Turda Salt Mine

Turda Salt Mine: A Historical Overview

Turda Salt Mine is today a true museum of the history of salt mining. The excellent state of preservation of the mining works and the equipment used for transporting salt, along with the care taken in preparing the mine to become a tourist attraction, have allowed history and legend to intertwine harmoniously here. The increasing number of tourists arriving from the farthest geographical areas to visit the mine is a confirmation of its tourist and historical value.

The mine is undoubtedly the most famous destination for tourists visiting the town of Turda. This mine dates back to the 17th century. The exploitation of salt in Turda was a determining factor for the prosperous evolution of the town from pre-Roman times to the present. The Turda Salt Mine, which has been one of the most important salt mines in Transylvania since its inception, began to decline after 1840 due to the growing competition from the Ocna Mureș mine, eventually serving as a reserve for the latter.

Salt Extraction History

Until 1862, salt was extracted in Turda from the three old wells:

• Iosif
• Terezia
• Anton

In that year, salt extraction in the "Anton" well, where the extraction reached a depth of 108 meters, was halted due to the high clay content of the salt.

Transport Challenges

The major problem faced by the Salt Chamber of Turda during this period was related to the transport of the extracted salt from the mouths of the wells in Valea Sărată to the warehouses in Turda Nouă, as the road was very steep.

To facilitate transport and simultaneously reduce the associated costs, it was decided in 1853 to construct a transport gallery starting from Turda Nouă. This gallery, named "Franz Iosif," reached a length of 780 meters by 1871 and was extended by another 137 meters by the end of the century.

Modernization Efforts

Concurrently with the excavation of the transport gallery, the "Terezia" well was modernized by adding two lateral chambers, "Rudolf" and "Ghizela," with extraction concentrated in the "Rudolf" mine.

Source: salinaturda.eu