Poland's Wieliczka Salt Mine welcomes 2015's millionth tourist
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
11.09.2015 09:25
Agnieszka Santos, a Polish-born resident of the United Kingdom, is the one millionth visitor to the historic salt mine in Wieliczka near Kraków in 2015.
Wieliczka Salt Mines. Photo: wikimedia commons/EwelinaSow
She was given the red-carpet treatment, taken on a special tour of the mine and presented with a very special gift – a barrel of salt. She is on a few days’ visit to southern Poland with her family.
Foreigners account for about a half of the visitors to Wieliczka, with British tourists topping the list, followed by Germans, Italians, Spaniards and the French.
The Wieliczka Salt Mine was founded in the middle of the 13th century. It features a 3.5-km touring route for visitors that includes historic statues and mythical figures carved in salt. There are also a large chapel, an underground lake, as well as a private rehabilitation and wellness complex.
In 1978 the Wieliczka Mine was included in the original UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. (mk/nh/rk)