1. Historical figures in Polish legends

2. THE LEGEND OF SAINT KINGA
In the 13th century a young Polish prince, called Bolesław, of the Piast Dynasty, decided to get married and for his wife chose a beautiful Hungarian princess of the Arpad Dynasty, the daughter of king Bela IV, Kinga (or Kunegund, as she is sometimes called).
When Bolesław’s proposal was accepted, the loving father asked Kinga what she would like to get from him as a wedding present, what she would like to take to her husband and the new country. Kinga replied that she wanted no gold and jewels, since they only brought unhappiness and tears. She wanted something that could serve the people she was going to live with. Her request surprised the king greatly – she asked for salt.

3. The king was determined to keep his promise
The king was determined to keep his promise. He offered Kinga the biggest and most prosperous salt deposits in Hungary – the Marmaros salt mine. However, nobody knew what Kinga could do with the treasure. On her way to Poland the princess visited the mine. She kneeled to pray next to the entrance and – to everyone’s surprise – suddenly threw her engagement ring inside. She gathered a group of the best Hungarian salt miners and told them to follow her.

4. When the party arrived in Poland and was approaching Kraków, Kinga stopped and asked the miners to look for salt. They started digging and suddenly hit something very hard. It was a lump of salt. When they broke it, everyone saw what was hidden inside – Kinga’s engagement ring!
That is how the Hungarian princess brought salt to our country.
Right now in Wieliczka there is the most famous salt mine museum.
To commemorate the princess, 101 metres under the ground, down in the mine there is the world’s biggest underground chapel, dedicated to Saint Kinga.

5. SALT MINE
IN WIELICZKA

6. The Legend of Jadwiga and her Apron of Roses
Jadwiga was a devout Christian, and often smuggled food from the castle, to the poor, out the back door of the castle, carrying the bread, meat, and cheeses in her large apron. The legend says that King Jagiełło's men told him of his bride's strange comings and goings at night. His advisors even told him that she was taking secrets to rebels and others plotting against him. King Jagiełło became furious and was determined to get to the bottom of the story concerning Jadwiga's after-dark wanderings.

7. One night, as she was leaving by a secret door, King Jagiełło sprang out of the bushes and demanded to see what was in Jadwiga's apron. A miracle occurred and the food she was carrying (which would have earned her a death sentence), turned into a garland of roses. To this day, Jadwiga is always depicted wearing an apron of roses.

9. I LICEUM OGÓLNOKSZTAŁCZĄCE im. Stefana Żeromskiego w Pucku
Wykonał
Marek Muża