Entering the Christina Tunnel at Salzwelten Hallstatt
If it seems to take forever to get to the actual salt mine here in Salzwelten Hallstatt, it really did. I thought that visitors would be thrown straight into the mines after they get out of the funicular but there is still a bit of a walk to get to the actual site. Visitors needed to put on uniforms to make sure they don’t get dirty from visiting the salt mine. There is a small museum with exhibits at the visitor center which we were let through. Eventually we were let outside again. Fortunately, we were still wearing out winter wear so we weren’t that cold.
Detail on the Entrance of the Christina Tunnel at Salzwelten Hallstatt
The Christina Tunnel is the main tunnel to access the salt mine. The tunnel entrance looks much like one which is used by trains. There is a marker above the entrance which dates it to 1719 but we know that the mine has been in use for thousands of years. Not surprisingly, there are tracks which go in the tunnel. Obviously, these are used by more recent miners to access the salt mine. Before that, miners had to go on foot to reach the salt deposits. The fact that the mine is more than seven thousand years old blows my mind. It is claimed to be the oldest in the world. You can also say that the mine is also the one which gave birth to a culture named after Hallstatt.
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