Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
Factors affecting the property in 1998*
- Relative humidity
- Water (rain/water table)
- Other Threats:
Gradual degradation
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Cave-ins;
- Subsidence;
- Water seepage;
- Harmful atmospheric elements
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1998
Total amount approved : 157,350 USD
| 1994 | Purchase of the dehumidifying equipment for Wieliczka ... (Approved) | 100,000 USD |
| 1993 | Financial contribution to the organization of a seminar ... (Approved) | 12,350 USD |
| 1989 | Equipment and technical assistance needed for ... (Approved) | 45,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 1998**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1998
At its twenty-first session, the Committee was informed that the effectiveness of the dehumidifying system at the mines could only be assessed in the second half of 1998.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1998
22 COM VII.20
SOC: Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
VII.20 Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
The Secretariat informed the Committee that it had received from the Polish authorities a technical report assessing the effectiveness of the dehumidifying system at the mines. The report stated that the system had contributed to the elimination of one of the major preservation hazards to historic sculptures, chambers and passages in the salt mine.
ICOMOS advised that the report was credible and that it fully supported the deletion of the Salt Mines from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Committee noted with satisfaction that the dehumidifying system, installed with the support of the World Heritage Fund, the Polish-American Fund of Maria Sklodowska-Curie and the Polish Government, had proven to be effective and made it possible to eliminate one of the major threats to the site.
It decided, therefore, to delete the Wieliczka Salt Mines from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
22 COM VIII.2
Removals from the List of World Heritage in Danger: Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia) & Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
VIII.2 The Committee recalled that, having examined the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, it had decided to delete the following two properties from the List:
Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia)
On the basis of a substantive report on the state of conservation submitted by the authorities of Croatia, the positive advice of ICOMOS on the restoration works undertaken and the recommendations of the Bureau, the Committee decided to delete the Old City of Dubrovnik from the List of World Heritage in Danger (see also paragraph VII.17 of this report).
Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
Considering the positive impact of the dehumidifying equipment on the conditions of the historic sculptures, chambers and passages in the Salt Mine, and following ICOMOS' advice, the Committee decided to delete the Wieliczka Salt Mines from the List of World Heritage in Danger (see also paragraph VII.20 of this report).
The Committee may wish to adopt the following:
“The Committee requests the Polish authorities to submit a report on the effectiveness of the dehumidifying system at the mines by 15 September 1999 for consideration at its twenty-third session.
The Committee requests the Polish authorities to submit at the same time a substantive report on the overall state of conservation of the mines, together with an assessment of further remedial actions that might be necessary for their preservation.
Awaiting these reports, the Committee decides to retain the Wieliczka Salt Mines on the List of World Heritage in Danger.”
PolandExports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
