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.

Sângeorgiu de Mureş Salt Bath

Sângeorgiu de Mureş (Hungarian: Marosszentgyörgy) is a commune in Mureş County, Romania, comprising of 3 villages and situated at 320m altitude, at 3km of Târgu-Mureş. Build over a Daco-Roman rural settlement, the village is documentary certified in 1332, as Sancta Georgia. Here is a 14-th century castle, rebuilt in Baroque style in 1759 and later, in 1809, in Neoclassical and Empire styles; also, here is a natural reserve, "Secular Oaks from Sângeorgiu de Mureş".


The bathing place, Sângeorgiu de Mureş Salt Bath, is well known for the quality of its salt springs, mineral mud and mofettes. The first owner was a local landlord, Csete Bela, who noticed that the pits dug in his land filled rapidly with salt water. In 1880, here was a pool with salt water, the source of this salt water being a surface spring. Sângeorgiu is highlighted as "Salted Gardens" or "Salted Wells" in a document from 1888. In 1912, the first drill had been made, expecting to find in the deepest grounds gas and oil but the surprise was when there was found salt water springs.



The exceptional mineralization of the water is given by its concentration (124 g/l) and its content (Iodine 11,4 mg/l – being the most important element for human life, Bromine, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Nitrogenous) which provides therapeutic facilities. The mofettes are rich in Chlorine, Sodium, Potassium, Iodine, Bromine. There is a great resemblance between Sângeorgiu Salt Baths and the main spring of Szobranc in Switzerland and the special waters from Untere-Quelle in Switzerland. Sângeorgiu de Mureş Salt Bath has a very modern treatment, spa and wellness center and a sports center.

Bazna Bath

Bazna (Translyvanian Saxon: Baußen, Bassen; German: Baassen, Brassen, Oberbassen; Hungarian: Bázna, Felsőbajom, Bajom)) is a commune located in Sibiu County, Romania.

Bazna was mentioned for the first time in 1270, year in which the king Stephan the 3rd gave a domain to a nobleman, Bozouch son of Inok, from the Bazna village. Bazna was documentary attested in 1302. The German colonists established on the western side of the village, on the Rorii Valley, near Boian, and later, when they discovered the beauty of Bazna Valley, they moved here and built a village with an impressive fortified church in the center.


The discovery of the natural gases and of the salty springs with iodine drew the attention of the Transylvanian researchers from the 18th century. Rudolf Rothens, in Memorabilae Europae (1749), mentions Bazna by referring to the mineral waters which can be found in this locality. Salty water springs have been studied in 1752, for the first time, by the pharmacist Georg Bette from Sibiu, and then by others, too. The priest Andreas Caspari left a manuscript with his observations dating from 1762-1779. He described more therapeutic springs which he baptized “The Church Bath”, “The Beggars’ Bath”, and “The Sour Fountain”. In 1808 the government from Vienna sent a group of physicians and chemists in Bazna to study the curative effects of the salt and climate.


In 1814, the Evangelic-Lutheran Church took over the mineral lakes, deciding to build a spa, and in 1843 four citizens from Medias founded a company whose purpose was to build a resort in Bazna. Two years later, 637 patients were cured in Bazna. In 1905 the Evangelic community took over the resort and transformed it in a “pearl among the Transylvanian spas”. During the same year, people could find here a drugstore and a therapist. At the same time, people started to produce the famous salt of Bazna. From 1949, the Bazna Baths were administrated by the Ministry of Health, becoming a spa, with a permanent character.

Călimăneşti-Căciulata

Călimăneşti-Căciulata, often known just as Călimăneşti, is a town in the central-southern part of Romania (Vîlcea county), on the Olt River, in Jiblea - Călimăneşti Depression, at 260m altitude. It is situated on the traditional route connecting the region to Transylvania, and at the southern end of the Olt River valley crossing the Southern Carpathians, 18km N of the municipality of Rîmnicu-Vîlcea (seat of Vîlcea county). The climate is characteristic of the sheltered Sub-Carpathian hollows, without temperature contrasts, with cool summers (July average around 20°C) and rather mild winters (January average 1.5°C below); average annual temperature is 9.8°C, moderate precipitation (750-800 mm annually). The town is build along National Road 7 (DN7), the second most used road in Romania.


There are proofs that the mineral waters of Călimăneşti-Căciulata were used since the Roman times. The Romans built here fortifications and baths (Pons Vetus Castrum). Călimăneşti and Căciulata are documentary attested in 1388. Later, the monks from Cozia Monastery built here a place for treatment. Two great rulers of Wallachia, Mircea cel Batrân and Matei Basarab, came here to treat themselves. In the 17th century, was founded here a paper mill. The French doctor Joseph Caillat, who took temporary residence in Wallachia (1854), analyzed the Călimăneşti mineral waters in 1859, and in 1869 Napoleon III was on a cure of mineral water sent over from Călimăneşti. In 1893, the samples of mineral water from Călimăneşti-Căciulata won the gold medal at the International Foods and Mineral Waters Exhibition in Brussels. The first cure establishments are dated 1910. During the 20th century, many hotels and treatment facilities were built in Căciulata, a northern area of the town which is close to Cozia Monastery. The area around the town is full of fresh water springs and spa waters that are not in use.


Călimăneşti-Căciulata is known as a spa town, an all-season resort of national importance. The natural cure factors are the sparing climate and the springs (discovered in 1827) of sulphurous, chlorided, brominated, sodic, calcic, magnesian, mostly hypotonic mineral waters, with varying concentrations, chemical compositions and temperatures (mineralization between 0.5 and 11.5 g/l; athermal, mesothermal = 41°C, and hyperthermal = 49.5°C). The spa is recommended for the treatment of digestive diseases (chronic gastritis with hypoacidity, chronic constipation, chronic colitis), hepatobiliary diseases (biliary dyskinesis, non-calculous or calculous chronic cholecystitis, chronic hepatitis, chronic pancreatitis, conditions after operations of the liver), kidney and urinary system diseases (kidney lithiasis, chronic pyelonephritis, urinary infections), metabolic and nutrition disorders (diabetes mellitus, hyperuricemic condittions, obesity), respiratory diseases (bronchitis, chronic tracheobronchitis), peripheral neurological disorders (paresis, conditions after proliomyelitis), rheumatic conditions (spondylosis, arthrosis, polyarthrosis, tendonitis), post-traumatic conditions (after sprains, luxations, fractures), gynecological disorders (menopausal ovarian syndrome), ear, nose and throat diseases (chronic rhinosinusitis, chronic allergic laryngitis, etc.), dermatological, cardiovascular and other disorders.


The present-day facilities include modern installations for warm mineral-water baths in tubs and pools, for electrohydro-, and kinetotherapy, for aerosols and inhalations, outdoor pools with sulphurous thermal water (at Căciulata), mineral water fountains for internal cure, gyms, sauna, swimming pool on the bank of the Olt, etc. At Căciulata there are a sanatorium for children, specialized in the treatment of hepatitis sequels, and the country's only sanatorium for silicosis patients; at Calimanesti there is a clinic of the Bucharest Institute of Balneophysiotherapy and Medical Recovery, and a section of the specialized department of the Bucharest Institute of Medicine and Pharmacy. Bottling station for mineral waters. (internet infos compilation)

Olăneşti Bath

Known also under the name of “Izvoarele de Aur” (Golden Springs), Băile Olăneşti (Olăneşti Bath) is a small town in the central-southern part of Romania (Vâlcea county), on the Olăneşti River (right tributary of the Olt River), in the Sub-Carpathian depression of Olăneşti, elevation 430-475 m, 18 km NW of Rîmnicu Vîlcea (seat of Vîlcea County). The protective climate with mild winters (January average - 2.5°C) and cool summers (July average 21°C), annual average temperature: 8.5°C is very pleasant. The rainfall are moderate (750 mm annually) and the winds are rare and slow. Ozoniferous air in the surrounding forests.


Băile Olăneşti it is on the top of the spas in Romania considering the number of springs, their daily total flow rate, as well as the variety of compounds and the concentration of mineral springs. The resort has over 35 hydro mineral sources, both as natural springs and as a result of some mining and drilling works (pits and galleries). A number of 15 mineral springs are caught to be used in internal cure. Two mineral springs and four mineral water wells are used in external cure.


Băile Olăneşti is an all-season resort of national importance, with sulphurous, chlorided, slightly iodinated, brominated, sodic, calcic, magnesian mineral waters of various concentrations (oligomineral, hypotonic, isotonic, hypertonic) known from the 18th century. The first chemical tests of these mineral waters were made back in 1830. In 1873 these mineral waters got the gold medal at the International Exhibition in Vienna. The mineral waters of the springs at Băile Olăneşti are recommended in internal cure for the treatment of chronic diseases of the kidneys and urinary system (kidney lithiasis, chronic pyelonephritis, chronic glomerulonephritis), of the alimentary canal (hypoacid gastritis, biliary dyskinesis, chronic cholecystitis, chronic hepatitis etc.), metabolic and nutrition disorders (diabetes melitus, obesity etc.), respiratory (microbial or viral pneumopathy, allergic asthma, bronchitis, etc.), dermatological (incipient ichthysis, chronic eczema and rash, neurodermatitis, acne etc.) and otorhynolaryngological diseases (laryngitis, nasal and sinuses allergy), associated diseases (degenerative and abarticular rheumatic troubles, asthenic neurosis, endocrine disorders etc.).


The resort provides installations for warm baths with mineral waters in tubs, for electrotherapy and hydrotherapy, gyms, etc. There are 24 springs for drinking mineral water. Băile Olăneşti is among the few places in the country where treatments are developed for the strengthening of the body of people affected by various allergic diseases, by applying injection with isotonic sulphurous mineral water directly from the source. Not to mention, this treatment also represents a world premiere. (from www.ici.ro and www.destinatiaromania.eu)