Salt of the Earth, an Adventure Into Salina Turda

When people think of the word “wanderlust,” they don’t necessarily think of salt mines, yet Romania’s Salina Turda has repeatedly been called one of the most beautiful places underneath the ground. It has been mined since the days of antiquity, and was opened as a halotherapy center in 1992. In 2009, it was refurbished into a popular tourist attraction, attracting 2.5 million people to its cavernous beauty.

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The place is divided into several rooms, cavities left behind by mining operations and preserved in their original condition. Entering in a panoramic elevator, visitors can get a glimpse at the entire Rudolf room while riding down the 13 floors, each marked with the year they were mined. One hundred and seventy-two steps to the hearth brings you 42 meters underneath the surface, and if you look at the ceiling you can see the impressive salt stalactites that have formed over the years.

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The octagonal Crivac room contains a 150-year-old mechanical engine used for lifting salt rocks to the surface. Rather than transporting the minerals up to the 900-meter Franz Joseph Gallery, the gepel utilized horses to bring the salt 100 meters to the surface. Nearby lies the Losif mine, dubbed the Echoes Room thanks to its isolation and conical structure that has the unique ability to reverberate sound.

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Terezia is another conical mine, beautifully filled with an underground lake, stalactites and salt efflorescence. The last room is the Gizela mine, the last space to be dug up before mining operations stopped. Today, it has been converted into a spa due to its unique microclimate. Extremely clean air and a stable temperature help create a natural sea-salt aerosol that’s good for the skin and breathing. Visitors can also take a rejuvenating dip on the surface at Durgau Strand, where the waters have a high rock-salt content.

Salina Turda, Romania © Rosshelen | Dreamstime

If looking at salt minerals isn’t enough, Salina Turda reinvented itself as a quasi amusement park, complete with an amphitheater, paddle boats, mini golf, bowling and even ping-pong. The mine is open year-round, costing 10 Lei for adults.