Bochnia

Infobox Settlement
name = Bochnia

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Main square
image_shield = POL Bochnia COA.svg
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = bottom
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Lesser Poland
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Bochnia County
subdivision_type3 = Gmina
subdivision_name3 = Bochnia (urban gmina)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Bogdan Kosturkiewicz
established_title = Established
established_date = 12th century
established_title3 = Town rights
established_date3 = 1253
area_total_km2 = 29.9
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 29373
population_density_km2 = auto
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 49 | latm = 59 | lats = | latNS = N | longd = 20 | longm = 26 | longs = | longEW = E
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 32-700
area_code = +48 14
blank_name = Car plates
blank_info = KBC
website = http://www.bochnia.pl Bochnia Audio-IPA-pl|pl-Bochnia.ogg|'|b|o|h|ń|a 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.

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

History

Bochnia is one of the oldest cities of Lesser Poland. The first known source mentioning the city is a letter of 1198, wherein Aymar the Monk, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, confirmed a donation by local magnate Mikora Gryfit to the monastery of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in Miechów. The discovery of a major vein of rock salt at the site of the present mine in 1248 led to the granting of city privileges (Magdeburg rights) on 27 February 1253 by Bolesław V the Chaste.

Town & 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 Catholic cemetery
* The Jewish cemetery

Salt Mine

The Bochnia Salt Mine (Polish: "kopalnia soli w Bochni") 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

Notable Residents

* St. Stanisław Szczepanowski, Poland's first native saint.
* Ralph Modjeski (Rudolf Modrzejewski), notable engineer in the United States, born 1861 to actress Helena Modjeska.
* Jan V. Mládek (Jan Viktor Mládek, 1912 Bochnia – 1989 Washington, D.C.), Czechoslovak economist, official of its exile government during World War II working with John M. Keynes and on preparations of the International Monetary Fund and Bretton Woods agreements, official of IMF for nearly 30 years, with his wife Meda Mládková established a foundation sponsoring work of Central European artists.
* Bernhard Storch - World War II hero

Twin towns

Bad Salzdetfurth, Cavtat, Kežmarok, Roselle

ee also

*Wieliczka Salt Mine
*Photograph "An execution of Poles in Bochnia" in the article Einsatzgruppen

External links

* [http://www.bochnia.pl/ Official website of Bochnia]