St Kinga's Shaft, Wieliczka Salt Mine

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is located in the town of Wieliczka in southern Poland and lies within the Cracow metropolitan area. The mine had been in continuous operation, producing table salt since the 13th century until 2007 as one of the world's oldest operating salt mines (the oldest being in Bochnia, Poland, some 20 kilometers away from Wieliczka). The mine is a major tourist attraction, with about 1.2 million visitors per year. Commercial mining was discontinued in 1996 due to low salt prices and mine flooding.

Depicted on the picture is St Kinga's Shaft, 101m underground.

The Saint Kinga's Chapel is the most impressive and opulent of underground temples. The chamber, carved in a block of salt, has been a place of worship since 1896. The chapel ornamentation has been created over a period of more than a hundred years. From late 19th century until 1963, the sculpting was conducted by self-taught miners-sculptors, Józef and Tomasz Markowski and Antoni Wyrodek. Their work is continued by the new generation of miners, who create new sculpting projects.

Sculptures which decorate the chapel walls are New Testament scenes. Closest to the stairs, on the right, the Jesus Before Herod and Massacre of the Innocents reliefs are to be seen, and above them, a Nativity scene. Slightly further, the Chapel of Madonna and Child, with the depiction of God the Father atop, is to be seen, as well as the Flight Into Egypt relief, and above it, Christ Falling Under the Cross.

Next to the main altar, a side altar dedicated to the Sacred Heart, the Twelve-year-old Jesus Preaching At the Temple relief, and a pulpit whose base resembles the walls of the Wawel castle can be seen. In a niche of the altar table, Saint Kinga's relics were placed.

The figures of Christ Crucified and two kneeling monks are salt copies of the sculptures from the Saint Anthony's Chapel, which were presented at EXPO 1900 in Paris.

On the left side of the main altar, the Wedding at Cana relief is to be seen, and next to it, the altar of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The chapel chancel is ornamented both by early 20th-century and recent sculptures. One of the oldest elements of the décor is the main altar, carved by Józef Markowski and consisting of three parts. In the middle, Saint Kinga's figure surrounded by salt crystals is placed; in the side panels, between double columns, the statues of Saint Joseph and Saint Clement are to be seen.

To the left of the altar, a relief depicting the scene of the Last Supper, carved by Antoni Wyrodek and modelled after the famous fresco by Leonardo da Vinci, is to be seen. Next to the relief, the Resurrection Chapel is to be found. Another relief found here, the Doubting Thomas, dates from the 1960s.

On exiting the chapel, visitors can admire the newest of the sculptures which adorn the underground temple. The statue found here is the world's only monument of the Polish pope, John Paul II carved in salt. It was made in 1999 by the miner-sculptor Stanisław Anioł assisted by Paweł Janowski and Piotr Starowicze as a gift of thanks for the canonising the Blessed Kinga.

The chapel is illuminated by large salt chandeliers. The entire decoration of the underground temple, including the floor, has been carved in salt.

source: http://www.kopalnia.pl/index.php?id_language=2&id_news=&action=&id_site=&language_change=1&