Page 162 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Krakow

160  KR AK OW AREA B Y AREA

but only remnants have
survived. The late 14th-century
Castle Tower has been
renovated and now houses a
museum dedicated to the
castle. In 1956 part of the
Prądnik valley was transformed
into the Ojców National Park.
After the discovery of the
healing properties of the local
springs in the mid-1800s, the
village at the foot of the castle
was transformed into a spa:
therapy clinics were set up and
luxurious hotels built. The
Łokietek Hotel, once the most
sumptuous of all the buildings,
The Chapel of St Kinga in Wieliczka salt mine now houses the Ojców National
Park Museum. During the
7Wieliczka Wieliczka Salt Mine Partition era, the Tsarist
ul. Daniłowicza 10. Tel 12 278 73 02.
12 km (7.5 miles) southeast of Open Apr–Oct: 7:30am–7:30pm daily; authorities denied planning
Krakow. @ Minibus from Krakow’s Nov–Mar: 8am–5pm daily. Closed permission for a church; as
Main Railway Station. £ from 1 Jan, Easter, 1 Nov, 24–25 & 31 Dec. a result only a small timber
Krakow’s Main Railway Station & 8 = - ∑ kopalnia.pl chapel was built in 1901–2,
and Krakow-Płaszów. overhanging the Prądnik river.
Southeast of Krakow is the E Castle Tower
town of Wieliczka, home to Open 13 Apr–11 Nov: from 10am;
one of the region’s most remark- closing times vary.
able sights. The Wieliczka Salt E Ojców National
Mine, a UNESCO-World Park Museum
Heritage Site, has been active Tel 12 389 20 40. Open May–Oct:
as early as the 11th century, 9am–4:30pm daily; Nov–Apr:
its salt regarded for years 8am–2:45pm Mon–Fri.
as a major natural asset of
the Kingdom of Poland. Inside
the mine is a vast network of 9Grodzisko
underground galleries, tunnels, 28 km (17 miles) northwest of
chambers and pits that have Krakow. £ from Krakow’s Main
been carved into the salt blocks Railway Station.
over the centuries. Salt was
also used as a building material Grodzisko is situated on the
in the carving of vast under- opposite bank of the Prądnik
ground chapels and altars in The small chapel overhanging the river from Ojców. The Convent
front of which the miners mountain river in Ojców of the Poor Clares was
prayed for God’s protection established here in 1262.
against accidents. Look out too 8Ojców Blessed Salomea, the sister
for statues, also sculpted from 24 km (15 miles) northwest of Krakow. of Duke Bolesław the Chaste,
the mine’s salt blocks. @ from Krakow’s Main Coach Station. was the first Mother Superior.
Visitors can descend to The nuns moved to Krakow
depths of 65–135 m (210–440 The valley of the Prądnik river is
ft) and explore sections of the the most beautiful part of the
mines. Highlights include the local uplands. The river eroded
Saltworks Museum, which is a deep gorge through the
housed inside the mine, and limestone. The steep cliffs are
a gallery of fascinating salt overgrown with trees through
crystals. The exhibits on display which stunning rock formations
in the museum illustrate old can be seen.
mining methods and the tools Kazimierz the Great had a
that were used. There is number of hill-top castles built
also a unique underground in the area to guard the western
health resort, offering a range border of his Kingdom. The one
of subterranean therapies in Ojców was one of the most The altar of the Church of the Blessed
and physiotherapy activities. important fortresses in Poland, Salomea in Grodzisko