User:Satyadasa/Bochnia

Bochnia (pronounced []) is a town of 30,000 inhabitants on the river Raba in southern Poland, 35 km southeast of Kraków. It is most famous for its salt mine, the oldest still existing in Europe, built circa 1248. The former German name of the city, Salzberg, meaning "salt mountain", refers to the mine.

Since Poland's administrative reorganization in 1999, Bochnia has been the administrative capital of Bochnia County in Lesser Poland Voivodship. Before reorganization it was part of Tarnów Voivodship.

History
Originally founded in 1253, the town is well known for being home to the oldest still existing salt mine in Europe, which was built circa 1248.

Town & sights
Bochnia is one of the oldest towns in the Małopolska region. Top "must see" sights:
 * The oldest salt mine in Europe and in the world (13th century), is an underground town today.
 * St. Nicholas Basilica
 * Old town and historical buildings
 * Statues of Leopold Okulicki and Casimir III of Poland
 * The Older parts of the cemetery at Oracka Street
 * The Jewish cemetery

Salt Mine
Salt mine in Polish - Kopalnia Soli. The salt mine is one of the oldest salt mines in the world and the oldest one in Poland and Europe. The mine was established between the 12th and 13th centuries after salt was discovered in Bochnia. The mines measure 4,5 kilometres in length and 468 metres in depth at 16 different levels. Deserted chambers, shafts and passages form a so called underground town, which is now open to sightseers. The largest of the preserved chambers has been converted into a sanatorium.

Education

 * Wyższa Szkoła Ekonomiczna

Famous people from Bochnia

 * St. Stanisław Szczepanowski, Poland's first native saint.
 * Ralph Modjeski (Rudolf Modrzejewski), notable engineer in the United States, born 1861 to actress Helena Modjeska.