Chełm
"In Chelm they dig and distribute mole all over Poland".
These are the words that constitute the first mention of the chalk underground in Chelm. In the Old Polish language, chalk was called "mole." Chelm's chalk underground is the only writing chalk mine in Europe. A mine because since the 13th century, amateur miners were almost all residents of Chelm. Chalk was a valuable raw material for the production of paints, cosmetic powders, medicines, it was also used in painting as a substrate for organic dyes. With the development of trade, private mines also developed rapidly under the homes of Chelmans. Chelmans persistently drilled corridors in the walls of their cellars, until in time they began to connect with shafts drilled by a neighbor, these in turn with the workings of another neighbor... and in this way one great multi-level labyrinth was created, whose depth reached up to 20m underground. But already in 1942 the occupation authorities ordered the bricking up of all entrances to the underground from every house. And despite the fact that failure to comply with the order risked the death penalty, the underground dungeons were a refuge for Chelm residents during the turmoil of war. In addition, people were defended from invaders by the good spirit Bieluch, who frightened intruders lost in the darkness, and protected good hosts. Why does Bieluch live in the chalk vaults? To learn about the legend associated with the Bieluch spirit, it is necessary to visit the underground. We can only reveal that Bieluch is gentle to good people, with the whiteness of his fur he illuminates the darkness of labyrinths, points out the way to the lost. However, he hates people with a foul conscience and with these he muddles the way so that they will never come out of the underworld. A 2km-long illuminated and protected tourist route has been prepared for sightseeing. Visiting the mine with a helmet on your head and a lamp in your hand takes about 50 minutes, and the temperature in the underground is only +9°C regardless of the temperature on the surface. That's why, especially in summer, it's worth thinking about warm clothing. Air humidity ranges from 70 to 85%. The tourist route extends under Chelm's old town, along Lubelska, Lwowska, Kopernika streets... During the tour, the guide explains one by one which corridors are located under which streets of the city. Inside you can see many archaeological and mining exhibitions. Strong excitement among the youngest is aroused by plastic bats and a bird spider, hanging over the heads of visitors. In 1994, the mine was declared a third-class monument, as a unique remnant of Old Polish and chalk mining in Europe. From the oldest residents of Chelm, you can hear many stories and legends passed down from generation to generation related to the white mine... which, after all, was never a real mine. For hiking enthusiasts, this is not the end of the attractions you can see in Chelm. It's worth taking a walk through the Chelm Landscape Park, reach the observation tower and from there admire the panorama of the city. Equally beautiful views can be enjoyed from Cathedral Mountain, which long ago was a place of pagan worship, and today the Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary rises there. At the end of the trip, be sure to visit the Chelm Museum and see the exhibition presenting the natural peculiarities of the Lublin region. |