Romania > The Salt Mine of Turda

At half past seven the alarm goes off. I didn’t sleep very well. Because of the double bed, we kept waking each other when turning over. I take a shower. In the little kitchen, we have our breakfast. The rolls we bought last night at the supermarket we warm up in the oven. At half past nine we leave the apartment and drive out of Alba Iulia by car. We head north. Today it’s a bit cooler. It’s also more cloudy. We probably won’t stay dry today. Soon we get on the highway and drive towards Turda. Salt has been mined in the mountains of Turda since the thirteenth century. In 1932 the Turda salt mine was closed. During World War II the mine was used as a shelter. Later, after the war, the salt mine was used to store special Romanian cheese. Nowadays the salt mine can be visited by tourists. From the entrance, we walk through a carved tunnel. On the map we received, several numbers are marked. We decide to start at the end. The tunnel is almost one kilometer long. When we arrive at the other side, this turns out to be the exit.

Romania - The salt mine of Turda was used for salt extraction until 1932

The guard explains that we need to walk back about 700 meters and then take the elevator down. The other two mines on the map are not accessible. We walk back through the tunnel. When we reach the elevator, we look into a deep large underground space. In this space, various forms of entertainment are available. There are mini golf courses, billiards, a small Ferris wheel, and souvenir shops. We have to wait a bit before we can take the elevator down. When it’s our turn, we descend about eighty meters. The space underground is enormous. There is also a lower cave. We take a second elevator down to this level. Here there is water. People row boats for a round through the cave. The Turda salt mine has something spectacular because of its size, but due to all the activities, it also feels somewhat like an amusement park. Just as we come back above ground, a shower breaks loose.

Romania - In the Turda salt mine you can go boating

We quickly go to the car. From here it is about another hour’s drive to Cluj-Napoca. Along the route, we look for a place to eat lunch. A possible restaurant looks closed. We decide to drive on to the hotel. The hotel is located in the center of Cluj-Napoca. According to the reservation, limited parking is available. We are lucky and can park our car in the courtyard. We quickly put our luggage in the room. On the way to the city center, we see a nice little restaurant by the Somesul Mic river. A great place for lunch. I’m quite hungry by now. After lunch, it’s already half past three, we walk into the center. At the central Piata Unirii stands the impressive St. Michael’s Cathedral. This Catholic church is prominently located in the middle of the square. In front of the church stands a statue of Matthias Corvinus on his horse, the king of Transylvania in the fifteenth century.

Romania - St Michaels Cathedral with a statue of Matthias Corvinus

He led successful campaigns against the Ottomans. Via Bulevardul Eroilor we head towards Piata Stefan cel Mare square. We pass a ochre-yellow Orthodox church. We take a quick look inside this church. Like the previous Orthodox churches, this church is beautiful inside. On Piata Stefan cel Mare square stands the theater. The building dates from 1904. On the other side of the square stands the Orthodox cathedral. When we enter the church, we see a large scaffold in the middle. This somewhat obstructs the view of the frescoes, mosaics, and iconostasis. Perhaps because of this, I find this cathedral less impressive. Back at Piata Unirii square, we want to order a drink. No service comes. We get up again and walk on through the cozy narrow streets on the north side of the square. Here there are plenty of terraces with service. After this short stop, we cross the Somesul Mic river again and return to the hotel. In the evening, we eat at a bistro near the hotel. I choose risotto and salmon. Then I go to bed early.