According to legend, Poland
can thank Queen Kinga for discovery of the salt mine. Kinga was the daughter of
the Hungarian king Bela IV who married the Polish king Boleslaw the Modest in
the 13th century. The story has Kinga throwing her engagement ring into the
Maramures salt mine in Hungary.
The ring miraculously traveled along with salt deposits to Wieliczka where it
was rediscovered. Kinga is now the patron saint of miners.
The Tourist Route
When visiting the salt mine, one is taken down the Danilowicz Shaft,
dug in the 17th Century. It was originally used to transport salt to the
surface, but now is used to carry mining officials and tourists. A small
passageway will take one to the Nicolaus Copernicus Chamber, which
contains a statue of the famous astronomer carved in green salt in 1973.
Next is the Chapel of St. Anthony, at just over three hundred years
old the oldest surviving chapel in the complex. It is in the shape of a baroque
church, all carved in green salt. The figures of Crucified Christ, Virgin and
Child, and St. Anthony are in the niche of the main altar. The figures of St.
Stanislaus of Szczepanow, and St. Clement are in side niches. Sculptures of
August II of Saxony, Christ Crucified, Blessed Virgin
Mary, St. Mary Magdalene, and St. John
stand at the entrance to the choir. St. Peter of Alcantara and St. Casimirus
stand in side altars. One can also see statues of St. Francis, St. Dominic, St.
Peter, and St. Paul.
The Janowice Chamber depicts the legend of St. Kinga. One sees a statue
of a miner handing a block of salt containing her engagement ring to the saint.
A Polish knight, a Hungarian knight, and two other miners look on. Beyond is
the Burned Chamber which depicts the dangers involved in falls and
methane gas in the mine. Statues of mine workers literally burning our
concentrations of methane with fire brands are present.