Croatia & Poland Joint Issue - Treasures of the Earth - Salt

Ston Saltworks, Croatia

At the foot of a rocky hill poetically named Podzvizd (meaning "under the stars" in Croatian), on a narrow isthmus that connects the Pelješac Peninsula with the mainland, one can find the towns of Ston and Mali Ston – known for their saltworks and shellfish farming in the nearby Mali Ston Bay, but also for their rich cultural and historical heritage.

A number of material remains testify to the prehistoric Illyrian and later Antiquity population of the area, and the Antiquity toponym "Stagnum" (Latin for dead water, salt lake, basin) indicates the significance of the shallow sea surfaces that the Romans turned into salt fields. With its 4,000-year-old salt harvesting tradition, the Ston Saltworks is the oldest saltworks in Europe. Salt has left an indelible mark on the history of Ston, since it was owing to this valuable resource that the inhabitants have enjoyed prosperity for many centuries. Salt was why the Romans overpowered the indigenous Illyrian population here in 36 BC and built two castrums - one on the remote hill Starigrad and the other on the hill Sv. Mihajlo in the Ston Field. In the Antiquity, the production of salt took place with the help of the sun, sea and wind, and it was done in a natural way – by evaporation, and it has remained so to this day.

During the time of the Republic of Dubrovnik, until its collapse in 1808, Ston was the second most important city – after Dubrovnik. The Republic based its economic progress largely on the production and trade of salt, which is why it restored and expanded the ancient saltworks, built a large salt warehouse in Mali Ston and organized the transport of salt to the hinterland. Interestingly, the great Croatian Renaissance playwright Marin Držić worked as a scribe at the Ston Saltworks in the mid-16th century. This was probably related to the work obligation that the inhabitants of the Republic of Dubrovnik had during the salt harvest. In order to permanently secure this valuable acquisition, the people of Dubrovnik decided against their original idea of digging a canal across the isthmus and instead built a long defensive wall. This is how the Republic of Dubrovnik bestowed on Ston its greatest landmark – the impressive stone walls.

The walls offer a view of the perfect beauty of the architectural heritage of Ston and the spacious basins of the Ston saltworks. The ancient tradition of salt harvesting continues in Ston to this day. Ston salt is pure, shiny and distinctly white, which is a testimony to the purity of the sea from which it is extracted. The salt also has an increased concentration of natural iodine, necessary to prevent struma, which occurs as a result of iodine deficiency in the thyroid gland. The quality of the salt is exceptional, as no additives against clotting and moisture are added. Salt is part of our natural wealth, and saltworks are a cultural and historical treasure that needs to be protected. For this reason, the Ston Saltworks should remain a precious monument of traditional labor from times past and an ecological treasure of our country, and in the future become a first-class tourist attraction.

Bochnia Salt Mine, Poland

The Bochnia Salt Mine is the oldest rock salt mine in Poland operating continuously since 1248. The traditions of salt mining in the Bochnia area may be traced back 3,500 years B.C. The salt mine is the largest treasure of Bochnia lands thanks to its salt deposits which gave rise to one of the most significant economic centres of the medieval Malopolska region. Today the Bochnia Salt Mine is one of largest tourist centres of the region. Guests who arrive to the mine can travel along the Tourist Route leading from the August Level IV to the Sienkiewicz Level VI. The unique attraction of the Bochnia Salt Mines is the Underground Multimedia Exposition. The specific athmosphere of the austere, but thus authentic undergrounds, seems to transport the visitor to distant centuries. The Underground Multimedia Exposition allows to present the salt mine and general history in an unprecedented manner. The mine tour is a journey in time, beginning in the era of Prince Boleslaw the Chaste and Princess Kinga.

Visitors explore the route on foot and can cover a part of the distance by a tourist train or by boat.

Many tourists consider boat crossing of an underground chamber flooded with brine is without a doubt the biggest attraction of the Bochnia mine. Tourist cross the distance of 120 m in chamber flooded with brine, accompanied by two raftsmen who spin colourfull tales of the mysterious recesses of the Bochnia mine. The crossing is made in 12 – passenger boats. During the trip, tourist can admire the raw beauty of the salt chamber.

Wooden boat operating in the Bochnia mine were made specifically for the needs of the underground crossing and are registered in the Polish Shipping Register, just like vessels travelling the seas.

The mine tour ends up with a stay in the largest chamber, the Ważyn, where the “Ważynek” restaurant, a sports field, a children's playground, and a salt playground and beach area are located.

The greatest treasure of the Bochnia mine is its unique therapeutic microclimate. It possesses therapeutic properties essential for treating allergies, rhinitis, throat catarrh and laryngitis, recurrent upper respiratory tract infections and skin allergies.

The Bochnia Salt Mine was entered onto the UNESCO List of World Heritage on 23 June 2013.