RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

A tourist in Romania’s salt mines

Tourists interest in salt mines has been growing in time.


Warning: Trying to access array offset on null in /home/web/rri.ro/public/wp-content/themes/rri/template-parts/content.php on line 53
A tourist in Romania’s salt mines
A tourist in Romania’s salt mines


Warning: Trying to access array offset on null in /home/web/rri.ro/public/wp-content/themes/rri/template-parts/content.php on line 98
, 22.08.2019, 13:15

Tourists’ interest in salt mines has been growing in time, and the curative properties of salty air have led to the development of speleotherapy and climatotherapy, treatments that people can benefit from in the underground, in a salt mine. There are salt mines where amusement parks have been built for both children and adults, as well as relaxation areas and museums.



Daniela Pop, a marketing representative of the National Salt Company (SALROM) presented to us some of the most beautiful salt mines in Romania: “We manage seven salt mines, and five of them are open to tourists. They have access to places which are very beautifully decorated and equipped, they are genuine national treasures. We manage Praid mine in Harghita County, Slanic in Prahova county, which is the closest to Bucharest, Ocnele Mari in Valcea county and Targu Ocna and Cacica in the eastern region of Moldavia. We cover the entire country. Tourists can visit these mines any time during the year, both in summer and in winter, because temperature in the underground is constant.”



Most salt mines have set up special leisure facilities in the underground, to help people spend a pleasant time there. Here is Daniela Pop with more: ”Unless advised otherwise by a doctor, because there are people suffering from certain diseases who are not allowed to go down into a salt mine, visitors can spend two or three hours in the underground together with their children. In Praid, for instance, we have a beautiful adventure park with a zipline, a playground for children, so entire families can spend time there and breathe clean air, which has never been polluted and is very good for their health. The most popular of our salt mines is Praid, in Harghita county. The place also has a restaurant, a concert area and it hosts lots of events. The region of Sovata-Praid per se is quite beautiful. We intend to bring more services into the salt mine, such as audio books with presentations in several languages.”



Romania is famous for its salt mines. According to studies conducted recently, in Romania you will find places with the purest air on the planet. Also, Romania is home to the biggest salt mine in Europe, Prahova, which is located 120 km from Bucharest.



And, although there are similar places across Europe, the Romanian salt mines have a certain characteristic, according to the SALROM marketing representative Daniela Pop: “These are places that you won’t find everywhere in the world. There are salt mines in other countries as well, but they are not so numerous. Romanians are very keen on tradition. They keep the spirit of Christian education alive. In each salt mine from our portfolio we have an altar dedicated to saint Varvara, who is the protector of miners. We have tried to preserve as much as we could from the traditions of Romanian mining. In each salt mine visitors will find leaflets presenting a short history of mining, we want to disseminate information especially among foreign tourists. Most of them come with the purpose of discovering the history of the place, the stories related to salt extraction. I recommend everyone who happens to pass by a salt mine to go down into the mine and spend a few hours in the underground. They will surely feel the benefits of salty air. However, people with health problems should take into account the doctor’s orders.”



We’ll now be heading to northeastern Romania, in the historical region of Bucovina, to visit the Cacica salt mine. The commune of Cacica is located 18 kms away from the town of Gura Humorului and 40 kms from Suceava where salt deposits were uncovered around 1780. The Cacica salt mine was opened to visitors starting in the 19th century.



Ioana Croitoru, a tour guide, will make a short presentation of the salt mine next: “The entire salt mine was carved by hand with the help of hammers and chisels by expert miners from Poland and Ukraine. Everything there is made of salt. Cacica means ‘duck’ in Polish. The area was a marshland with lots of wild ducks, hence the name of the salt mine given by the Poles. Experts estimate that Cacica has a salt deposit that will be enough for another 500 years from now. Exploitation of the salt in Cacica started in 1791. The mine has a small Orthodox chapel with several sculptures made in salt. At the depth of 38 meters there is an artificial lake on whose borders one will spot salt crystals. Visitors will also notice at the lake a small boat in which miners used to take their kids and grandchildren for a ride. A ball room was carved at a depth of 41 meters where parties used to be organized. The room bears the name of the salt mine’s first director general, Agripa Popescu. At 75 meters in the underground there used to be a cheese storage area, given that temperature in the underground is constant, standing at 10 degrees C. Now a sports ground is being set up in the salt mine for those who come for treatment, people with asthma or with various respiratory diseases. There is also a playground for kids.”



We hope we have convinced you to contact your travel agent and book a tour of Romania’s salt mines.

Cascada Bigăr
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 03 April 2025

Almaj river Valley, “the apple blossom country”

Western Romania boasts a very special region: it is one of the four main valleys in Caras-Severin County. We’re speaking about Almaj River valley....

Almaj river Valley, “the apple blossom country”
Reghin – A City of violins
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 27 March 2025

Reghin – A City of violins

The workshops where these musical marvels are being created are open to visitors. Reghin per se is a surprising city but can also serve as a starting...

Reghin – A City of violins
Foto: Radu Pescaru
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 20 March 2025

Vama Buzaului, in the Heart of Nature

Certified since 2018 as a tourist resort of local interest, Vama Buzăului is known especially for its bison reserve, a perfect place to spend free...

Vama Buzaului, in the Heart of Nature
Saschiz (Facebook)
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 13 March 2025

A tourist in Mureș County

Today we discover the most important tourist attractions in Mureș County. The offer includes special landscapes, with centuries-old trees, adventure...

A tourist in Mureș County
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 06 March 2025

Holiday offers at the Romanian Tourism Fair

The 51st edition of the Romanian Tourism Fair took place on February 20-23 in Bucharest.   The most beautiful tourist areas were presented to...

Holiday offers at the Romanian Tourism Fair
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 27 February 2025

Harghita, European Region of Gastronomy

Harghita County has been awarded the title of “European Region of Gastronomy” for 2027 by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture,...

Harghita, European Region of Gastronomy
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 20 February 2025

Campulung Moldovenesc, Nature and Tradition

Bucovina is one of the most sought-after tourist areas in Romania. Here, you can stop at the Câmpulung Moldovenesc resort, of national interest. It...

Campulung Moldovenesc, Nature and Tradition
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 13 February 2025

Ecotourist destination in Pădurea Craiului

Themed paths and hiking paths, caves, old wooden churches, Via Ferrata, off-road running and mountain bike routes and traditional food are just some...

Ecotourist destination in Pădurea Craiului

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company