It is said that the history of the Turda Salt Mine starts about two thousand years ago during the Roman occupation when various forms of mining were introduced in Transylvania. 

But, as there aren’t enough documents or archeological proofs, we can say that salt mining in its real sense started somewhere in the 11th-13th century.

In its early beginnings, the salt mine in Turda was one of the most important on the territory of Transylvania. Starting 1840, the activity at the mine starts to decline and in 1932, the mine is totally closed. In the ’50s it was transformed intro a warehouse for cheese storage and in 1992 it was open for the first time for public visits. Fortunately, the mine entered a process of restoration in 2008 and it was reopened for tourists in 2010. It has been used ever since as a treatment base for various diseases but also for general visits. 

A bit of Transylvanian heritage

Alba Iulia also known as Alba Carolina is one of the oldest towns in Transylvania with such a long and complex history. It used to be a Roman citadel, a medieval fortress, a Baroque Vauban fortification (build in a star-shaped form). The great unification of Transylvania with Romania took place in Alba Iulia, on the 1st of December 1918 (a day that became Romania’s National Day). Alba Iulia also hosted the coronation event of King Ferdinand of Romania and Queen Maria, in 1922.

Thus, Alba Iulia is an important historical site with beautiful places to visit and many stories to reveal!

Thus, we invite you to join our Sibiu – Turda Salt Mine tour with a visit in Alba Iulia. On our way back to Sibiu, we’ll drive through Rimetea village – a traditional Transylvanian-Hungarian village awarded Europa Nostra prize for restoration. 

We’ll drive first to the salt mine in Turda. We’ll have to climb down around 13 floors but it will be quite spectacular (of course, you can choose to climb down the stairs of take the elevator). We’ll walk through some of the former mines and galleries and learn more about mining in the old times.

Down, in the main hall, there’s an entertainment area and a salt lake where you can even have a boat ride. The mine might be pretty busy as it also has a treatment base – the qualities of salt and its micro-climate offer perfect conditions for therapies in various diseases. 

After the visit at the salt mine, we’ll head to Alba Iulia, one of the most important historical towns in Romania. We’ll have a walking tour through the old fortress and have a visit at the most important attractions: the Roman-Catholic Church, the Orthodox Cathedral, the Union Hall, the massive Baroque entrance gate, the Roman exhibition.