The origins of the Salt Mine in Wieliczka, Poland date back to the Middle Ages when it was known by the name Magnum Sal or Great Salt.
Although it is not known when the excavation of the hard salt began, it is thought to have started when a deepening of the brine wells occurred and most likely a salt deposit was discovered.
Salt was a precious commodity and was key for survival to the people of Poland. It was utilized to preserve food, tan animal hides and later it would be used in the manufacture of gunpowder. In 1368, Casimir the Great laid down the principles of operation for the mine and by the 16th century, the Wieliczka Salt Mine became one of the largest business enterprises in Europe.
Tourism began around the end of the 15th century, when heads of state and various other VIPs were brought into the mine to view its magnificence. The number of tourists was at one time only about 10 per month and over the centuries has risen to about 900,000 people a year! Notable visitors to the mine include: Tsar Alexander I, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Frederic Chopin and Karol Wojtyla – who later became Pope John Paul II.