The Pilgrims’ Route in the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine

THE MINER’S GREETING - “GOD BLESS”

“You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world” (Mt 5:13-14)

Labour underground has always been associated with great danger hazardous to life. That is why miners used to build chapels underground in which they attended mass every morning.

The numerous underground chapels as well as customs and rites, verbal folklore, art, and especially sculpting in rock salt religious subjects testify to the fact that the cult of holy patrons was very important in the Wieliczka miners’ culture. The miners exposed to constant perils placed their health and wellbeing in the hands of the Almighty, the Holy Mother of God, and the holy patrons. Apart from the main patron, St. Kinga, there were other more prominent apostles celebrated by the miners’ cult, i.e. St. Anthony Padewski, St. Clemens, and St. Barbara. These traditions are continued today as well as the miners’ greeting “God Bless” with which the miners greet and say goodbye to people they meet underground. The first “God Bless” is said at the moment of descending into the mine, and the final “God Bless” resounds when exiting the mine to the surface, i.e. “the outside world”.

Visiting Principles

• Visiting requires earlier booking.
• Visiting lasts ca 2 hours and takes place under the supervision of a guide.
• Holy Mass can be requested in the Chapel of St. John after the pilgrimage.
• Visitors descend down the staircase (378 steps) to Level I (64 m underground).
• Visitors exit the mine by taking a lift in the Daniłowicz Shaft from Level III (135 meters underground).
• The underground ambient temperature is between 14 -16ºC, and therefore, visitors are kindly
• requested to take some warm clothes with them.
• We also offer lunches/dinners served in the underground restaurant.
• We offer accommodation in the Grand Sal**** Hotel.

The Pilgrim Route

“Wieliczka” Salt Mine – tourist route and underground exposition of the Krakow Salt-works Museum:

• The Daniłowicz Shaft
• descent to Bono Level I, The Daniłowicz Shaft Bottom
• Saint Anthony’s Chapel (direct entrance to the chapel through the glass door from the shaft bottom)
• The Janowice Chamber
• The Sielec Chamber – chromolithograph of Our Lady
• The Pieskowa Skała Chamber
• descent to upper Level II, The Kunegunda Traverse
• The Holy Cross Chapel
• The Saint Kinga’s Chapel
• The Erazm Barącz Chamber
• The Erazm Barącz Ramp
• The Rarańcza Traverse
• Saurau Chamber (top)
• Saurau Chamber (bottom) – „sliding down the rope”, a picture of the “Guardian Angel”
• Russeger VII Chamber – exhibition „Sacrum of the Saline Heritage”
• Level III – the altar of St Kinga at the shaft bottom, The Daniłowicz Shaft bottom
• passage to the Chapel of St John for groups which ordered Holy Mass.
• The Saint John’s Chapel
• Exit to the surface.

“GOD BLESS” The Pilgrims’ Route in the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine

Information

tel. +48 12 278 73 02
tel. +48 12 278 73 66
fax +48 12 278 73 33
e-mail: turystyka@kopalnia.pl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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