Bochnia Salt Mine
Medals available at the gift shop by the ticket offices – Campi shaft, and at the shop at the bottom of the mine!
Salt extraction in the Bochnia region dates back to 3,500 BC. Salt was originally obtained by evaporating brine. Brine wells became the origin of underground mining methods. The beginnings of the Bochnia salt mine as a mining operation date back to 1248. As a royal enterprise, the mine generated huge revenues. In 1368, King Casimir the Great issued a document called the Saltworks Statute, which defined the organizational and legal principles governing salt sales.
The oldest shafts in Bochnia are Sutoris and Gazaris. A legend about St. Kinga’s ring is associated with the Sutoris shaft. The 15th and 16th centuries marked a period of significant development. New shafts were created: Regis, Bochneris, and Campi. In the 17th century, wars and economic decline halted the mine’s growth.
After 1771, Bochnia came under Austrian control and remained under the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918. In the 20th century, salt production declined due to lower profitability. In 1981, the mine was added to the register of historic monuments. In the 1990s, the mine began tourism operations, which continue today.
The Bochnia Salt Mine is the greatest treasure of the region. Thanks to the salt deposits, the town of Bochnia became one of the most important economic centers of medieval Lesser Poland. Over the centuries, the mine influenced the town’s history, urban layout, entrepreneurship, industry, and society. Bochnia was also a pioneer in technical innovations, including horse-powered hoists and a steam engine installed in 1930 (built in 1909 at the Laura Steelworks in Chorzów).
Today, the mine is a modern center blending tradition with innovation. Since the 1990s, it has hosted nearly 200,000 tourists annually. Bochnia is the only salt mine in Poland offering an underground boat crossing. Wooden boats floating in brine are registered like seafaring vessels. Other attractions include an underground train, the 140-meter slide connecting two levels, and a multimedia exhibition showcasing mining history and Polish heritage.
The Bochnia Salt Mine is also a venue for numerous events, including sports competitions like judo tournaments, relay races, national shooting contests, jiu-jitsu tournaments, and model plane competitions.
