Podziemna Trasa Turystyczna w Sandomierzu

Underground Tourist Route of Sandomierz


Useful Information

Location: Rynek 10, 27-600 Sandomierz.
Sandomierzu, Rynek Starego Miasta, entrance in Olesnickich Street.
(50.679411, 21.748745)
Open: All year daily 10-17, last entry 16:30.
Season daily 10-18, last entry 17:30.
Closed 01-JAN, Easter Sunday 01-NOV, 25-DEC.
[2011]
Fee: Adults PLZ 8, Children (6-16) PLZ 5, Children (0-5) free.
Groups: Guide PLZ 20.
[2011]
Classification: SubterraneaCellars
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: T=12-14 °C.
Guided tours: D=30 min, L=450 m.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Owner: Sandomierz Town Council, 27-600 Sandomierz, ul Mickiewicza, Tel: +48-15-322-228.
Organiser: PTTK Section in Sandomierz, Rynek 26, 27-600 Sandomierz, Tel: +48-15-8323088, Fax: +48-15-322-682. E-mail: contact
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

10-DEC-1977 opened to the public.

Description

These tunnels were originally merchants' cellars which date from the 16th century. The town of Sandomierz is honeycombed with old cellars but only a small section is open to the public.


Text by Tony Oldham (2002). With kind permission.


The city of Sandomierz was located at the roads connecting Russia and Hungary, and it had the priviledge to with the goods which were transported on this route. Also bonded goods like wine, salt, and herring, had to be stored for some time at a safe place. The cellars were important and during time enlarged by building lowere levels of cellers, some even extended below the ground of the neighbour.

The cellers became unused and fell into disrepair. During the 1960s the historic buildings of the town began to show cracks and deformations caused by the collapse of cellars below. It became necessary to save the city by exploring, surveying, and repairing the old cellars. The specialists which were called were the miners from Bytom. Their cure was typical for miners: they liquidated the cellars and hence the danger by filling them with "backfill", a mixture of loess with the addition of water glass or cement. Only a small part of the cellars was renovated to form a tourist route, connecting the cellars of eight houses along the streets Opatowska, Olesnicki and Bartolone and the Market. The route includes 34 chambers at different levels.