If you are going to visit Cracow city
Attractions around the Cracow city – Wieliczka Salt Mine.
Cracow city is rich in many attractions, but there is one very special place, which is not in Cracow city but about 25 minutes outside (within 17 kilometers) from this amazing city. The place we have in mind is Salt Mines of Wieliczka. The Salt Mine is located in the small town Wieliczka, and it is famous for being one of the oldest salt mines all over the world. It has been in use for many years, and only recently it stopped working. Now, this place plays the different touristic role, every year it attracts about 1.2 million tourists. One of the reasons why Wieliczka is so popular among foreign tourists is because highly-qualified staff working in Wieliczka, provide all tourists from various countries with the highest quality services. This is the only salt mine in the world which is maintained in such a good condition. Moreover, it is included into the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Wieliczka attracts so many visitors as underground, magnificent chambers, corridors and monuments craved out of salt are absolutely original and beautiful. There are 20 outstanding chambers, but the most beautiful is Chapel of St. King. If you are going to visit Wieliczka Salt Mine you can be accompanied with tour guide speaking English fluently. Moreover, there is also underground restaurant where you can recharge your batteries after the long hours of sightseeing, and even buy souvenirs form the “local” underground souvenir shop.
However, do not forget about the specific character of this place. Visit in Wieliczka Salt Mine has nothing in common with typical walking around the Main Square of any old town. Before you decide on it, you should be aware of the one very important thing. In a bid to enjoy the beauty of such original place, you need to walk down through thirty-eight flights of stairs, and usually in quite big groups including 35 people. Not everyone can stand being in crowd, and all the more reason, where there is no quite a lot of space, for example, people with claustrophobia should definitely consider it twice. Nevertheless, we consider it this the only disadvantage of this place, because in general, there are no restrictions or indications, why someone cannot visits the Salt Mine. It is even believed that breathing salt air is therapeutic and that each hour breathed adds one week to your life.
The only thing you should take into account is related to the second type of route. Before you decide on it, you should know that it requires a lot of strength and stamina, because tourists experience how mines used to work there. There are prepared special facilities to enable people with disabilities to experience the beauty as well. However, they should inform the staff in advance about their intention of visiting Wieliczka Salt Mine. Moreover, parents with their babies are also invited for taking part in sightseeing. Kids under the age of four enter for free. Everyone is welcomed, and there you have no excuse miss this place.
