December 28, 2015

2160 POLAND (Lesser Poland) - Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (UNESCO WHS)


Located in southern Poland, the deposit of rock salt in Wieliczka and Bochnia has been mined since the 13th century, this major industrial undertaking being the oldest of its type in Europe. It illustrate the historic stages of the development of mining techniques in Europe from the 13th to the 20th centuries: both mines have hundreds of kilometers of galleries with works of art, underground chapels and statues sculpted in the salt, making a fascinating pilgrimage into the past.

The two mines, which over a long period were combined as one company with royal status (Kraków Saltworks), were administratively and technically run from Wieliczka Saltworks Castle, which dates from the medieval period, but has been rebuilt several times in the course of its history. Wieliczka Salt Mine, which reaches a depth of 327m and is over 287km long, produced table salt continuously until 2007, as one of the world's oldest salt mines in operation.

About the stamps


The stamps are the series Exotic Birds, issued on June 30, 2004:
Platycercus eximius - It's on the postcard 2160
Nymphicus hollandicus - It's on the postcard 2160
Melopsittacus undulatus - It's on the postcard 2160
Chloebia gouldiae - It's on the postcard 2160

References
Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines - UNESCO official website
Wieliczka Salt Mine - Wikipedia

Sender: Krystyna Betiuk (direct swap)
Sent from Słupsk (Pomerania / Poland), on 02.12.2015

No comments:

Post a Comment