Record year for Wieliczka Salt Mine
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
14.12.2016 11:36
The historic Wieliczka Salt Mine in southern Poland has attracted 1.5 million visitors since the beginning of 2016.
Wieliczka Salt Mines. Photo: wikimedia commons/EwelinaSow
This year is set to see an all-time record in the number of visitors. Last year the mine was visited by almost 1.4 million people.
Foreign visitors account for around half the total, with those from the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain topping the list.
The Wieliczka Salt Mine was founded in the middle of the 13th century. Its underground corridors are almost 300 km long. The mine was opened to tourists at the end of the 18th century.
At present, they are taken along a 3.5km route that includes historic statues, a large chapel and a lake.
There is also a physical rehabilitation and wellness complex in the mine. To cope with the growing number of visitors, the construction of a modern tourist centre is being planned.
In 1978 the Wieliczka Mine was included in the original UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. (mk/pk)