The beginnings of Wieliczka, one of the world's most famous mines of the world, do reach the Middle Ages, when it assumed the name of Magnum Sal (Great Salt.)

The oldest of documents that shed some light on the history of the mine is a privilege of Casimirus the Restorer of 1044, referring to Wieliczka as "magnum sal alias Wieliczka."

Since times immemorial salt was the economic foundation of the state. In the Polish lands it was used, in the ancient times, as a means of payment, replacing the metal coinage in its form of salt krusze.

"The historic Salt Mine in Wieliczka is the only site in the world where mining has continued since the Middle Ages. Lying on nine levels, its original excavations (longitudinals, traverses, chambers, lakes, as well as lesser and major shafts) stretch for the total of 300 kilometres: reaching the depth of 327 metres they illustrate all the stages of the development of the mining technology over time."

The quotation comes from an the justification of entering the Wieliczka Salt Mine into UNESCO's 1st World List of Cultural and Natural Heritage on 8th September, 1978 together with 11 other sites from all over the world.

For, indeed, reaching back to the Middle Ages, the history of Wieliczka is a reflection of progress of mining technology, development of work organisation and management, birth of legislation in industry, as well as a lesson in patriotism and love of freedom.

(More: www.salt-mine.pl)

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