Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines

Last month, my friend Ola from Krakow, Poland visited the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine near her and brought me some interesting things from there, a nice postcard, a ticket and a tourist leaflet. Thank you very much Ola! :) The mine is a UNESCO World Culture Heritage Site since 1978. 
Wieliczka is a small and quiet town with population of 20,000 but attracts over 1,000,000 tourists every year just because the salt mine - a mysterious underground city reaches a depth of 327 metres and is over 287 kilometres long! The ticket prices are 52 and 72 PLN for Polish and Foreign, respectively.

From the introductions of the tourist leaflet, I know that there are many chambers connected by corridors on the levels from 64-135 meters below the ground surface, you can enjoy amazing sights - these majestic chambers and saline lakes. You will see lots of saline sculptures and reliefs referring to religious, historic and mining traditions and a collection of machines and tools illustrating the historic development of mining techniques.  

Many thanks again to Ola,also to Ania for the stamped and written one sent from Wieliczka!

In 2013 the nearby salt mine in Bochnia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as an extension of the Wieliczka Salt Mine inscription of 1978. Bochnia salt mine is one of the oldest salt mines in the world and the oldest one in Poland. Many thanks to Joanna and Dominika from Bochinia for sending me these great postcards! On Joanna's postcard, there is an interesting mark feathers Bochnia's Coat of arms with a pickaxe, a hammer and digger.

Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork

Founded in the 13th century by the Knights of the Teutonic Order, the Polish town Malbork is noted for its medieval castle built in the 13th Century as the Order's headquarters. The Malbork Castle is the largest castle in the world by surface area, and the largest brick building in Europe. It later fell into decay, but was meticulously restored in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of the conservation techniques now accepted as standard were evolved there. In 1997, UNESCO designated the "Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork" and the Malbork Castle Museum as World Heritage Site.

Thanks a lot to my friend Agnieszka for these beautiful postcards franked with awesome stamps sent from Malbork!  The castle looks really very impressive from them!  The first card shows a panoramic image from the northwestern bank of the river Nogat and the second one features an inner view of the castle.  

Historic Centre of Kraków

Kraków is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Developed over many centuries, especially the period when it was the royal capital of Poland, Kraków provides a showcase setting for many historic styles of architecture. Its historic centre, which includes the Old Town, Kazimierz and the Wawel Castle, was included as the first of its kind on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978. I would like to take this opportunity, to thank my friend Ola from Kraków, for these beautiful postcards! The first card shows two famous and important architectural monuments also landmarks of the old town: the St. Mary's Basilica and the Adam Mickiewicz Monument, located in the vicinity of the Main Square which is the largest medieval town square in Europe. There is a special mark on the backside reads “Stagecoach at the Main Square in Kraków”. I have searched and found a photo shows this lovely stagecoach functioned as a small post office located in the square! A corner of the Main Square is shown on the second card. The third interesting one, which is mainly devoted to the UEFA Euro 2012, shows the Renaissance Sukiennice located in the central feature of the Square. Last two cards show the Wawel Royal Castle at night and the fireworks above it when New Year is coming, respectively. 

Refenrence:

Historic Centre of Kraków (UNESCO)

World Heritage Sites in Poland

World Heritage Sites in Poland 
Many thanks to Mirek! :)