CÂTEVA REPERE SOCIO-ECONOMICE ASOCIATE MINERITULUI SALIFER DE LA TURDA ÎNTRE SECOLELE XVI-XXI
Several Socio-Economic Components Associated with Salt Mining in Turda between the 16th and 21st Centuries

Summary/Abstract: The salt mining conducted at Turda between the 16th and 21st centuries is associated with socio-economic, demographic and architectural dynamics. The Salt Chamber managed the exploitation and transport of salt. The headquarters of the institution was located in the area of the medieval core of the city; the Museum of History currently operates in the building. After the abandonment of the salt exploitations at The Salt Baths (Băile Sărate), in the second half of the 17th century, new salt mines were opened northwest of The Salt Valley (Valea Sărată). Until the end of the 18th century, the salt deposit was mined conically (in the shape of a bell), then it was switched to the system of trapezoidal chambers (connected by wells to horizontal galleries). The mining technology was based on a wooden winch driven by 4/8 horses, the hearth of the mines was deepened manually by experienced miners employed on a 1-year contract and daily labourers from the surroundings. Closed for economic reason in 1932, the salt exploitations was used as a place of refuge during the bombings of September 1944. During the communist period, the mining galleries were used to ripen cheeses; after 2008 the salt mines was transformed into an objective with great touristic and therapeutic potential. In the 16th century, the blocks of salt from Turda were taken by carts to Decea and Sâncrai, then shipped on boats on Mureș River. Important quantities of salt were transported from 17th century to the new warehouses at Oarda de Jos and Mirăslău, or directly to Maros Portus-Alba Iulia.The traffic of salt boats was directed from Alba Iulia to the ports and large warehouses on the Lower Mures (Lipova, Arad and Szeged), the Tisa and Danube rivers. The centuries-old activities of transporting and selling salt on Mureș came to an end after the Arad-Alba Iulia railway line was commissioned (1868). The construction of a spa at Băile Sărate was started at the initiative of dr. Hankó József (supported by the pharmacist Lászlófalvi Velits Lajos and Ferdinand d’Este, Transylvania’s governor between 1835-1837), in order to benefit from the therapeutic effects of the salt lakes. The lake complex from Durgău-Valea Sărată was appreciated by the townspeople as a place of bathing and recreation before and after 1918.

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