Millions of years ago, the land where the city of Turda stands today was covered by water. As the sea evaporated, a prolific salt deposit formed in the area. This, in short, is how the Turda saltpan was formed.
The Turda Salt Mine is a spectacular place, as well as a unique objective in the world, which holds several world records for: the first jump 120 meters underground in the world, vertical running competitions on the Rudolf Mine stairs, 80 meters underground, the underground panoramic wheel or the preserved crivac at the site of exploitation.
Find out more about Salina Turda, accommodation options at Salina Turda and why it’s worth a visit if you’re in Transylvania.
- Where is Salina Turda and what accommodation options are available at Salina Turda
- A visit to Turda Salina with children
- How long does it take to visit Salina Turda
- How deep is Salina Turda
- Salina Turda – benefits
Where is Salina Turda and what accommodation options are available at Salina Turda
Salina Turda is located in the town of the same name in Cluj county and is home to no less than 38 million tons of salt. If you’re just passing through the area and don’t need to stay at Salina Turda, you can reserve 2-3 hours to visit the salt mines. If, however, you are visiting the mine for therapeutic purposes and will be staying at Salina Turda, you can spend an hour to an hour and a half at the salt mine every day.
Salina is located 1.5 km from Turda, 30 km from Cluj-Napoca, 80 km from Târgu Mureș, 146 km from Sibiu, 243 km from Brașov, 421 km from Bucharest.
How to get to Salina Turda
By car, you can get to the saltworks via the following routes:
- DN15 Târgu Mureș – Turda – Salina Turda;
- DN1 Oradea – Huedin – Cluj-Napoca – Turda – Salina Turda;
- DN1 Brașov – Făgăraș – Sibiu – DN1/A1 – Sebeș – Aiud – Turda – Salina Turda.
As far as public transportation is concerned, the following lines arrive near the saltworks: 13, 17, CJ 153, 14.
If you opt for an accommodation at Salina Turda, which is close to the tourist complex, you can take a short walk. The town will pleasantly surprise you!
Enter the saline
The main entrance is located in the tourist center of Salina-Durgău, on Durgăului Alley, but to enter the saltworks you can also turn to Salinelor Street 54A. There is another entrance, which was used before the modernization works.
For people with motor disabilities, the entrance is 54B Salinei Str., because there are specific facilities.
How to get to Salina Turda
Salina Turda is the deepest saltpan in Romania. It is equipped with elevators to make getting in and out easier. Also, more adventurous or active tourists can use the steps to descend into the mine.
After your visit to the saline, you can stop in the center, at one of the terraces or cozy cafes in the area, visit the Turda History Museum or the Roman Castrum Potaissa. Also, right next to the entrance to the salt pans is the Durgău Swimming Pool, where locals come in summer to swim and relax.
As for accommodation options at Salina Turda, you’ll find nearby hotels and hostels offering a variety of facilities.
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A brief history of Salina Turda
The age of the salt deposits in Turda is about 13 million years, together with the deposits of Ocna Dej, Valea Florilor and Ocna Mureș.
The exploitation of the salt mine in Turda dates back to 50 BC, but the first inscription that refers to the salt mine is a document issued in the 11th century by the Hungarian chancellery. It mentions the establishment of the salt customs in Turda. In the 13th century, the value of salt was comparable to that of gold, and Teutonic knights were even rewarded with salt boulders for their merits.
The underground salt deposits of about 38 million tons could provide enough salt for the world’s entire population for another 60 years.
The long history of salt mining in Salina Turda ends in 1932, when the mine was closed and abandoned. Then, during the Second World War, Salina Turda served as an underground shelter for the inhabitants of the area, and later even as a cheese warehouse.
In 1992 the saline was reopened to serve a touristic purpose, but also as a treatment center. Subsequently, accommodation facilities at Salina Turda were set up in the area, the treatment base entered the medical circuit, and more and more accommodation options at Salina Turda appeared in the vicinity.
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A visit to Turda Salina with children
If you come to this part of Transylvania with your family and wonder what activities you can do with the kids in Salina Turda, well, the place will not bore you or the little ones. That’s why it’s even worth booking an accommodation at Salina Turda for a few days.
Even more beautiful in reality than in pictures, Salina Turda presents itself as fascinating from the moment you enter the mine. The appearance of the salt mine, especially after the works of development and modernization in recent years, impresses any tourist.
According to the data available on the Salina’s website, more than 600,000 people visit the Salina every year. Many of them opt for accommodation at Salina Turda and spend a few days in the area. Indeed, they have and what of; find varied leisure options. These include a concert hall, a 180-seat amphitheater, sports fields, minigolf, bowling, billiards, table tennis, a playground.
In addition, the saltwater lake is the main attraction, especially because you can take a boat trip inside the salt mine.
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How long does it take to visit Salina Turda
Tourists can visit Salina Turda every day of the week, between 09:00 and 17:00, with the last entrance at 16:00. One day is enough to visit the salt mines and enjoy a few moments of relaxation while making aerosols. And if you stay at Salina Turda, you can enjoy the therapeutic effects for several days.
People who come for treatments seek accommodation in Salina Turda and visit the salt mine for a few days to benefit from the curative effects of the salinized air.
Admission price Salina Turda
The price for a ticket to Salina Turda is 50 lei for adults, 60 lei on public holidays and 30 lei for pupils, pensioners and students. Tickets for Salina Turda can be purchased at the entrance. They are valid for the day they are taken and allow one-time admission. Tickets for Salina Turda can also be purchased online.
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How deep is Salina Turda
Salina Turda has a maximum depth of 120 meters. There are 4 salt mines: Mina Rudolf, Mina Ghizela, Mina Terezia and Mina Iosif.
The Ghizela mine was opened in 1857, later closed and reopened after 1992 as a treatment base.
With a depth of 90 meters, Mina Terezia hosts the main attraction of Salina Turda, the underground lake, with a diameter of 70 meters and a depth of up to 8 meters. The mine was exploited between 1690 and 1880, and is the oldest salt mine in the saltworks. On one of the walls of the mine you can see a salt waterfall formed over time by salt deposits.
The last mine from which salt was mined in Turda is the Rudolf Mine, which was opened in 1867. It is 80 meters long and 40 meters deep. Here, tourists can see the fascinating stalactites that have formed as a result of seepage, and it’s also home to most of the recreational options, as well as the panoramic wheelā.
Iosif Mine is located 115 meters deep and has a conical shape. It can currently only be visited from balconies. It is to be restored and returned to the tourist circuit.
How many floors does Salina Turda have
Salina Turda houses a real museum of the history of salt mining and is included on the list of historical monuments in Cluj County. It has no less than 13 floors, which you can go down by stairs or elevator; on each floor you will find information about the year in which the respective landing was laid out.
There’s also a wheel, the only one in the world underground, which offers panoramic views of the mine from 20 meters above ground.
Salina Turda – benefits
The average humidity inside the different rooms is between 73 and 80%, and the combination of the aerosols present in the air makes this an ideal location for therapeutic cures. People who come for treatments and take their accommodation at Salina Turda enjoy the effects of saline air, which is recommended in case of allergies, chronic rhinosinusitis, bronchial asthma, bronchitis or repeated respiratory infections.
And that’s not all; in addition to the benefits of salty air, there are these:
- The constant temperature allows the body to adapt and acclimatize;
- the relative humidity at the entrance to the saline with values between 78 and 82% has beneficial effects on the airways;
- lack of air movement (‘draught‘);
- aerosols in the form of solid particles;
- aeroionization with small ions in variable amounts, predominantly positive ions, with curative effects;
- absence of allergens, air pollutants and pathogens in the air;
- minimum radioactivity, below the minimum detectable activity of 0.1 pCOl air of radon 222.
Children under 3 years of age and people over 65 need a doctor’s permission to visit the salt.
In terms of interior design, inside the salt pans you will find wood and steel elements and a modern atmosphere. As part of a €5.8 million EU project, the salt pans have been modernized to become a true leisure and treatment base.
Also, with the help of European funds, Mina Iosif is to be modernized. 5 panoramic elevators that will be able to take 64 people up and down the salt mine in a single turn, an artificial river and suspended walkways are to be installed there.
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Temperature in Turda salt lake
The temperature in Salina Turda varies between 11 and 13 degrees Celsius and is constant throughout the year.
In terms of outfits, you’ll want to carry a thicker sweatshirt as well as long pants, even if you choose to visit the salt ponds in summer.
Non-vehicular friends are not allowed in the salt ponds. Eating food is also forbidden, but you can have a tasty lunch in the restaurants or hotels nearby, especially if you’re staying at Salina Turda.
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Pictures from Salina Turda
If you’ve checked into your accommodation at Salina Turda, all you have to do is leave your luggage and relax for a few minutes before going to visit the mine.
Also, if you want to know what to expect once you get there, take a look at our Salina Turda photo gallery.
Therefore, Salina Turda is one of Transylvania’s outstanding tourist attractions. Once you step inside, you will discover a real museum of salt mining. You’ll also find a modern leisure center and, at the same time, a treatment center for a family-friendly outing.
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