Muzeum Żup Krakowskich Wieliczka

Useful Information

Location:	32-020 Wieliczka, ul. Zamkowa 8. In Wieliczka. 14 km south-east of Cracow. (49.983934, 20.060091)
Open:	All year Tue-Fri 9-17, Sat, Sun 9-20. Closed 01-JAN, Easter, 01-NOV, 24-DEC, 25-DEC. [2022]
Fee:	Adults PLN 8, Children (7-16) PLN 1, Children (0-6) free, Students (-26) PLN 5, Seniors (65+) PLN 5, Family (2+2) PLN 15. [2022]
Classification:	Mining Museum Salt Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed without flash
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Muzeum Żup Krakowskich Wieliczka, 32-020 Wieliczka, ul. Zamkowa 8, Tel: +48-12-278-58-49. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

14th century	castle built in Gothic style.
22-APR-1368	Casimir the Great issues a mining order regulating salt production and trade.
1945	headquarters of the Wieliczka Salt Mine relocated.
1988	declared a Historic Monument.
1992	castle renovated.
2013	inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as an extension of the Wieliczka Salt Mine inscription of 1978.

Description

Muzeum Żup Krakowskich Wieliczka (Cracow Saltworks Museum in Wieliczka) is located in the Zamek Żupny (Saltworks Castle), only a few hundre meters from the salt mine. The Żupny Castle is the former headquarters of the Wieliczka and Bochnia Salt Mine. The castle was built in Gothic style during the 14th century, under the reign of Casimir III the Great. It was completed the 16th century during the reign of Sigismund I the Old.

The castle contains the exhibits of the museum, which include the history of Wieliczka and the only collection of saltshakers in Poland. The salt mines at Wieliczka and Bochnia belonged together from the 14th century to 1772 and were called Żupy krakowskie (Royal Cracow Salt Mines). On 22-APR-1368, Casimir the Great issued a mining order regulating salt production and trade. The administration of the salt mines was the responsibility of a Żupnik (salt count), who had his seat in the salt count's castle of Wieliczka. The revenues from the salt trade generated a third of the state's income from the 14th to the 16th century. They financed the construction of the royal Wawel Castle, the university and the city fortifications in Krakow, the army, and more. From 1515 to 1523, Hans Boner was Żupnik, he also reformed the financial system in Poland. The salt mine experienced its heyday in the 16th century until the middle of the 17th century. At that time, 2000 miners were employed at the mine and production exceeded 30,000 tonnes of salt.

After World War I the mine was owned by the Republic of Poland. They also installed a state monopoly on salt in 1932. Due to World War II the castle was bombed in 1945 and the administration of the mine was relocated.