Salina ( Salt mine ) Praid-Romania

Salt mine is near Sovata spa.
The Basin of Praid is situated on the East coast of the Transylvania Basin ("a huge salt cellar") at the base of Gurghiu Mountains, that forms a micro region so called "The zone of Salt Mines". The geographical zone of the salt mines is unique in its way and the name of "The salt region" comes from the salt mine of Praid.
This salt settlement is one of the biggest from Europe. Its reserve could provide the salt need for Europe for hundreds of yearsb in future.
. The beginnings of the salt mining history lasts since roman period. In written documents there are remembered four surface excavations ("amphitheatre" type) and some bricks with the inscription: LVM ( Legio V. Macedonica). The excavations left by Roman were continued by Avars and later by Bulgars. In migration people period ( Goths, Huns, Gepyds ) people didn't extract salt from here.
The first written reference about mining in Praid is a document by King András the III rd (from 1291), where he refers to the king's right over the salt mines (the letter appears in the "Study of Transylvanian settlements" written by dr. Schmidt Elegius Robert).
The underground exploitation begins in 1762, under the leading of the Austrian engineer Frendl Aladár, so he opens the "József" mine. This mine had a bell-shape, and it was the first underground mine in Praid. The extracted salt was tied in buffalo leather bags and was pulled up to surface by four pair of horses with the so called "horse lift". About a systematic mining we can talk only after 1787, when the salt mine becomes property of the Vienna Treasury. From the bell shaped hall of József mine, they opened two side rooms, these arethe so called Károly and Ferdinánd mines, which also had pointed shape. Their depth is 66m, together with the shaft. In 1864 near the "József" mine it was opened the Parallel mine, that is one of the biggest artificial salt cavities from Romania.
A new idea came in 1898: to open a reserve mine. In this year miners began the work in the researching gallery called "Erzsébet", situated in the north-eastern part of the salt hill. With this horizontal tunnel they cut through the salt mountain completely, and they opened some lateral branches.
After the first World War (1920), the Romanian state administration reorganised the medieval developed technique of the Transylvanian and Maramures Salt Mines. In 1945 they introduced the explosion technique for salt extraction, and the Hungarian salt mining with big tradition became history forever.
In 1978 at 40m under the old mines, new mining levels were opened. In those levels the extraction rooms are 20m in width, 12m high and 100's of m long.
At Praid the speleo- and climatotherapic underground treatment began in 1960. In this time sick people were hosted by Dózsa György mine, and from the year 1980 it is was moved and organised at the level "50", that is 120 m in deep from the surface. There are 1250m from de entrance until the treatment level's huge rooms. People are brought in there with buses. In summer season there are about 2500-3000 people (sick and visitor) came from all over the country. The treatment level is supplied with electricity, air-conditioning, wide playground, ecumenical chapel, billiard tables, seats and chairs, all these just make more comfortable the daily four hours compulsory down stay (for the ones who are under medical treatment). This time includes medical gymnastics, led by assistants, walks and gradual physical load. People who presents for treatment are between 2 and 60 years of age. They receive spiritual support from "Nepomuki Szent János" underground chapel, that was consecrated in 1993, and physical security is assured by a permanent medical supervising.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• salina
• salt
• mine
• cave
• underground
• Praid
• Mures
• Romania

[baja19992]

@cipndale I think you are right.

[cipndale]

@baja19992 If you descended with the lift than it it isn't this one. Maybe is Slanic Prahova what you visited.

[cipndale]

@1tutoriale1 Praid langa Sovata

[baja19992]

I went there with my wife( she is from romania) and in laws 3 years ago. I went down by the lift to the mine that was very scary. it was an amazing place to visit .

[1tutoriale1]

Pe unde e asta? 

[rares11fly]

rayrazu  iti venea prea mult aer curat nu????

[cristiedge]

am fost in salina si a fost super va recomand sa mergeti

[rayrazu]

eu cand am ajuns acolo nu puteam sa mai respir :(

[zexeru]

prima oara cand am coborat intr-o salina m-au trecut fiori !

[ucamicutza]

foarte tare in salina, :) acum 2 zile m-am intors de acolo