Bochnia Salt Mine

Last updated
Bochnia Salt Mine
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Bochnia poland saltmine.jpg
Underground church created in early 18th century
Location Bochnia, Bochnia County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland
Part of Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
Criteria Cultural: (iv)
Reference 32ter-002
Inscription1978 (2nd Session)
Extensions2008, 2013
Area135.4 ha (335 acres)
Buffer zone322.6 ha (797 acres)
Website bochnia-mine.eu
Coordinates 49°58′09″N20°25′03″E / 49.96917°N 20.41750°E / 49.96917; 20.41750
Lesser Poland Voivodeship Relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Bochnia Salt Mine in Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Relief Map of Poland.svg
Red pog.svg
Bochnia Salt Mine (Poland)

The Bochnia Salt Mine (Polish : Kopalnia soli Bochnia) in Bochnia, Poland, is one of the oldest salt mines in the world [1] and is the oldest commercial company in Poland. [2] The Bochnia salt mine was established in 1248 after salt had been discovered there in the 12th and 13th centuries and became part of the royal mining company, Żupy krakowskie (Kraków Salt Works). In 1990, the mine ceased producing salt but remained a tourist attraction.

Contents

In 1981 the Bochnia salt mine was declared a heritage monument. It is one of Poland's official national Historic Monuments ( Pomnik historii ), as designated on 6 October 2000 and is overseen by the National Heritage Board of Poland.

The chapel in the mine has train tracks running through it.

History

Entrance with Sutoris headframe Sutoris shaft.jpg
Entrance with Sutoris headframe

The mine shafts measure 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) in length at about 330–468 metres (1,083–1,535 ft) in depth below the surface, at 16 levels.

In 2013, the mine was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as an extension of the Wieliczka Salt Mine inscription of 1978. [1]

August Passage

The August Passage is the main communication and transportation route in the mine. It runs from the east to the west of the mine, connecting in a straight line the bottom ends of the Campi and Sutoris shafts. It is at a depth of 176 metres (577 ft) from the top of the Sutoris shaft and 212 metres (696 ft) counting from the top of the Campi shaft. The August Passage was initially called the Long Stove (Piec Długi). Its first part, extending between the Rabsztyn Chute and a Campi Shaft, was built from 1723 to 1743, in accordance with a design by Jan Gottfried Borlach. His great achievement was to regulate routes in the mine by ensuring their straightening and leveling. As a result of this, over the next decades, the August Passage was able to reach a length of nearly 3 km (2 mi).

Excavated chambers, shafts and passages form an underground town, which is open to sightseers. The largest of the preserved chambers has been converted into a sanatorium.

Ważyn Chamber

The Ważyn Chamber was named after the administrator (podżupek) Andrzej Ważyński. The depth of this chamber, the biggest in Bochnia Salt Mine, is 248 metres (814 ft); its length is 255 metres (837 ft); its maximum width is 14.4 metres (47 ft); and its maximum height is 7.2 metres (24 ft). The chamber uses no supporting pillars. Salt from Ważyn chamber was extracted from 1697 until the 1950s. For the purposes of creating a sanatorium, these old pits were expanded with a loading-hauling-dumping (LHD) unit machine. This work took place until 1984. Thanks to them, the Ernest Chute from the 17th century impressively presents itself on the stripped chamber's roof.

The Ważyn chamber has a specific microclimate, with a constant temperature between 14–16 °C (57–61 °F), high humidity (about 70%) and favourable ionisation of the air saturated by sodium chloride and valuable microelements, like magnesium, manganese and calcium. The air in the chamber is distinguished by its purity. The chamber is equipped with beds: up to 300 people can sleep here. The other parts of Ważyn Chamber are fields for playing volleyball, basketball and handball. There are also restaurant and conference facilities.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesser Poland Voivodeship</span> Province of Poland

Lesser Poland Voivodeship is a voivodeship in southern Poland. It has an area of 15,108 square kilometres (5,833 sq mi), and a population of 3,404,863 (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wieliczka</span> Town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland

Wieliczkapronounced[vʲɛˈlʲit͡ʂka] is a historic town in southern Poland, situated within the Kraków metropolitan area in Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999. The town was initially founded in 1290 by Premislaus II of Poland. Nowadays, it is mostly known for the Wieliczka Salt Mine, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, and the historic old town core which was listed as one of National Polish Monuments in 1994. The population in 2023 was estimated at 27,845.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bochnia</span> Place in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland

Bochnia is a town on the river Raba in southern Poland, administrative seat of Bochnia County in Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The town lies approximately halfway 38 kilometres (24 mi) between Tarnów (east) and the regional capital Kraków (west). Bochnia is most noted for its salt mine, the oldest functioning in Europe, built in the 13th century, a World Heritage Site and a Historic Monument of Poland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kraków Cloth Hall</span> Centre of international trade in Kraków, Poland

The Kraków Cloth Hall, in Lesser Poland, dates to the Renaissance and is one of the city's most recognizable monuments. It is the central feature of the main market square in the Kraków Old Town, which since 1978 has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá</span> Underground Roman Catholic church in Colombia

The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is an underground Roman Catholic church built within the tunnels of a salt mine 200 metres (660 ft) underground in a halite mountain near the city of Zipaquirá, in Cundinamarca, Colombia. It is a tourist destination and place of pilgrimage in the country. The temple at the bottom has three sections, representing the birth, life, and death of Jesus. The icons, ornaments and architectural details are hand carved in the halite rock. Some marble sculptures are included. The cathedral is considered one of the most notable achievements of Colombian architecture, being described as a "Jewel of Modern Architecture". The cathedral represents a valuable cultural, environmental and religious patrimony for the Colombian people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wieliczka Salt Mine</span> Polish salt mine operated for 700 years

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is a salt mine in the town of Wieliczka, near Kraków in southern Poland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chełm Chalk Tunnels</span>

The Chełm Chalk Tunnels are a system of tunnels dug into the chalk under the city of Chełm in eastern Poland. The tunnelling began in the Middle Ages for chalk mining and was discontinued in the 19th century. The tunnels also served Chełm's inhabitants as shelters during raids, wars and pillage. The system is now open solely for tourists. In total, the network of tunnels stretches for around 15 kilometres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Władysław Skoczylas</span> Polish artist (1883–1934)

Władysław Skoczylas was a Polish watercolorist, woodcutter, sculptor and art teacher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galician Railway of Archduke Charles Louis</span>

The Imperial and Royal privileged Galician Railway of Archduke Charles Louis was a privately owned railway company in the Austro-Hungarian province of Galicia operating during the time of the partitions of Poland in the second half of the 19th century. The company was managed by Prince Leon Sapieha, under a license granted to him by Emperor Francis Joseph I on 7 April 1858.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frasassi Caves</span> Cave system in Genga, Marche, Italy

The Frasassi Caves are a karst cave system in the municipality of Genga, Italy, in the province of Ancona, Marche. They are among the most famous show caves in Italy.

Grand Roc is a mountain of Savoie, France. It lies in the Massif de la Vanoise range. It has an elevation of 3,316 m (10,879 ft) above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Żupy krakowskie</span> Defunct Polish salt mining company

Żupy krakowskie was a Polish salt mining company which operated continuously from its inception in the 13th century to the late 20th century. It managed salt mines and salt works in two neighboring towns, Wieliczka Salt Mine in Wieliczka and Bochnia Salt Mine in Bochnia, as well as river salt ports on Vistula and, only in the 17th century, a salt work in Dobiegniewo. The company was created circa 1290 by the Polish Crown, thus giving birth to the largest industrial centre in Europe until the 18th century, according to UNESCO, both in terms of the number of employees and its production volumes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kłodawa Salt Mine</span>

The Kłodawa Salt Mine is the biggest operating salt mine in Poland. It is located in Kłodawa, Koło County, Greater Poland Voivodship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tholos de El Romeral</span> Megalithic burial mound in Andalusia, Spain

Tholos de El Romeral, situated 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) north east of the town of Antequera (Andalusia), is one of the most important examples of early Bronze Age architecture in southern Europe. Tholos de El Romeral, also known as Cueva de Romeral and Dolmen de Romeral, is a megalithic burial site built circa 1800 BCE. It is one of three tombs in the region, the others being Dolmen de Menga and Dolmen de Viera, both situated to the south west.

A żupnik in Polish salt and metal mining between 13th and 18th century was a manager which oversaw the operations of a mining district, often in the name of the king.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soledar Salt Mine</span> Salt mines in Soledar, Ukraine

The Soledar Salt Mine, also known as the Artemsil Salt Mine, is a major salt mining complex located in the city of Soledar, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the mine was damaged, and is currently defunct. Along with the rest of Soledar, the mines were captured by Russia in the battle of Soledar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Historic Silver Mine in Tarnowskie Góry</span> UNESCO World Heritage Site in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland

The Historic Silver Mine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tarnowskie Góry, Silesia, Poland. The mine and the neighbouring Black Trout Adit are remnants of a silver mining industry. The museum is an Anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage. It also joined The International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage and the Silesian Tourist Organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Żupny Castle</span> Castle in Wieliczka, southern Poland

Żupny Castle is a Gothic castle, the former headquarters of the Wieliczka and Bochnia Salt Mine. The castle is located in the former mine complex and was designated as part of the Wieliczka and Bochnia UNESCO World Heritage Site, since an expansion in 2013. The castle is located in Wieliczka, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in Poland.

References

  1. 1 2 Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (extension to the Wieliczka Salt Mine). UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 03/07/2013.
  2. "12 najstarszych polskich marek i ich historia" (in Polish). HISTORIA.org.pl - historia, kultura, muzea, matura, rekonstrukcje i recenzje historyczne. 2015-12-06. Retrieved 2020-10-16.