Vatra Dornei

Vatra Dornei, also known as the Pearl of Bukovina, is a town located in Northern Moldavia, at the confluence of the Dorna River and Golden Bistriţa River. Vatra Dornei is placed along one of the roads that link Moldavia and Transylvania, in one of the most beautiful depressions of the Eastern Carpathians, Ţara Dornelor, elevation 802-808 m, in the ambiance created by the forests covering the mountains around: Giumalău, Bistriţa, Călimani, Rodna, Suhard and Obcina Mestecăniş.



The present town of Vatra Dornei developed around the former hamlet of Dorna pe Giumalău, known by the Romans as Durnacum, then mentioned in a document of 1600. The site soon grew in importance among the neighboring villages, becoming truly significant once the authorities officially confirmed the curing properties of its mineral waters, at the end of the 18th century (chemist Hacquette de Nürnberg in 1790, doctor Ignatziu Plusch in 1805 and 1810).


The town is well known as an all-season health resort of national importance having the climate of an intramontane depression: no strong winds, cool summers (July average temperature 15.2°C) and cold winters (January average under -6°C). The annual average temperature is of 5.2°C and the precipitation averages 800 mm annually (more abundant in the May-August period).


The spa’s healing properties that have made it famous across the world include the tonic-stimulative climate, the strongly negative ionized air, free of dust and allergens and rich in resinous aerosols, the springs of carbonated, ferruginous, slightly bicarbonated, sodic, calcic, magnesian, hypotonic mineral waters and the peat mud (brought here from Poiana Stampei). Tourists come in Vatra Dornei to treat their cardiovascular affections and rheumatism, to rest, practice winter sports or just to have a good time. The spectacular landscape also allows for numerous leisure activities – walking, horse-riding, river-rafting, mountaineering.


Vatra Dornei is also known a winter sports resort with its many slopes and ski lifts. Black Hill (1.300 m) and Runc Hill have tracks and slopes for winter sports and a chair lift of 3200m. Points of Interest: the natural park in the resort, famed for its many squirrels and for the brass band concerts given here in summer; the chalet on Runc Hill; the Hunting and Natural Sciences Museum; the Bukovina Ethnographic Museum, etc. If you have the chance to visit Vatra Dornei, it is certainly worth the trip!

Slănic Prahova

Slănic Prahova is a town of Prahova County, Romania, historically and currently known as a salt extraction center, as well as a spa town, with salt lakes. As its name (salt in Slavonic) suggests, most of Slănic's history and economy are directly related to the presence of relatively large quantities of salt underground, and even in open air. Slănic is also the name of the creek flowing through the town.


Slănic Prahova is an all season resort of national importance, with the sedative-indifferent climate of forested hills, characterized by pleasant summers (July average temperature 19.5°C) and relatively mild winters (January average 3.5°C below). The average annual temperature is of 9°C and the precipitation averages 750 mm annually.


The town is famous for its springs of chlorided, sodic, sulphated, calcic mineral waters (used since 1885, when the resort began developing), and salt lakes (Romanian: lacuri sau băi): Baia Baciului (Shepherd’s Lake), Baia Verde (Green Lake), Baia Roşie (Red Lake), Lacul Miresei (The Bride’s Lake), Baia Porcilor (Pigs' Lake), who have a high level of salinity (80 ÷275 g / l). Bathing in the lakes is recommended for the treatment of degenerative and articular rheumatic diseases, post-traumatic conditions, peripheral neurological (light paresis, condition after poly-neuritis, old poliomyelitis sequels), gynecological disorders, respiratory disorders, dermatological diseases (psoriasis), vascular diseases and more. Other tourist objectives are the Salt Mountain (uncovered, unique in the world) and the Bride’s Cave, now partially collapsed due to rain erosion.



Among the natural treatment factors, we have to mention here The Old Salt Mine (Salina Unirea). The mine was opened in February 1938, but actual works started in 1943 and continued in 1970. Mining in a descending direction, both horizontal and vertical cutting out with specific cutting equipment, the rocks were dislocated by explosions and then transported by mining car to the shaft and up to the preparation and shipping line.


The mine consists of 14 trapezoid-shaped rooms with a ten-meter ceiling and thirty and thirty-two-meter floor width. The height of the rooms is of fifty-four meters and the wall inclination angle is of 60. The level difference between the surface and the mine hearth is of 208 m. 2,6 million cubic meters of rock salt were excavated during the working of the mine. After 1970 the mine became a tourist attraction. It was adequately modified to accommodate both visitors and patients treated for various respiratory diseases in the fully equipped sanatorium housed inside the mine. Qualified medical personnel attended and assisted asthma patients treated in the salt mine sanatorium.




Other rooms house football and handball grounds, a running track and even museum. The works of the sculptor Iustin Năstase, among which the busts of the Roman emperor Traian and the Dacian king Decebal and several other pieces presenting relevant elements of the existence of the Dacian and Roman peoples are exhibited in the "Genesis" room.

Slănic Moldova

Called also “Pearl of Moldavia”, the resort of Slănic Moldova is located in the south-western part of Bacău County, at an altitude of 530 m, on the eastern slopes of Eastern Carpathians, namely Nemira Mountains, in a depression crossed by Slănic Creek. The name of this locality comes from the creek that runs across it, called Slănic, to which it was added the name of “Moldova”, in order to make a distinction from the Slănic place in Prahova region.


The first written evidence about Slănic Moldova is contained by the ancient sealed deed issued by Constantin Cehan Racoviţă on January 1, 1757. The first mineral water spring has been discovered in the year 1800 by cavalry commander Mihai Spiridon, during a bear hunt in the forests of Slanic. He sent water samples for analysis and, being convinced by its importance and he continued searching, discovering one year later the springs no. 3, 4 and 5.


Around 1808, having the approval of lord Scarlat Calimachi, moved here 12 families of peasants from the salt mines region, with the purpose of being caretakers for the two small houses built for those who came here for treatment and spa. In 1816, the Moldavian scholar and metropolitan bishop, Veniamin Costache, visited Slănic and that was the occasion when the first log houses were built; then there were build guest houses, spas for patients and a small church. In 1825, the ruler Ioniţă Sandu Sturza agreed upon an increase up to 27 families moved here to take care of the healing springs. This way started the population of Slanic Valley; the villages of Cerdac and Satul Nou were established. In 1840, the resort was featured for the first time on a map, under the name of “Feredeiele Slănicului” (Slănic Spas).


In 1887 the locality planning started and were built new buildings, modern installations and baths, bridges and culverts, spring intakes were established. All this contributed to the international fame of Slănic Moldova resort from the late 19th century. After World War I, the town had become a ruin. The restoration began late, major repairing was done with great effort and the church was rebuilt from scratch.


By means of its climatic features (pure air, rich in aerosols, resins and negative
oxygen ions), and the flow of ozonated air and forest aroma aerosols, the resort
benefits from a relaxing and refreshing climate that in the same time calms down and stimulates the body. The quality of the natural environment, the complete preservation of the ecological system and scenery of the area is the main support for tourist activities, mountaineering, leisure time and prevention or curing treatments. Slănic Moldova is one of the 12 spa resorts of national importance with mineral springs that have received awards in many international contests - Frankfurt (1881), Vienna (1973), Paris (1889).


The spa potential is the key element in selecting resorts and this is assessed by the nature and availability of resources. The presence of natural therapeutic factors for treatment triggers the organization of three types of medical care: prophylaxis, treatment and functional recovery. In this case, the potential consists of water quality, their highly therapeutic value and proper water flow capacity, valued as reserves. This has determines the spa feature of the resort, appropriate for the treatment of digestive diseases, accessory digestive glands, respiratory system, nutrition and metabolism diseases.


Slănic Moldova offers the possibility of having internal treatment with mineral water, aerosols and inhalation, having the equipment for warm baths with mineral waters, pools for kineto-therapy, equipment for electro and hydro-therapy, gyms, mofettes, treatment with Gerovital. The spa features of the resort are quite unique in Europe, with a high variety of springs from the point of view of composition, concentration, chemical complexity and therapeutic effects, all gathered in a quite small area.