The Daniłowicz Shaft - entrance to the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine

With the shaft top that heralds the start of an underground adventure, the Daniłowicz Shaft remains one of the most characteristic sights of the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine. These days, it is used for getting visitors underground and as a start of their journey, even though it used to have very different purpose in the past. Discover the history of the famous Mikołaj Daniłowicz Shaft.

Go to paragraphs:

• Wieliczka’s most famous shafts
• Daniłowicz Shaft - the history of Wieliczka’s landmark
• Sights along the Tourist Route

Wieliczka’s most famous shafts

One would be hard-pressed to imagine a mine without at least a single shaft - a structure enabling transport of the ore or material to the surface. That is not its only purpose - it also ensures communication and can be used as an elevator, thanks to which the miners can get to their stations. It also serves a passive role, ensuring ventilation of the workings. These days, many of them are used by visitors and tourists coming to the mine. The Daniłowicz Shaft is one of the several such structures in the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine.

Over the course of the 700-year history of the mine, it used to have 26 shafts in total. Several of them survive to this day, including the Kościuszko Shaft, the former Górsko Shaft, St Kinga’s Shaft, named after the patron saint of the mine, as well as the Regis Shaft is the oldest existing shaft and a symbol of the mine, which takes tourists to the depth of up to 127 metres under the surface. The characteristic feature of a shaft is the shaft top - you can see these structures towering over Wieliczka’s landscape. Most famous among them is the Daniłowicz Shaft - the destination for visitors from Poland and all over the world, as well as the starting point of their underground journeys.

Daniłowicz Shaft - the history of Wieliczka’s landmark

The history of the Daniłowicz Shaft started in the 17th century - in 1635, to be exact. At that time, it was one of the eight new shafts used to transport salt to the surface. Back in the day, it was very important from the point of view of the mine’s operations. Thanks to its very convenient location, the Daniłowicz Shaft enabled extensive exploitation of the salt deposit. Its other function, starting from the late 18th century, was an entrance for the ever-larger groups of visitors coming to Wieliczka from all over the world.

The shaft was named after the mine manager Jan Mikołaj Daniłowicz, who ran the facility in 1640-1642. In 1887, the shaft was renamed to honour Archduke Rudolph to commemorate his visit to the mine. The change was short-lived - the original name was restored in 1918.  Now the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine is no longer operating as a salt mining facility. That does not mean, however, that the Daniłowicz Shaft stands unused. Ever since the decision to stop all mining operations was made, it is used as a connecting shaft - mostly by tourists visiting the mine, who can use it to get to the depth of 135 metres below surface. 

Sights along the Tourist Route

As soon as you enter the Daniłowicz Shaft, you realise that there is only one way - down, towards the underground journey along the Tourist Route, which crosses 20 chambers featuring some of the most amazing treasures of the “Wieliczka” underground. The most important shaft of the mine allows visitors to see the most beautiful chapels, including the famous St Kinga’s Chapel with its many artworks carved in salt.

That is not everything that the route has to offer - you will also visit spectacular brine lakes and witness the light and music shows. If you want to discover the unique history of the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine and get captivated by its beauty, choose the Tourist Route.

Are you going to come to Wieliczka by car? The mine offers numerous paid parking spaces are available on its premises. You can find the largest car park at the Graduation Tower.

Source:

https://muzeum.wieliczka.pl/historia-kopalni-soli

http://www.smdz.pl/pliki/artykuly/TOMXXIX/Art.1%20Dzieje%20szybu%20Danilowicza.pdf