The legend of Saint Kinga – The legend of Saint Kinga – how Hungarian princess how Hungarian princess

started salt mine in the south started salt mine in the south

of Polandof Poland

Distance between Mszana Distance between Mszana Dolna and Wieliczka-44,8 kmDolna and Wieliczka-44,8 km

Long, long ago, when Prince Boleslaw Long, long ago, when Prince Boleslaw WstydliwyWstydliwy was the  was the ruler of ruler of PolandPoland, he decided to ask the princess of , he decided to ask the princess of Hungary - KingaHungary - Kinga to marry him to marry him. So he sent. So he sent a message a message the court of the Hungarian king and ordered to the court of the Hungarian king and ordered to give an engagement ring give an engagement ring to the to the princessprincess Kinga.  Kinga.  SheShe agreed to become a Polish princess.agreed to become a Polish princess.

KingKingaa's father wanted to give 's father wanted to give her her gold and jewels as gold and jewels as dowry, but dowry, but the princessthe princess said that this said that this would not would not be be goodgood, because, because the the Polish king was Polish king was wealthy and hiswealthy and his countrycountry lived lived in prosperity. in prosperity.

Prince Prince Boleslaw WstydliwyBoleslaw Wstydliwy

Kinga's father askKinga's father asked hered her: : ’’So whatSo what dowry do dowry do you  you want my daughter?want my daughter?’ The princess’ The princess after some  after some thought asked her father to gthought asked her father to giive themve them saltsalt, what will gain, what will gain the the appreciation of appreciation of Boleslaw and his subjects.Boleslaw and his subjects.

Father wanting to meet the request of his Father wanting to meet the request of his daughter, took her to the mine in Marumureszdaughter, took her to the mine in Marumuresz and said: "You and said: "You havehave what you asked, here is a  what you asked, here is a rich salt deposits. rich salt deposits. " King " King waswas pensive,because  pensive,because he did not know he did not know how how toto move all  move all the salt to the salt to the Polish mine. She the Polish mine. She lifted her eyes, asking God for advice and after lifted her eyes, asking God for advice and after a while a while sheshe knew what to do. She removed  knew what to do. She removed her engagement ringher engagement ring from Boleslaw and threw from Boleslaw and threw him into the shaft. Courtiers who saw ithim into the shaft. Courtiers who saw it were a were a littlelittle surprised, but surprised, but they they said nothing.said nothing.

Chapel of St. Kinga in the Wieliczka Salt MineChapel of St. Kinga in the Wieliczka Salt Mine

Soon Kinga went to the court of King Boleslaw, where he waited Soon Kinga went to the court of King Boleslaw, where he waited for coming. Soon the wedding took place, and all the knights of for coming. Soon the wedding took place, and all the knights of the Małopolska and nobles appeared. King lived on the Wawel the Małopolska and nobles appeared. King lived on the Wawel Hill as a sovereign of Poland.Hill as a sovereign of Poland.After several days, seeking to find her dowry, she asked her After several days, seeking to find her dowry, she asked her husband to show her kingdom. So the whole procession husband to show her kingdom. So the whole procession came, and the King admiredthe beautiful lands of came, and the King admiredthe beautiful lands of his principality. his principality. 

Soon Kinga told to stop and directed her servants to dig in the Soon Kinga told to stop and directed her servants to dig in the ground. When the attendants came upon a rock and ground. When the attendants came upon a rock and said that further digging is impossible. Kinga ordered to split said that further digging is impossible. Kinga ordered to split off a piece of rock. One of the peasants gave Kinga white piece off a piece of rock. One of the peasants gave Kinga white piece of rock, which was a lump of salt. She ordered to split it and her of rock, which was a lump of salt. She ordered to split it and her engagement ring fell out of the lump. engagement ring fell out of the lump.

Then they all understood what a dowry father gave Then they all understood what a dowry father gave her and that the ring, which she threw into the her and that the ring, which she threw into the mine in Marumuresz, brought precious salt to Pomine in Marumuresz, brought precious salt to Poland. land. 

Since then,the mine in Wieliczka is famous for Since then,the mine in Wieliczka is famous for its rich salt deposits. Princess Kinga long and its rich salt deposits. Princess Kinga long and wisely ruled the Polish people. wisely ruled the Polish people.

Plan of the Wieliczka SaltPlan of the Wieliczka Salt Mine Mine

The EndThe End