The biggest salt mine in Europe

Thinking of salt I'd certainly firstly think of the sea, the coast, the summer and the sun. But therefor to many times I'd forget that there's also salt coming from dark places, deep underground, stored in stones for thousands and millions of years. The kind that really smells like rocks and you certainly can't mistaken for sugar and accidentally put in the coffee.

Such salt comes to us from the mines, and one of  the biggest lies in Slanic in Romania.

The old industrial building from the years before 1970 when mine was still operating 

The visit is a really mesmerising experience. By the ticket office you're loaded on a minibus and taken more than 200 meters underground trough the former transport tunnels, on a dark ride that lasts for the whole 10 minutes. The change of the environment is complete. As we were doing this experience in the summer, we've been hit by the underground cold of only 12°C. Which can also be referred to as a very pleasant condition in the winter as the temperature is constant throughout the year.

the old mining wagons

Compared to other mines you might have visited, despite the rough works done until it's closing in 1970, the walls are smooth and colourful in the changing stripes of black and white, reminding to the patterns of the zebra.

the statue of a desk made out of salt

We've entered to an enormous hall, long and width, with 10 m in height. The mining has started in 1853 from the top and you can still see the wooden balconies and some of the staircases leading around far above the ground.

main halls with balconies far above the ground 

The air is pure, in fact, one of the clearest air you can find on Earth. Therefor many scientific experiments have been held in this place, including some nuclear and astronautical ones.

rescuing equipment from different eras

It's also therapeutic, especially for people with respiratory problems who sometimes spend longer time underground. There are beds and loungers available for the visitors, and while some occupy little cubicles all ready for underground camping, you can also enjoy in many sport activities, such as football, basketball, pool or table tenis, as the equipment is provided. There are also small shops offering snacks and a terrace with many tables and even television broadcasting the latest news.

the remaining staircases above sportsfield

You can admire exhibitions of old mining equipment, statues made out of salt or some more modern creations. There are playgrounds for children, including blow up slide and small go-karts, and little lakes with flowstones.

salty flowstones above the lake

The grand halls are all connected with each other, with a huge cubicle of uncarved stone in the middle holding the ceiling, and balconies leading all around.

After spending about an hour underground we started getting slightly cold, or at least way colder than we'd wanted to be on a summer day, so we've grouped in a line from where the minibus is regularly picking up people to bring them back above the ground. But of course we couldn't leave the place without licking the wall and making sure it's actually salty.

tasting the wall

Learn more about the main at the tourist website.