Praid

Discover the Salt Region!

Through its numerous natural values, the so called Salt Region has become one of the most attractive tourist destinations from the Eastern Carpathians. The Salt Mine, the salty baths, the idyllic rural atmosphere of this place and picturesque landscapes, Praid is rightly the cherry on the cake in this region.

Praid is situated at the foot of the Gurghiu Mountains at an altitude of 525m, in a picturesque natural environment, only 6km away from the renowned balneoclimate resort, Sovata. The town's renown is based on salt deposits found in the basement, which is one of the largest salt pits in Europe.

The main tourist attraction in Praid is the salt mine open to visitors and the salt water swimming pool in the neighborhood. But the tourist attractions are many and various. Recently, the Butterfly House opened in the summer season, where numerous exotic butterfly species from different corners of the world can be admired. Tourists can visit Salt Canyon (Salt Valley), a protected area on the outskirts of the village rich in karst formations of salt and salt springs. The water of these springs has been used not long ago in most local households instead of salt and in the preservation of vegetables and mushrooms. Active tourists can make hiking in the splendid nature around Praid or the Rapsonne Fortress with its history wrapped in mystery and legends. In the locality is the memorial house of the poet Aprily Lajos. At the end of September, the Stuffed Cabbage (cabbage with minced meat inside) is organized annually, attracting thousands of visitors and gourmands from the country and from abroad.

Salt mine and history of salt extraction in Praid

Salt harvesting in Praid has been proven since the Roman era in the form of an amphitheater. After the withdrawal of the Romans in the following centuries of migration, the exploitation is interrupted.

After the establishment of the Hungarians, the exploitation of salt is blooming again and the Szeklers in the area benefit from the right to salt. Also from this period comes the first document written by the Hungarian king András III of 1291, concerning the royal rights to salines. The Szeklers are largely deprived of this privilege during the Transylvanian Principality. In the Habsburg era, many new and more efficient techniques are introduced in the process of systematic exploitation.

In 1940 the salt in Praid becomes the property of the Romanian state and during this period the explosion exploitation begins. After that period, more orizans are opened at different depths.

The underground treatment in the Praid Salt began in the 60's, in the Dózsa György mine, which is visited by many people with respiratory problems and thousands of tourists annually. Visitors are transported by salt buses to a depth of 120 mm on a 1.2km route. The duration of treatment is up to 4 hours a day.

Our special offer
hit counter