement received municipal rights in 1290 from Przemysław II of Poland and established itself as an important center of salt mining. It retained this role for centuries and shaped the development of the region into the 20th century.
The town carries its name from the 13th century onward and continues to identify it as a center of salt extraction in the region. Visitors find several smaller shops and restaurants that line the main streets and shape the daily life of residents.
Travelers can arrive via the A4 motorway or regular bus connections from Kraków, with the journey typically taking less than half an hour. Several lodging options and parking facilities are available near the center for visitors.
Early Celtic settlers left traces in the area long before the medieval municipality emerged. The population growth to over 27,000 inhabitants by 2023 shows the enduring appeal of this place across centuries.
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