(59K)
645 x 432
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Legend says this salt mine was part of the dowry of the Hungarian princess Kinga when she married the Polish King Boleslaw the Shy. This image recalls the myth that an engagement ring was found among the salt.
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(60K)
645 x 432
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Over the centuries, the devout (and sometimes superstitious) miners have carved numerous figures, monuments and altars out the salt walls of this mine.
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(67K)
645 x 432
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The tourist travels only 3 levels (to 135 meters) and 2.5 kilometers of this mine, which is less than 10% of its actual size and 7 or 8 levels - all man-made (its a mine, not a cave).
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(34K)
645 x 432
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Looking down from the first to the second level, one sees the old steps which the miners had carved in the salt.
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(66K)
645 x 432
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This passageway also shows a pipe / trough for removing water - one of the continual problems for the miners. The mine was almost destroyed by flooding in the 1970s.
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(61K)
645 x 432
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A carving of an elfen-dwarf workshop.
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(61K)
432 x 645
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Just coincidence, I thought this dwarf slightly resembled Pope John Paul II.
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(61K)
432 x 645
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Passing by some of the various shrines and altars - many of the salt figures are unfortunately dissolved over time from the humidity and water in the mine.
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(36K)
432 x 645
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Except, of course, those which were built out of wood.
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(43K)
645 x 432
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Arriving at the incredibly ornate Chapel of St. Kinga is over 22,000 square meters - completely decorated with salt (yes - even the chandeliers are decorated with salt crystals).
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(56K)
432 x 645
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The whole room is surrounded by magnificent carvings and decorations, made by 3 different men who worked successively over a century.
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(46K)
645 x 432
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The joke with this carving of the Holy Family is that if a real donkey lifted both its right legs at once, it would fall over.
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(51K)
432 x 645
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The main altar of the underground chapel, which is still occasionally used for religious services.
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(45K)
645 x 432
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Although a rather flat carving, this last supper looks incredibly 3 dimensional.
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(52K)
432 x 645
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The risen Christ.
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(55K)
432 x 645
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Illuminating the salt from behind, it appears somewhat translucent.
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(79K)
576 x 865
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With the real statue of Pope John Paul II.
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(44K)
645 x 432
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One of the larger rooms filled with timber supports. Unfortunately I couldn't get a picture of the salt lake.
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(39K)
432 x 645
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A simple shrine I passed by.
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(65K)
432 x 645
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Two salt miners - of course carved from salt.
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(38K)
645 x 432
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One of the several horse-powered winches used to raise the massive salt blocks.
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(57K)
432 x 645
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A statue of St. Barbara.
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(41K)
645 x 432
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Looking at the mechanisms for another winch, I think this one used an early form of disk brakes.
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