From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bochnia
Main square
Coat of arms
Bochnia
Coordinates: 49°59′N 20°26′E / 49.983, 20.433
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Lesser Poland
Powiat	Bochnia County
Gmina	Bochnia
Established	12th century
City Rights	1253
Government
- Mayor	Bogdan Kosturkiewicz
Area
- Total	29.98 km² (11.6 sq mi)
Population (2004)
- Total	29,536
- Density	988.16/km² (2,559.3/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	32-700
Area code(s)	+48 14
Car Plates	KBC
Website: www.bochnia.pl

Bochnia (pronounced ['bɔxɲa] (help·info)) 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. The former German name of the city, Salzberg, meaning "salt mountain", refers to the mine.

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.

Contents 1 History 2 Town & sights 3 Salt Mine 4 Education 5 Famous people from Bochnia 6 Twin towns 7 See also 8 External links

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. Bochnia is also famous for the famous Battle of Bochnia over the prosperous salt of the city. The French first asked the Bochnians if they could buy the rich salt from them, but when Bochnia refused, the French were angry and invaded. This led to great frustraton among the nobles in France, and this led to the invasion. The French used all sorts of new military tactics, including missile launchers, which were quite modern for the 13th century.

• 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 in Polish - Kopalnia Soli. The salt mine 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.

• Wyższa Szkoła Ekonomiczna

• 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

Bad Salzdetfurth, Cavtat, Kežmarok, Roselle

• Wieliczka Salt Mine

• Official website of Bochnia
• Information on Bochnia / Salzberg, travel advice

Coordinates: 49°58′N, 20°26′E