Hallstatt – the Oldest Salt Mine in World
From Salzburg, we made a day’s trip to Hallstatt Salt mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was not very clear weather; clouds floated quite low, not very threatening yet cool. Stepping out into the parking lot, the first view was hazy, the mountain outline was not very clear, the breeze felt as if it carried minute droplets along. In short it was pleasant.
Funicular Track
The sight of funicular track going up the mountain, a museum up there attracts tourists in thousands.
After a ride up the mountain in a funicular, we reached the mine which is now converted to a museum. We crossed an open grave site, with numerous displays. Inside the miner’s hostel were various pictures of miners of last century, the tour begins from here. Chambers after chambers, some dark, some well lit, we were treated to a small movie too on the miners’ lives there.
One section was reconstructed image of Bronze Age hut. It gives a clear idea of what the conditions of life were like in the high valley in ancient times. The few wooden items are proof of their great skill in handicraft. Inside there were mega slides transporting us from one level of the mine to another, taking us deep below in the mines.
Bronze Age Hut in Hallstatt Salt Mine
There was this human size statue of Sepp the miner, who told the story of Man in salt; In 1734, the corpse of a prehistoric miner was found embedded into miner’s rocks, well preserved by the salt, but squeezed flat by the pressure of mountain.
Salt Miner – Hallstatt Salt Mine
The whole experience was an excellent one with children enjoying the most. The tour is indeed planned well and definitely worth its cost.
You must have had a wonderful time. I have visited some of our own underground coal mines and found the conditions are horrible.
I was searching for the snap of a funicular. The Utensils looks superb
What a fabulous experience for the children as well as you all. I would love to have gone into the mine. Had to look up the meaning of funicular..had no clue as to what it was. I think I would handle the mine a lot better than the ride in the funicular. The photos are great…I really got the feeling of what you all were experiencing.Thanks for a great post. genie
Interesting indeed.!
Really interesting post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Interesting and exciting experience .
Interesting, Indrani! Isn't Hallstatt the place where they found Celtic graves? There seems to have been a large Celtic population.
What a neat tour, my hubby would like this place. Wonderful photos and post, Indrani!
nice post with photos
That must have been an awful life ! very interesting post !
Wunderbare Eindrücke, schöne Fotos, ein wunderbares Erlebnis…
Liebe Grüsse Dir aus der Schweiz
Hans-Peter
Wow ….
it looks very mysterious
and also a little scary
but kids do like an adventure 😛
Great shots 🙂
Delicious photos, my favorite is the second, full of mystery.
That's a lovely post. Thanks for sharing!
The guard is so tall! That must be a wonderful tour!
fascinating!!! am sure samhith would have loved it too, esp the story of the man in salt!
What a great experience!
It does seem like an incredible eye-opener traveling into these mines and a little claustrophobic perhaps for some. The hardships and courage of people during these times is astounding.
A great and unique museum.
I like the effects of the second photo.
An incredible place, to be sure. Thanks for these.
A fascinating journey this must have been! A taste of other lives! Great series of photos!
I love tours that take you back in history and make you feel like you are almost living way back in time.
Fascinating.
< Sydney – City and Suburbs
Interesting piece of work.
A fascinating post indeed and terrific captures as always, Indrani! Love the last one! And I would love to take the tour! Hope you have a great week!
Sylvia
Very interesting post and beautiful pictures.Greetings Andrzej.