THE HISTORY OF SALT EXTRACTION �IN ROMANIA
ERASMUS+ SALT OVER GOLD – MYTH OR TRUTH?
WE ARE HERE!
Zinca Golescu National College, Pitești, Argeș
Look there! A bus is arriving!
Take a seat in the Erasmus+ Bus and be ready to explore together the most important salt mines in Romania!
CLUJ
Turda Salt Mine, Cluj County – 106 – 274 d. Hr.
Turda Salt Mine, Cluj County – 106 – 274 d. Hr.
BACĂU
Târgu Ocna Salt Mine, Bacău County - 1380
Târgu Ocna Salt Mine, Bacău County - 1380
PRAHOVA
Slănic Prahova Salt Mine, Prahova County – 1688
Slănic Prahova Salt Mine, Prahova County – 1688
SUCEAVA
Cacica Salt Mine, Suceava County – 1791
Cacica Salt Mine, Suceava County – 1791
VÂLCEA
Ocnele Mari Salt Mine, Vâlcea County - 1836
Ocnele Mari Salt Mine, Vâlcea County - 1836
Zinca Golescu National College, Pitești, Argeș - 1921
Now, we invite you to enter Zinca Golescu National College gate and take part in a historical story about these salt mines.
SALT EXPLOITATION METHODS
How the salt industry has evolved in Romania since the year 250.
Ocnele Mari (Vâlcea County)
Mining out the rock salt deposit through dissolution wells in several well fields. (First well field: Cacica)
Govora Industrial Platform (1959 - Vâlcea County)
Processing extracted solution as raw material in specialized industrial platforms.
Uses: Soda-based products, other chemical products.
TRANSYLVANIAN SALINE WELL FIELD
People started to realize salt’s benefits in their lives, so they managed to improve equipment’s quality.
Turda Minecart ~ 1840
Turda Saline (Cluj County)
Modern equipment ~ 2020
Târgu Ocna Saline – Bacău County
In the absence of modern equipment, salt was transported with ox carts. A long time after, they started to use trucks and trains in order to bring the salt for processing.
A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORY
The oldest written evidence dates back to 1380.
The development of salt exploitation is recorded during the reign of Ștefan cel Mare, in 1502.
In the 18th century, two types of workers were distinguished:
- the free workers
- the criminals, who were sentenced to labor for serious crimes
Târgu Ocna Prisoners’ Convoy
The Castle of the Arrested (1856 – Bacău, Târgu Ocna)
Until the year 1801, work was carried out in two furnaces.
In the period 1875-1881, a steam powered extraction machine was used at Târgu Ocna.
It was only in October 1891 that another steam-driven extraction machine was put into operation, located at the mouth of the extraction well of the Carol chamber, a well that had been put into use in 1889.
After the 28th of September 1884, the date of the inauguration of the railway Adjud - Târgu Ocna, the salt was transported from the extraction place to the Targu Ocna railway station with carriages.
The entrance in Târgu Ocna Salt Mine
Anghel Saligny designed and executed the first funicular in Romania. It was an exceptional achievement that only worked for 11 years (1885 – 1896).
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Many of the old salt mines became tourist attractions. They bring people closer to the history of mining through museums and cinemas.
They provide various leisure time activities such as football, basketball, tennis fields inside the mine, a climbing zone and even boat rides. Old Wooden Churches carved in salt can also be spotted in many of these salt mines.
There are beverage venders and restaurants serving traditional food and warm drinks like coffee or tea.
A wine testing session is an activity that cannot be missed if you are visiting Praid Salt Mine. Its intimate setting along with 500 types of wine is ‘a-once-in-a-lifetime’ experience.
The old salt mines are also a great place to cool off in the hot summers as the temperature inside is constant during the year.
Some examples of temperatures inside the mines:
13°C
12°C
16°C
Ocnele Mari Salt Mine
Târgu Ocna Salt Mine
Praid Salt Mine
12°C
Slănic Prahova Salt Mine
Turda Salt Mine
11°C
10°C
Cacica Salt Mine
Salt water pools located near the mines are popular places to visit as they offer great remedies to skin and articular problems. These pools can be found near Praid Salt Mine, Ocnele Mari Salt Mine (The Bottomless Pool) and Targu Ocna Salt Mine.
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BOTTOMLESS
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The salt mines are not only tourist attractions but they
are also beneficial for health problems regarding breathing.
The lack of allergenic factors creates a special microclimate constituting natural methods of treating respiratory ailments.
The presence of salt aerosol in the form of solid particles.
Recommended for people suffering from repeated respiratory infections, asthma, allergies and many more.
Air pollutants are absent, the air having a high degree of purity, regardless of the season.
Inside Praid Salt Mine at 1250 meters from the entrance is located The climate therapy center, at 120 meters below the surface. Here was opened the first aerosol treatment base in 1960.
First destination: Turda Salt Mine
The first known record of the Turda Salt Mine dates back in the Roman times. Its purpose was solely an economical one, until its closing in 1930. 20 years later, the Salt Mine got back into use as a cheese storage unit.
Turda embraced its touristic potential in the 1990’s and is now offering a variety of attractions. It also offers a labyrinth of stairs and lifts.
The Mine is able to provide 60 years’ worth of salt for the entire planet, if needed.
Visit: https://www.salinaturda.eu/
Slanic Prahova Salt Mine
The Slănic Prahova Salt Mine is the biggest one in Europe, having a total surface of 78.000 square meters. Over the years, almost 3 million cubic meters have been excavated from this mine.
In the Genesis Room you can find not only the sculptures of Decebal or Traian, made by Iustin Năstase, but also the ones of Mihai Eminescu and Mihai Viteazul, by Oana Brezeanu.
In 1970, its touristic potential arises, the mine heading towards what is known today.
This mine is said to have one of the cleanest air on Earth, being untouched by pollution and having incredible healing properties.
Visit: https://primariaslanic.ro/
Ocnele Mari Salt Mine
The Mine was opened to the public for recreational purposes in 2009.
Ocnele Mari keeps the biggest underground church in Romania, among other attractions, such as a salt museum, a cinema, a basketball field and restaurants.
A tourist attraction is represented by the bodies of water in which visitors, both adults and children, can relax. The salted water brings benefits to the organism, such as ameliorating difficulty in breathing.