Things to see and do Turda

The salt mine(salina) was modernized in 2008-2010 and now offers excellent conditions for visits and treatments. Mining ceased in 1932, and today it's possible to visit the galleries and chambers where salt has been mined since 1690. We recommend visiting the Franz Joseph transport gallery, the Joseph (currently under construction), Thérèse, Gisèle and Rudolf mines. The impressive Rudolf and Thérèse mines are the largest man-made underground cavities in Europe, almost surreal in their dimensions. Treatments include halotherapy(halos means salt in Greek), known since Antiquity as a natural remedy that is highly effective and has no side effects. A session in a salt mine helps you recover, revitalize and boost your body's immunity. Sessions last from 30 to 60 minutes, and there's plenty to do: a sports field, miniature golf course, two bowling lanes, billiard and table tennis tables, Ferris wheel, children's play area and rowing boats for strolling on the underground lake are all at your disposal. In summer, two natural lakes with high concentrations of salt and healing properties are open to the public. In the ^16th century, the town of Turda was one of the most prosperous in the principality of Transylvania, thanks to the trade in this commodity so precious in the Middle Ages. In fact, it seems that salt mining in Turda predates the Roman conquest.

Some ten kilometers west of the city, the Turda Gorge(Cheile Turzii) offers an astonishing spectacle. The Hășdate River has cut an impressive corridor over 3 kilometers long, giving rise to cliffs nearly 350 meters high. There are some sixty caves, formed in the karstic relief. Most are small, apart from the 120 m-long Cetățeaua Mare. The region benefits from a microclimate that favors a dazzling natural wealth. Some sixty species of animals (birds, foxes, fish, weasels, amphibians, deer...) and over 1,000 different plant species, including some particularly rare ones (wild garlic, Jupiter's helmet...), can be found in a 125-hectare reserve.

The main access point to the gorge is the village of Cheia, which can be reached by local bus or by a 2-hour walk from Turda, along a path called Drumul Domnilor (departure from piața Romană, red cross markings, approx. 8 km). By car, pass the village of Mihai Viteazu and, a little further on, on the road towards Câmpeni, follow the signs. The gorge can easily be covered in just over an hour. But if you'd like to explore the area in more depth, you can go to the Cabana Cheile Turzii, where a map is displayed, detailing the various trails. We can also provide you with a map. The gorge route stops at Petreştii de Jos, where buses run back down to Turda (occasionally at least).

It's organized around piața Republicii, the long central square lined with colorful Austro-Hungarian houses. Most of the interesting buildings are located around it, including the Municipal Theater, one of the city's most beautiful monuments, built between 1901 and 1904. Located at the northern end of the square (no. 52), it also houses the municipal library. At the far end (strada 1 Decembrie 1918, no. 28), the neo-Renaissance Town Hall dates from 1884-1886. From piața Republicii, a porch leads to the dynamic market.

It is located in the former princely palace, built in the 16th century and retaining elements of Gothic style from the end of the 15th century. It served as a customs house for the salt mines, but also as a temporary residence for the Princes of Transylvania during their visits. The museum exhibits many archaeological remains found in the area: Neolithic ceramics, medieval tools, weapons and coins. Objects from the Roman period make up the bulk of the collection. The museum also has art and ethnography sections.