The Chapel of St Kinga underground
The Chapel of St Kinga (Kaplica św. Kingi) is one of the best-known chambers of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. It lies about 101 m below the surface and is part of the Tourist Route. The walls, the altar, the floor and the chandeliers are all made of salt, and the work was done by miners and sculptors over several generations.
You see the chapel on a guided Tourist Route visit, not on its own. A ticket for that route is what gets you in, so start with the Wieliczka Salt Mine tickets page if you are still planning.
The salt art in the chapel
What you look at once you are inside.
A floor from salt
The floor is made from a single block of salt. Look down as well as up.
Chandeliers of salt crystals
The chandeliers are made from salt crystals. They hang above the salt floor.
The Last Supper relief
The Last Supper in salt is a relief by Antoni Wyrodek, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci. It is not an original by Leonardo.
Our picks: tours past the Chapel of St Kinga
Both tours have the chapel on the route and include the mine entry.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Mine tour with hotel pickup and a pre-booked ticket
- Pre-booked mine ticket
- Licensed guide
- Hotel pickup
Hotel pickup, a pre-booked mine ticket, a licensed guide in your language and the photo permit, with all fees included.
Check availability →
Guided mine tour with transport from Matejko Square
- Mine entry
- Local guide
- Transport
Transport, a local guide and mine entry, with the Chapel of St Kinga on the route.
Check availability →Tours that include the Chapel of St Kinga
Guided visits and transfers from Kraków to the Tourist Route, with live prices and availability.
Who made the chapel
Miners who became sculptors.
Józef and Tomasz Markowski and Antoni Wyrodek were the central miners and sculptors of the chapel. Further generations of miners worked on it as well, so it is wrong to think of it as the work of three artists.
Salt reliefs with religious scenes are part of the visit, among them the Holy Family on the flight into Egypt and Jesus among the scribes.
The legend of St Kinga
A story, not a record.
The chapel is named after Kinga, a saint from the Middle Ages. A well-known legend ties her to the discovery of salt at Wieliczka and to her engagement ring. The mine links the story to the Janowice chamber. It is a legend, and the details differ from teller to teller, so do not treat it as a documented event.
The chapel is still in use. Sunday masses, weddings, a Christmas midnight mass and occasional chamber concerts take place here. There is no fixed public mass time you can rely on, and you cannot visit the chapel freely outside a guided tour.
Visiting the chapel
Practical points for the Tourist Route.
Guide required
You walk with an assigned guide and stay with the group. The route takes 2 to 3 hours and the museum section can add about an hour. The tours page shows how the options compare.
Steps and temperature
Expect about 800 steps, 380 of them at the start, and a temperature of 17 to 18 °C. The lift back to the surface is included in the ticket.
Photos
Private photos and video are allowed. Do not touch the salt, and do not take any salt pieces away.
The route can change
The visiting rules allow changes to the route for organisational or safety reasons. Check the opening hours before you go.
Where the chapel sits on the Tourist Route
The chapel is one stop on a longer walk.
The Tourist Route starts at the Daniłowicz shaft and runs for about 3.5 km. Its deepest point is 135 m, so the chapel at about 101 m lies in the middle depths of the visit. Groups have up to 40 people. You see the chapel as part of a guided group walk, not as a free visit at your own pace.
The route has no minimum age, which makes it workable for families. Parts of it are accessible with a prior reservation, with a guide in Polish or English. Strollers and larger bags stay at the top. If anyone in your group has trouble with stairs, read the notes on steps above before you book.
The chapel is a place of worship as well as a sight. Keep your voice down, and follow the guide when a service is on.
Chapel of St Kinga: frequently asked questions
How deep is the Chapel of St Kinga?
About 101 m below the surface. The Tourist Route as a whole reaches 135 m.
How big is the chapel?
Roughly 54 m long, 18 m wide and 12 m high.
Is the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci?
No. The Last Supper in the chapel is a salt relief by Antoni Wyrodek, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci.
Can I visit the chapel without a tour?
No. You see it on a guided visit of the Tourist Route. The Miners' Route does not include it.
Are services held in the chapel?
Yes. Sunday masses, weddings, a Christmas midnight mass and occasional chamber concerts are held there. Times vary, so ask when you book if a service matters to you.
Is this the official website of the Wieliczka Salt Mine?
No. This is an independent travel guide that is not connected with the mine or its operator.