Polish Art Center - Wieliczka - The Jewel of Poland

Photographs by Adam Bujak

There is a salt kingdom, hidden deep beneath the ground. Over 300 kilometers of corridors, three thousand chambers, nine levels, chapels, and lakes -- all subterranean traces of miner toil. Seeing it all would require over 200 hours. Unusual and unique artifact of Polish culture possesses unspoken historical and natural value. It is one of the world's very few mining preserves and living museums, and since 1978 on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is full of art. There is even a monument to John Paul II. The underground teems with life. Close to a million tourists come through here annually. Wieliczka is a priceless gem. It has no equals anywhere in the world.

Just as Wieliczka is permanently connected with St. Kinga, the town's history goes hand in hand with the mine. Throughout the centuries Wieliczka continued bringing great wealth to the Polish Republic. This volume show the beauty and uniqueness of both, the above ground city and the one chiseled in salt below. The photographs of Mr. Adam Bujak, made with the help of latest digital technology, wonderfully and faithfully capture the site's magic and beauty. What is even more difficult, they capture the true colors of this salty abyss. Lavishly illustrated.