Cultural
Mines royales de sel de Wieliczka et Bochnia
Pologne
Located in southern Poland, the Wieliczka and Bochnia salt mines represent exceptional examples of salt extraction and underground architecture spanning several centuries. These mines were developed to exploit rich natural salt deposits in the region and became significant economic centers for medieval and post-medieval Poland. The sites are characterized by extensive underground networks featuring galleries, chambers, and chapels carved directly from salt rock, some decorated with religious iconography and sculptural elements. The mines preserve evidence of evolving extraction techniques and working conditions across different historical periods, reflecting technological and social changes in mining practices. Both sites demonstrate the integration of practical mining operations with cultural and artistic expression, as evidenced by the elaborate underground spaces created by miners. Their inscription recognizes the outstanding testimony these mines provide to the history of salt production and the cultural heritage embedded within their underground structure.
