The Turda salt mine- an underground masterpiece 
Located in Turda, the second-largest city in Cluj County, Transylvania, Turda Salt Mine is a must-see Romanian tourist attraction.
The mine which dates back to the Middle Ages now serves as a genuine history museum of salt mining. But there’s more to it than that!
If you decide to come visit, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to also discover a one-of-a-kind underground amusement park built deep inside the enormous mine.
A Bit of History
Turda Salt Mine is one of the oldest salt mines in the world. It was dug during medieval times for salt exploitation, with the first documented reference of the mine dating all the way back to 1271.
Excavations continued until 1932. After that, the salt mine served multiple purposes. The mine was used as a cheese storage unit, as well as a bomb shelter during World War 2.
Despite the passage of time, the mining and machinery used to transport salt were kept in an excellent state of preservation. And, in 1992, the salt mine was opened to tourists, offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into the past.
The mine entered a broad process of modernization and improvement in 2008. Now, history and innovation meet harmoniously here.
Turda Salt Mine: Main Attractions
The mine consists of an assembly of beautiful operating rooms and mine galleries, including:
- The Iosif mine: famous for having a powerful sound echo, it can be visited through balconies carved in salt.
- Crivac room: where visitors can see a rudimentary installation used for lifting salt rocks on the surface originally installed here in 1864.
- Terezia mine: featuring halls of impressive measurements: 90 m height and 87 m in diameter.
- Rudolph mine: which marks the last place where salt was exploited in Turda.
- Gizela mine: that currently serves solely the work of health treatment. The underground gallery of the mine is a geological reserve, and tourists have no access to this area.
A labyrinth of lifts and stairs takes visitors deep into the heart of the salt mine.
There, 400-feet underground, you’ll find a theme park that looks straight out of a sci-fi movie. This unique attraction includes:
- a large amphitheater,
- a Ferris wheel,
- a bowling alley
- a mini-golf course
- pool tables
- a sport’s field
- ping-pong courts
- an underground lake you can explore on a paddle boat.
Considering all the available attractions, it’s easy to see whyBusiness Insider placed the mine on top of their list of “coolest underground places in the world“.
Source:travelmakertours.com
