There are tourists who come to Poland just to see the Wieliczka Salt Mine. It is the world's oldest commercial enterprise still in business - salt has been mined here since the 13th century with no interruptions, although no longer on an industrial scale. Today's mine is a labyrinth of underground corridors and chambers 350 km long, 2 km of which are accessible to visitors. The route winds through 20 chambers located on three levels, from 64 m to 135 m underground, past lakes, and chapels, bas-reliefs, and chandeliers sculpted in the rock salt. The most spectacular sight is Saint Kinga's Chapel, which due to its dimensions deserves to be called an underground salt church.
The mine also has an underground post office, a restaurant, and cinema and even… tennis courts. Concerts, theatre performances, banquets and charity balls are held in the enormous chambers. Thanks to the curative properties of the air, a subterranean health centre has been opened on the fifth level (211 m below the ground level) for the treatment of various allergies and asthma.
