The Wieliczka Salt Mine, near Krakow in southern Poland, is one of the oldest salt mines in Europe, and it was worked for several centuries from medieval times. The salt was a major source of revenue for the Polish crown, and the mine was among the most profitable in the country. Its tunnels reach a depth of over three hundred metres, and have an extensive network of chambers, lakes and statues carved from salt by miners. The most famous is the Chapel of St Kinga, a church decorated with salt sculptures and chandeliers. Commercial mining ended in 2007, and the mine is now a major tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Before and after
- 1299Construction of Palazzo Vecchio
- from 29 July 1299 to 17 November 1922Ottoman Empire
- from 22 December 1299 to 23 December 1299Battle of Wadi al-Khaznadar
- from 13th century to 20th centuryPasha
- 13th centuryConstruction of Wieliczka Salt Mine
- c. 1300Origins of Amsterdam
- 13th centuryDiscovery of arsenic
- from 1301 to 1500Late Middle Ages
- from 1303 to 1850Little Ice Age
More in Civilizations & archaeology
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- 802 CEConstruction of Angkor Wat
- 1373Construction of Leaning Tower of Pisa
- 1460Construction of Topkapı Palace
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes.