The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of Poland’s most iconic attractions, a stunning underground complex that stretches for miles beneath the earth. At the heart of the mine lies the magnificent St. Kinga’s Chapel, an awe-inspiring room that is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
Situated 101m below ground level, the chapel is a vast space, measuring 465m² and standing 11m high. It is adorned with beautiful chandeliers and features numerous pieces of art, including a stunning altar that is several hundred years old and made entirely from salt.
Named after Saint Kinga of Poland, the patroness of the salt miners, the chapel is a testament to the skill and dedication of the miners who created it. Over the centuries, they transformed the underground chambers into a place of incredible beauty and spiritual significance, and today the chapel is still in use for church services, concerts, and even weddings.
Be sure to add a visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the St. Kinga’s Chapel to your list of must-see destinations, especially if you anyways visit the nearby Krakow!
Technical Details
Camera: Canon EOS 500D
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm @ 13mm
ISO: 400
Exposures: 3 (-2, 0, +2)
Aperture: 8
Exposure time (middle): 1/2s
Tripod: Manfrotto 190CXPRO4
Size: 14.5 MPx
Date: Taken in November 2013
Location: In St. Kinga’s Chapel in the Wieliczka Salt Mine near Kraków
Software: Lightroom 5.2, Photoshop CS6, Photomatix Pro
St. Kinga’s Chapel is part of the UNESCO World Heritage
St Kinga’s Chapel and the whole Wieliczka Salt mine are part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1978, inscribed as Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines. It was among the first 12 inscribed World Heritage Sites.
» UNESCO Description of the World Heritage: Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
» Other photos of the World Heritage: See more photos
