Radio România Internațional

Tag: Praid

Tourist attractions in Harghita County

Harghita is a destination with surprising landscapes and unusual tourist attractions, especially recommended to families with children. We will be talking with Károly Szabó, executive director of the Harghita Intercommunity Development Association, about the Red Lake, one of the most beautiful in Romania, the Praid salt mine, and countless historical sites, all of which make for a delightful destination for either a complete holiday or just a weekend retreat.

Károly Szabó: “Harghita County is a mountainous region with breath-taking landscapes spreading 6,600 square km. Both the scenery and the tourist attractions here are unique in Europe: St. Ann Lake or the Praid Salt Mine, or the equally famous Red Lake, Bicaz Gorges, Tușnad and Borsec spa resorts, or the Corund pottery. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit these established tourist sites every year. But there are also less well-known places that have been growing quite beautifully in recent years, such as Toplița, Zetea and Ordoheiu Secuiesc.

The spa resort of Tușnad is dubbed “Little Switzerland. Mineral-rich hot springs, the climate and the scenic views are just some of the elements that blend in effective therapeutic programmes for heart conditions, digestive and locomotory problems and endocrine disorders. Here is Attila Pilbath, manager of the Băile Tușnad eco-tourism destination, with more details:

Attila Pilbath: “What I recommend here first and foremost is the landscape and the protected areas, which are the very reason we decided to have Tuşnad certified as an eco-tourism destination. St. Ann Lake is the only volcanic crater lake in south-east Europe. There are countless accommodation and leisure options here, from the outdoor pool up to international standards to the Tinovul Mohoș nature reserve, from insectivorous plant species that only grow here to the large number of bears that can be watched safely from special observation spots.

The Tușnad ski slope is a relatively recent addition to the list; it is 500 m long, equipped with snow cannons and ski lift, and is recommended for beginners.

Our trip around Harghita County continues, with our guide Károly Szabó, executive director of the Harghita Intercommunity Development Association:

Károly Szabó: “Praid salt mine receives over 5-600,000 tourists a year. Imagine an underground cathedral, several hundreds of square km large and 100 m high, where everything from the walls to the ceiling is carved in salt. And in contrast, the Bicaz Gorges and Red Lake offer amazing views, with fast flowing rivers that cross through the mountains. Harghitas population is 82% Hungarian, which makes it a unique place in Romania in terms of traditional customs, cuisine and costumes. The Dârjiu fortified church is a UNESCO-listed site. In turn, Șumuleu Ciuc is very important in religious terms, more than 300,000 and Pope Francis made a point of visiting it in 2019. These are just some of the reasons why the 600 certified accommodation facilities in the region are sometimes not enough to accommodate tourists in high season.

Those who seek excitement and adventure can try the 2 summer bobsleigh installations, one in Borsec and the other one in Lunca de Sus. This and many other attractions are featured in a mobile app and on a website called “Visit Harghita.

Károly Szabó: “The brand we are using to promote the region is “Visit Harghita. Our website visitharghita.com lists all the places we believe worth visiting, and also a large number of traditional craftsmen such as pottery makers and blacksmiths. We also recommend here dishes that are only cooked in Harghita, such as the “Kurtos Kalacs, a special kind of cake that has become a worldwide known brand. Harghita County is a quiet region, which is particularly attractive for families, but it also takes pride in large-scale events, such as Tusványos Festival, which has tens of thousands of participants.

The Harghita Intercommunity Development Association is founded by local communities, and is working on a lot of projects:

Károly Szabó: “As many as 45 town halls and local authorities are affiliated to our association, and all of them support tourism. In spite of this atypical period we have been through, we launched an initiative called “family friendly, under which we have certified 52 accommodation units and restaurants as being suitable for families. Another project we are working on is the 1,400-km long pilgrim route Via Maria, which starts from Austria and reaches Șumuleu Ciuc, and which we are planning to extend. We also started working with local guides, who had a difficult year in 2020. Our website visitharghita.com now includes as many as 96 programmes offered by local guides, with photos, prices, and phone numbers, so there is plenty to choose from.

That was Károly Szabó, executive director of the Harghita Intercommunity Development Association, wrapping up this weeks instalment of Travellers Guide. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

4 March 2021
A tourist in Romania’s salt mines

Tourists’ interest in salt mines has been growing in time, and the curative properties of salty air have led to the development of speleotherapy and climatotherapy, treatments that people can benefit from in the underground, in a salt mine. There are salt mines where amusement parks have been built for both children and adults, as well as relaxation areas and museums.

Daniela Pop, a marketing representative of the National Salt Company (SALROM) presented to us some of the most beautiful salt mines in Romania: “We manage seven salt mines, and five of them are open to tourists. They have access to places which are very beautifully decorated and equipped, they are genuine national treasures. We manage Praid mine in Harghita County, Slanic in Prahova county, which is the closest to Bucharest, Ocnele Mari in Valcea county and Targu Ocna and Cacica in the eastern region of Moldavia. We cover the entire country. Tourists can visit these mines any time during the year, both in summer and in winter, because temperature in the underground is constant.”

Most salt mines have set up special leisure facilities in the underground, to help people spend a pleasant time there. Here is Daniela Pop with more: ”Unless advised otherwise by a doctor, because there are people suffering from certain diseases who are not allowed to go down into a salt mine, visitors can spend two or three hours in the underground together with their children. In Praid, for instance, we have a beautiful adventure park with a zipline, a playground for children, so entire families can spend time there and breathe clean air, which has never been polluted and is very good for their health. The most popular of our salt mines is Praid, in Harghita county. The place also has a restaurant, a concert area and it hosts lots of events. The region of Sovata-Praid per se is quite beautiful. We intend to bring more services into the salt mine, such as audio books with presentations in several languages.”

Romania is famous for its salt mines. According to studies conducted recently, in Romania you will find places with the purest air on the planet. Also, Romania is home to the biggest salt mine in Europe, Prahova, which is located 120 km from Bucharest.

And, although there are similar places across Europe, the Romanian salt mines have a certain characteristic, according to the SALROM marketing representative Daniela Pop: “These are places that you won’t find everywhere in the world. There are salt mines in other countries as well, but they are not so numerous. Romanians are very keen on tradition. They keep the spirit of Christian education alive. In each salt mine from our portfolio we have an altar dedicated to saint Varvara, who is the protector of miners. We have tried to preserve as much as we could from the traditions of Romanian mining. In each salt mine visitors will find leaflets presenting a short history of mining, we want to disseminate information especially among foreign tourists. Most of them come with the purpose of discovering the history of the place, the stories related to salt extraction. I recommend everyone who happens to pass by a salt mine to go down into the mine and spend a few hours in the underground. They will surely feel the benefits of salty air. However, people with health problems should take into account the doctor’s orders.”

We’ll now be heading to northeastern Romania, in the historical region of Bucovina, to visit the Cacica salt mine. The commune of Cacica is located 18 kms away from the town of Gura Humorului and 40 kms from Suceava where salt deposits were uncovered around 1780. The Cacica salt mine was opened to visitors starting in the 19th century.

Ioana Croitoru, a tour guide, will make a short presentation of the salt mine next: “The entire salt mine was carved by hand with the help of hammers and chisels by expert miners from Poland and Ukraine. Everything there is made of salt. Cacica means ‘duck’ in Polish. The area was a marshland with lots of wild ducks, hence the name of the salt mine given by the Poles. Experts estimate that Cacica has a salt deposit that will be enough for another 500 years from now. Exploitation of the salt in Cacica started in 1791. The mine has a small Orthodox chapel with several sculptures made in salt. At the depth of 38 meters there is an artificial lake on whose borders one will spot salt crystals. Visitors will also notice at the lake a small boat in which miners used to take their kids and grandchildren for a ride. A ball room was carved at a depth of 41 meters where parties used to be organized. The room bears the name of the salt mine’s first director general, Agripa Popescu. At 75 meters in the underground there used to be a cheese storage area, given that temperature in the underground is constant, standing at 10 degrees C. Now a sports ground is being set up in the salt mine for those who come for treatment, people with asthma or with various respiratory diseases. There is also a playground for kids.”

We hope we have convinced you to contact your travel agent and book a tour of Romania’s salt mines.

22 August 2019
Romania’s Travel Fair

The fair brought together the most
cost-effective offers for cultural tourism aficionados, as well as for those who
are more into treatment, rural or business tourism. We opened the gates of the
41st edition of Romania’s Travel Fair and the holiday offers and
destinations we discovered turned out to be very interesting.

Cătălin Țibuleac, who is president of the
Danube Delta Tourism Destination Management Association, promotes the Danube
Delta and the northern part of Dobrogea. Mr Tibuleac’s stand is a large one,
large enough to include Dobrogean symbols and host traditional music and dance
shows specific to the region promoted.

Catalin
Tibuleac: The whole region
is superb catering to a wide range of tourists, who would like to visit the tourist
destinations offered by Tulcea County. Apart from the natural beauties, also worth
mentioning is the local cuisine as well as the region’s traditions and crafts.
The whole story, which is a beautiful one, is in harmony with the biodiversity
in the area because we should not forget that in Tulcea County, 14 ethnic
groups live together in harmony, each of them with their own traditions and
customs. When we speak about the Danube Delta, we speak about the bio garden.
Actually, that’s what our stand’s thematic is all about. We promote a
responsible, slow, visiting tourism, in harmony with biodiversity.

Cristina Toma is a promoter of the Buzau
Land Geopark. She has a PhD in Geology and the offer she presents is rather
unique.

Catalin
Tibuleac: The Buzau Land
Geopark lies at the crossroads of three cultures: the northern one, in
Moldavia, the southern one in Wallachia and the western one, located in
Transylvania. It is well worth visiting as we’re highly likely to find cultural
assets from all over the country. From a scientific or a geological point of
view, its value is tremendous. For a visit, I would recommend that you go there
from spring and all through autumn. Winter there is breathtaking, but the
natural assets, provided by the park’s geo-diversity, are not so visible. We
can have a chat with the locals, in winter though and they can tell very
interesting stories by the fireplace. If we intend to blend the cultural offer
into the natural one, my recommendation still remains, the right time to visit would
be spring summer and autumn.

Laura Pătru is the marketing manager of a
hotel group in Herculane. She invites us to a SPA, in an area rich in history.

Laura
Pătru: It is one of
Romanians oldest spas first documented in AD 153. It is a place replete with
legends, where nature was very generous. Here we can find 16 thermal and thermo-sulphurous
springs, which can work real miracles in terms of treatment. Our hotels have
been completely refurbished and we are trying to combine the multi-millenary
therapy, which is a Roman legacy, with state-of-the art techniques and the
cutting-edge SPA trends across Europe. Here you can find classical therapies,
but we also have our techniques, which make up a brand of our own. For instance,
saunas with local plants, following recipes that are exclusively ours, in
combinations inspired from legends about the strength of Hercules and the beauty
of Aphrodite. One of our favorite packages is the wellness one. It includes
accommodation for five nights, full board and SPA therapies. For instance, we
have salt scrubbing, aroma and peeling massage. The price for that is about 480
Euros for two people.

Daniela Pop, a marketing officer with the
National Salt Company, SALROM, told us that salt mining in Romania boasts a
millennia-old tradition and many of the mines have been turned into tourist
destinations.

Daniela
Pop: Five out of the seven
salt mines that we manage are also tourist spots. They have been beautifully
arranged to receive tourists. They are genuine natural treasures. We manage the
Praid salt mine in Harghita, Slanic Prahova, which is the nearest to Bucharest,
Ocnele Mari in Valcea County, and Targu Ocna and Cacica in Moldavia. Tourists
can visit them both in winter and in summer, because temperature inside a salt
mine is constant. Anybody, provided they are not advised by a physician
otherwise, can spend two or three hours in a salt mine, children included. In
the Praid salt mine, for instance there is an adventure park, with all the
necessary equipment, including a zipline, and a playground, because the air
down there is not at all polluted and it’s healthy to breath.

Cristi Pitulice is a managing partner with
the Transylvania Train, a 5-day tourist programme, which can be described as
very intense and catchy.

Cristi
Pitulice: It is a unique
package, which we activate once every year, for 120 passengers, who get on
board a special train, and travel along a route that starts in Brasov, passes
through Sighisoara, Medias, Alba Iulia, Sebes, Sibiu and Fagaras. So the
passengers get to experience something different every day. We explore the
Haferland (the Saxon villages area) and we also take part in traditional felt
and shingle workshops. People are very curious to understand why shingles made
200 years ago have been preserved so well and are still on traditional houses
and churches. The programme also includes wine tasting, traditional
architecture and gastronomy workshops. Local Transylvanian chefs reveal to the
passengers some of the secrets of the area’s multi-cultural cuisine. So, they
can enjoy Romanian, Saxon, Hungarian and Armenian dishes. Also, part of the
Sibiu Philharmonic Orchestra will give a special concert for the train’s
passengers.

Catalina Velniciuc, the coordinator of the
Suceava National Tourist Information and Promotion Center has extended us an
invitation to come and celebrate Easter in Bukovina, in north-eastern Romania.

Catalina
Velniciuc: In 2019,
Bukovina has a better offer than the previous year. Of course, we focus on our
monasteries, traditions and customs. We are speaking in particular of the
Easter celebrations, which are right around the corner. We have an active
tourism offer. For Easter, just like every year, the local government units
organize events focusing on our traditional Easter traditions and customs in
Bukovina. Guest houses will welcome tourists with traditional dishes, egg painting
demonstrations and trips to monasteries. It’s a genuine cultural and
gastronomic feast.

According to data provided by a travel
operator, the 6-night packages have sold the best. The average price of such a
package is 160 Euro, and two thirds of the bookings registered are for families
with children.

28 February 2019
Romania’s Travel Fair

The fair brought together the most
cost-effective offers for cultural tourism aficionados, as well as for those who
are more into treatment, rural or business tourism. We opened the gates of the
41st edition of Romania’s Travel Fair and the holiday offers and
destinations we discovered turned out to be very interesting.

Cătălin Țibuleac, who is president of the
Danube Delta Tourism Destination Management Association, promotes the Danube
Delta and the northern part of Dobrogea. Mr Tibuleac’s stand is a large one,
large enough to include Dobrogean symbols and host traditional music and dance
shows specific to the region promoted.

Catalin
Tibuleac: The whole region
is superb catering to a wide range of tourists, who would like to visit the tourist
destinations offered by Tulcea County. Apart from the natural beauties, also worth
mentioning is the local cuisine as well as the region’s traditions and crafts.
The whole story, which is a beautiful one, is in harmony with the biodiversity
in the area because we should not forget that in Tulcea County, 14 ethnic
groups live together in harmony, each of them with their own traditions and
customs. When we speak about the Danube Delta, we speak about the bio garden.
Actually, that’s what our stand’s thematic is all about. We promote a
responsible, slow, visiting tourism, in harmony with biodiversity.

Cristina Toma is a promoter of the Buzau
Land Geopark. She has a PhD in Geology and the offer she presents is rather
unique.

Catalin
Tibuleac: The Buzau Land
Geopark lies at the crossroads of three cultures: the northern one, in
Moldavia, the southern one in Wallachia and the western one, located in
Transylvania. It is well worth visiting as we’re highly likely to find cultural
assets from all over the country. From a scientific or a geological point of
view, its value is tremendous. For a visit, I would recommend that you go there
from spring and all through autumn. Winter there is breathtaking, but the
natural assets, provided by the park’s geo-diversity, are not so visible. We
can have a chat with the locals, in winter though and they can tell very
interesting stories by the fireplace. If we intend to blend the cultural offer
into the natural one, my recommendation still remains, the right time to visit would
be spring summer and autumn.

Laura Pătru is the marketing manager of a
hotel group in Herculane. She invites us to a SPA, in an area rich in history.

Laura
Pătru: It is one of
Romanians oldest spas first documented in AD 153. It is a place replete with
legends, where nature was very generous. Here we can find 16 thermal and thermo-sulphurous
springs, which can work real miracles in terms of treatment. Our hotels have
been completely refurbished and we are trying to combine the multi-millenary
therapy, which is a Roman legacy, with state-of-the art techniques and the
cutting-edge SPA trends across Europe. Here you can find classical therapies,
but we also have our techniques, which make up a brand of our own. For instance,
saunas with local plants, following recipes that are exclusively ours, in
combinations inspired from legends about the strength of Hercules and the beauty
of Aphrodite. One of our favorite packages is the wellness one. It includes
accommodation for five nights, full board and SPA therapies. For instance, we
have salt scrubbing, aroma and peeling massage. The price for that is about 480
Euros for two people.

Daniela Pop, a marketing officer with the
National Salt Company, SALROM, told us that salt mining in Romania boasts a
millennia-old tradition and many of the mines have been turned into tourist
destinations.

Daniela
Pop: Five out of the seven
salt mines that we manage are also tourist spots. They have been beautifully
arranged to receive tourists. They are genuine natural treasures. We manage the
Praid salt mine in Harghita, Slanic Prahova, which is the nearest to Bucharest,
Ocnele Mari in Valcea County, and Targu Ocna and Cacica in Moldavia. Tourists
can visit them both in winter and in summer, because temperature inside a salt
mine is constant. Anybody, provided they are not advised by a physician
otherwise, can spend two or three hours in a salt mine, children included. In
the Praid salt mine, for instance there is an adventure park, with all the
necessary equipment, including a zipline, and a playground, because the air
down there is not at all polluted and it’s healthy to breath.

Cristi Pitulice is a managing partner with
the Transylvania Train, a 5-day tourist programme, which can be described as
very intense and catchy.

Cristi
Pitulice: It is a unique
package, which we activate once every year, for 120 passengers, who get on
board a special train, and travel along a route that starts in Brasov, passes
through Sighisoara, Medias, Alba Iulia, Sebes, Sibiu and Fagaras. So the
passengers get to experience something different every day. We explore the
Haferland (the Saxon villages area) and we also take part in traditional felt
and shingle workshops. People are very curious to understand why shingles made
200 years ago have been preserved so well and are still on traditional houses
and churches. The programme also includes wine tasting, traditional
architecture and gastronomy workshops. Local Transylvanian chefs reveal to the
passengers some of the secrets of the area’s multi-cultural cuisine. So, they
can enjoy Romanian, Saxon, Hungarian and Armenian dishes. Also, part of the
Sibiu Philharmonic Orchestra will give a special concert for the train’s
passengers.

Catalina Velniciuc, the coordinator of the
Suceava National Tourist Information and Promotion Center has extended us an
invitation to come and celebrate Easter in Bukovina, in north-eastern Romania.

Catalina
Velniciuc: In 2019,
Bukovina has a better offer than the previous year. Of course, we focus on our
monasteries, traditions and customs. We are speaking in particular of the
Easter celebrations, which are right around the corner. We have an active
tourism offer. For Easter, just like every year, the local government units
organize events focusing on our traditional Easter traditions and customs in
Bukovina. Guest houses will welcome tourists with traditional dishes, egg painting
demonstrations and trips to monasteries. It’s a genuine cultural and
gastronomic feast.

According to data provided by a travel
operator, the 6-night packages have sold the best. The average price of such a
package is 160 Euro, and two thirds of the bookings registered are for families
with children.

28 February 2019
Kurort Sovata in Ostsiebenbürgen: Touristenmagnet das ganze Jahr über

Der bekannteste Kurort Siebenbürgens liegt in der Mitte des Gurghiu-Gebirges (Kreis Mureş). Die Gebirge rund um den Kurort sind mit dichten Wäldern bedeckt. Er liegt in einer Seehöhe von 475-600 m. Der Kurort ist seit Jahrhunderten für seine heilenden Eigenschaften bekannt.

Sovata ist ein besonderer Ort, der zu jeder Jahreszeit etwas zu bieten hat. Die erste schriftliche Erwähnung des Ortes stammt aus dem Jahr 1578. Im Jahr 1850 wurde Sovata zum Kurort erklärt. Zwischen 1860 und 1880 sind im Ort viele von den heutigen Villen erbaut worden. Die Touristen können im Sommer zahlreiche Attraktionen genie‎ßen, darunter die Salzseen, den Salzbergwerk oder die Keramik von Corund. Es lohnt sich, die Keramikherstellung direkt im Dorf Corund zu erleben. Es ist eine spannende Erfahrung. Im Winter stehen den Urlaubern zwei Schipisten sowie eine Langlaufloipe und eine Rodelbahn zur Verfügung.

Die Seen in Sovata sind berühmt für ihre heilenden Eigenschaften. Bemerkenswert ist vor allem der Ursu-Salzsee. Das Wasser dieses Sees ist zu einer Besonderheit des Kurortes geworden. Dank der Sonnenhitze, die auf die Oberfläche des Sees strahlt, wird das Salzwasser in Schichten erhitzt. So beträgt die Temperatur des Seewassers 10–20° C an der Oberfläche, 30–40° C in 1 m Tiefe und 40–60° C in 1,5 m Tiefe. Das im von der Sonne erwärmten See befindliche Chlor-Natrium-Mineralwasser wird als natürlicher Heilfaktor betrachtet. Auch der Heilschlamm aus dem See hat therapeutische Wirkung.

In Sovata gibt es insgesamt sechs Salz- und zwei Sü‎ßwasserseen. Ein weiterer Salzsee verwandelte sich im Laufe der Zeit zu einem Sumpf (Lacul Şerpilor, dt. Schlangensee). Die meisten Seen entstanden durch den Einsturz der in der Umgebung liegenden Salzdolinen. Ihre Entstehung ist allerdings auch mit der ehemaligen Salzgewinnung in Zusammenhang zu bringen.

Der bekannteste See in Sovata ist Lacul Ursu (dt. Bärensee). Er entstand 1875 durch den Einsturz einer Salzdoline und wurde nach seiner Form benannt. Der Salzsee und das um ihn herum liegende dicht bepflanzte Gebiet wurde zum Schutzgebiet. Es erstreckt sich auf 79 Hektar, wobei der See 4 Hektar einnimmt. Eine weitere beeindruckende Sehenswürdigkeit in der Region ist der Salzberg, der bis in Sovata hinein reicht. Er hat eine Länge von 1600 m und eine Breite von 500 m.

Bei einem Aufenthalt in Sovata ist ein Besuch im Dorf Corund ein Muss. Hier liegt eines der bedeutendsten Keramikherstellungszentren in Siebenbürgen. Die Touristen haben die Möglichkeit, den Kunsthandwerkern bei ihrer Arbeit zuzuschauen und sich sogar im Fertigungsprozess einzubringen. Jeder Haushalt im Dorf Corund ist an und für sich eine Töpferei-Werkstatt im Kleinformat.

Das ehemalige Salzbergwerk von Praid liegt nur 10 km von Sovata entfernt.

Die Ortschaft Praid ist nicht nur wegen des Salzbergs und Salzbergwerkes bekannt (man kann die Salzstollen besichtigen), sondern auch für die vielen Angebote unter den Stichworten Urlaub am Bauernhof“. Was die Unterkunft betrifft, stehen den Gästen viele sanierte und modernisierte alte Hotels und Villen mit zwei, drei und vier Sternen sowie Spa-Hotels zur Verfügung.

15 November 2017
Harghita zu Pferd entdeckt

Wir laden Sie heute ein, zusammen mit uns den im Osten Siebenbürgens gelegenen Landkreis Harghita zu erkunden. Weite Teile des Kreises Harghita liegen in den Bergen, weshalb ein Reitausflug in der Region besonders taugt. Die Berglandschaft ist auch der Grund, weshalb ein Kleinunternehmer den ersten Islandpferde-Reithof in Rumänien gründete. Die Islandpferde sind etwa 1,40 m gro‎ß. Sie sind leicht und angenehm zu reiten. 2-3 Stunden Reitunterricht reichen aus, um danach einen kurzen Reitausflug zu unternehmen, so unser Gesprächspartner, András Albert. Er schickte eine Einladung zum Reiten hinaus — im Dorf Izvoarele, in der Gemeinde Zetea, können nämlich spannende Reitausflüge unternommen werden. Dazu András Albert:

Wir befinden uns in einer Gebirgsregion, genauer am westlichen Berghang im Harghita-Gebirge, in einer Höhe von 1.000 m. Hier gibt es viele Attraktionen, die für das Szeklerland charakteristisch sind — historische Denkmäler und Kirchen aus dem 13.-14. Jahrhundert, die Region Harghita-Mădăraş, der Stausee Zetea — alle einen Besuch wert.“

Die Ostkarpaten beherbergen zwischen tiefgelegenen Tälern und reichen Wäldern wahrhafte Paradiesecken. András Albert hat eine besondere Leidenschaft für Wildtiere und Jagd. In diesem Zusammenhang schaffte er einen Zoopark, der sich auf 320 Hektar erstreckt. Darmhirsche, Rehe und Mufflons sind hier zu sehen. Die im Zoopark lebenden Tiere sind teilweise gezähmt, damit sie die Besucher in ihrem natürlichen Lebensraum füttern können. Einmal im Dorf Izvoarele angekommen, ist ein Besuch im Zoopark unerlässlich. Dazu András Albert:

Die von uns organisierten Ausflüge dauern etwa 2-3 Stunden und erstrecken sich auf 10-20 Km. Unsere Ausflüge gehen durch den Zoopark, der sich auf fast 400 Hektar erstreckt. Hier kann die wilde Natur entdeckt werden. Ein besonderer Ort ist Baia Urşilor, ein Bach, der rückwärts flie‎ßt. Wir bieten auch 6-8-stündige Ausflüge an. Es werden 25-50 Km zurückgelegt. Die Ausflüge gehen durch die benachbarten Dörfer oder führen an den Ruinen ehemaliger Festungen vorbei, wie z.B. der Zetea-Burg oder der Tartod-Burg. Unser Angebot umfasst auch Mehrtagesausflüge, bei denen 200-300 Km zurückgelegt werden. Diese werden vor allem von ausländischen Touristengruppen — meistens aus Schweden, Österreich, Ungarn oder Deutschland — angefragt.“

Die Touristen werden bei den vorgeschlagenen Ausritten von einem erfahrenen Reiseführer begleitet. Zu Pferd können auch weiter gelegene Sehenswürdigkeiten erreicht werden, wie z.B. Der Rote See (rum. Lacul Roşu), bekannt unter Einwohnern als Ghilcoş-See. Der spektakuläre Rote See verdankt seinen Namen einer Naturkatastrophe. 1838 stürzte durch einen Erdrutsch ein bewachsener Steilhang in den eher seichten See. Die Baumstümpfe, die aus dem Wasser ragen, verleihen dem Ganzen eine schauerliche Atmosphäre. Dazu passt das Gerücht, dass der Erdrutsch Wanderer mitgerissen haben soll, die den See mit ihrem Blut rot färbten.

Sowohl der einzigartige Lacul Roşu (Roter See) als auch die spektakuläre Bicaz-Klamm gehören mit ihrem fantastischen Landschaftsbild zu den sehenswertesten Touristenzielen in der Region. Die 10 Kilometer lange Bicaz-Klamm (rum. Cheile Bicazului) zählt zu den spektakulärsten Gebirgsstra‎ßen Rumäniens. Direkt an der Stra‎ße streben schroffe Steilwände bis zu 300 Meter nahezu senkrecht in die Höhe und schaffen ein fantastisches Landschaftsbild. In den steilen Felsen, die die Bicaz-Klamm begrenzen, verbergen sich rund 120 Klettersteige. Nicht selten erspäht man beim Vorbeifahren mutige Kletterer, die mitten in der Steilwand hängen.

Ebenfalls in Harghita kann auch das Salzbergwerk Praid, eines der grö‎ßten Salzbergwerke in Rumänien, besichtigt werden. Zwar ist die Naturlandschaft bezaubernd, doch wichtiger sind die bei Atemwegkrankheiten heilenden Eigenschaften des Salzbergwerkes. Unweit liegt auch der Kurort Băile Tuşnad, bekannt für die Behandlungen mit Mineralwasser.

Zum Schluss können wir nur hoffen, dass wir Sie überzeugen konnten, möglichst bald in den Sattel zu steigen für einen Reitausflug durch Siebenbürgen.

15 March 2017
Salinas de Rumanía

Rumanía es uno de los mayores productores de sal del mundo y la explotación de la sal es un oficio muy antiguo. Las salinas son un atractivo turístico cada vez más conocido y las propiedades del aire salino han conllevado la creación de la espeleoterapia y la climatoterapia, unos tratamientos bajo tierra, en cuevas y minas de sal. Hoy entraremos en algunas de las salinas más conocidas de Rumanía. Iniciamos nuestro viaje en el distrito de Bacău, en la localidad turística de Târgu Ocna. La explotación de la sal en su forma actual comenzó en Târgu Ocna hace mucho tiempo, alrededor del año 1967, pero el turismo tomó otro rumbo en el año 2005. Fue el año en el que se valoró la iglesia Sfânta Varvara (Santa Varvara), ha afirmado Ilie Ion, director de la salina Târgu Ocna:

“Se había construido en el año 1992, según un proyecto de los empleados de la salina Târgu Ocna, en seis meses. En aquella época fue un monumento único, tanto en Europa como en Rumanía. Para verla, el turista desciende 240 metros bajo tierra, donde se desarrolla nuestro centro de turismo y ocio, en una superficie de 13 mil hectáreas. Ofrecemos las condiciones óptimas para la relajación, el ejercicio en los terrenos de minifútbol, baloncesto, tenis y tenis de mesa. Al mismo tiempo, se pueden tratar también las enfermedades respiratorias. El lago con agua salada que hay aquí y la catarata completan existosamente un paisaje fascinante. Para los niños hemos creado espacios de juego con cunas, toboganes y mecedoras. Además, para los pequeños visitantes hemos intentado adoptar una serie de juegos mecánicos o billar, asegurar espacios para mini bicicletas, y en el futuro aseguraremos también espacios para patinetas y patines sobre ruedas.”

En el centro turístico se puede visitar a continuación el Museo de la Sal, según ha añadido Ilie Ion, director de la Salina Târgu Ocna:

“En el museo se pueden ver datos sobre el inicio y la evolución de la explotación, y también sobre la elaboración de la sal. Podemos leer sobre sus virtudes terapéuticas y podemos admirar muestras interesantes, que recuerdan un pasado impresionante de las explotaciones de sal en Târgu Ocna, cuya tradición se remonta a 1380. A lo largo de los años hemos recibido visitantes de todos los continentes. Todo el mundo se queda profundamente impresionado. Pocos turistas extranjeros han tenido la oportunidad de visitar una salina. En Rumanía hay varias, por esto nos parecen muchas veces muy interesantes. Pero los turistas extranjeros comparten sus impresiones con mucha emoción tras una visita al subterráneo. Por ejemplo, he tenido la oportunidad de hablar con unos japoneses. Hablamos mediante un intérprete, y si éste no conseguía expresar totalmente la emoción que vivían aquellos visitantes de Japón, lo hacía la expresión de su cara y de sus miradas.”

Nos dirigimos al norte de Rumanía, al distrito de Suceava, la localidad de Cacica. Ésta fue mencionada por primera vez en los documentos en el siglo XVIII. En Cacica, la administración austríaca abrió una explotación intensiva y eficiente de sal. La sal se explotaba bajo la forma de bloques, por corte manual, y la primera habitación para la explotación de la sal gema se creó a 27 metros de profundidad. Alrededor del año 1817 comenzó la explotación del yacimiento. He aquí lo que ha afirmado Ioana Croitoriu, guía en la salina Cacica:

“Cacica significa “pato” en polaco. Fue un terreno pantanoso con muchos patos salvajes y los polacos lo nombraron así. Los especialistas estiman que aquí tenemos reservas de sal para otros 500 años. La explotación comenzó en el año 1791. Tenemos aquí una capilla pequeña, ortodoxa, con algunas esculturas en sal. A 38 metros de profundidad tenemos un lago artificial. En su margen se forman cristales de sal. Allí hay también una pequeña barca en la que los mineros, en su tiempo libre, paseaban a sus niños, a sus nietos. A 41 metros de profundidad tenemos una sala de baile, donde los mineros organizaban bailes y fiestas. Se llama Agripa Popescu, quien fue el primer director general. Después se baja a 75 metros donde al principio estaba también el almacén de queso. Como hay una temperatura constante de 10 grados, el queso se conservaba muy bien en la mina. Ahora hay un terreno deportivo para aquellos que vienen al tratamiento, los enfermos de asma, con enfermedades del aparato respiratorio. Hay también espacios de juego para los niños.”

Nuestro último descanso será en Transilvania. Considerando que los antiguos asentamientos de aquí datan del año 1100, Praid es un asentamiento relativamente “joven”, siendo mencionado por primera vez en los documentos en el año 1564. Pero es la mayor aldea del distrito Harghita. A pesar del lindo paisaje montañoso y el aspecto arcaico, Praid se conoce sobre todo por la salina, una verdadera ciudad subterránea. Según los últimos datos comunicados por la administración de la salina de Praid, el número de turistas aumentó este año en 35 mil, frente al mismo periodo del año pasado. Y el promedio de aquellos que bajan al subterráneo es de entre 3.000 y 4.000 personas al día. El paisaje subterráneo es impresionante, ha afirmado Seprodi Zoltan, director de la salina de Praid:

“Se entra en autobús. La ruta de este autobús bajo tierra es de 1,2 kilómetros. Baja aproximadamente 100 metros desde la superficie. De allí, los turistas van por las escaleras. Hay 240 peldaños por los que van para llegar a una habitación más antigua. Esta tiene un sistema de galerías con una longitud de aproximadamente 600 metros, con 20 metros de ancho. La altura es de 14 metros. Estas dimensiones son impresionantes. Un 80% de los turistas extranjeros son de Hungría. Los demás son turistas de todos los países de Europa, incluso hemos tenido grupos de Asia y de América. Al entrar en contacto con ellos, nos enteramos de que están asombrados de lo que hay en el subterráneo. Quiero enviar un mensaje a todos sus oyentes. Son bienvenidos aquí y si desean quedarse boquiabiertos, visiten entonces Praid y la salina.”

Esperamos haberles convencido de lo inédito de una estancia en las salinas de Rumanía y les esperamos la próxima vez con un nuevo destino.

10 November 2016
Romania’s Salt Mines

Romania is one of the largest salt producers in the world, boasting a long tradition in the field of salt exploitation. Salt mines are an increasingly popular tourist attraction, as the curative properties of salty air have led to the emergence of speleotherapy and climate therapy, underground treatment procedures unfolding in caves and salt mines.

We start our journey in Targu Ocna, Bacau County. The exploitation of salt, in its current form, started in Targu Ocna a long time ago, around 1967. However, tourism took a fresh turn in the region as of 2005. It was the year when the Saint Varvara church was put to good use, says the director of the Targu Ocna Salt mine, Ilie Ion: ”It was rebuilt in 1992, within six months, based on a project developed by the employees of the Targu Ocna Salt Mine. Back then, it was a unique monument in Romania, as well as in the whole of Europe. If tourists want to see it, they should descend 240 meters underground, where our tourism and leisure facilities are operational, on a surface of 13 thousand hectares. We offer perfect conditions for relaxation, to all those who want to stay fit, and we also have courts for mini-football, basketball, lawn tennis and table tennis. Visitors can also undergo treatment for respiratory conditions. A salty water lake and a waterfall successfully complete a breathtakingly beautiful scenery. For children, we laid out playgrounds with cradles, toboggans and rocking chairs. Furthermore, for the little visitors we brought over some arcade machine games and snooker tables, we tried to create some areas for mini-bicycles, and intend to set up an area for skateboarders and roller skaters.”

The Salt museum is also available to visitors, the director of the Targu Ocna Salt mine, has also said: ”At the museum, we put on show interesting objects, illustrative of the genesis and evolution of salt exploitation and processing. We make available detailed information on its therapeutic values, giving tourists the chance to admire interesting exhibits, which stand proof of the impressive past of salt exploitation in Targu Ocna, with a tradition dating as far back as 1380. Throughout the years, visitors from all continents came over to visit the place. Everybody is deeply impressed with what they see. Very few tourists have had the chance to visit a salt mine before. And we have several such places in Romania, which are of high interest for foreign visitors, who are very emotional when sharing their impressions. I had the chance to talk to some Japanese tourists, for instance. We had a conversation by courtesy of an interpreter, which was unable to render the visitors’ emotions, but I saw the expression on their faces and the sparkle in their eyes.”

Now we invite you to northern Romania, to the town of Cacica in Suceava county, a place first documented in the 18th century. The Austrian administration opened in Cacica an intensive and effective salt exploitation. The salt was manually carved in block-shaped pieces and the first exploitation chamber was built at a depth of 27 meters. The exploitation per se started around 1817.

Ioana Croitoriu, guide at Cacica salt mine has more: ”Cacica means ‘duck’ in Polish. There used to be a swamp area here, a habitat for many wild ducks, hence the name given by the Poles. According to experts we have salt reserves here for another 500 years. Exploitation started in 1791. We have a small Orthodox chapel with sculptures in salt and an artificial lake at a depth of 38 meters. Salt crystals are forming around it. There is also a boat on the lake, which was used by the miners to take their children or grandchildren on a ride in their leisure time. We also have a ballroom for balls and parties. It bears the name of Agripa Popescu, who was the first director general. Then there is another level, 75 meter deep, which used to serve as a maturation storeroom for cheese, thanks to its constant temperature of ten degrees. Now there is a sports ground there for those seeking treatment for asthma and other respiratory conditions. There are also play grounds for children.”

We make our last stopover in Transylvania. Given that some of the old towns and villages here are dating back to the year 1100, Praid is quite a young settlement, first documented around 1564. However, Praid is the largest commune in Harghita County. In spite of the beautiful landscapes here and the quaint settlements, the place is best known for its salt mine, which is actually a genuine underground town. According to the latest data released by the administration of the Praid salt mine, the number of tourists has risen by 35 thousand this year as compared to the same period last year. The daily average of visitors is between 3,000-4,000 people.

According to Seprodi Zoltan, the director of the salt mine, the underground landscape is impressive: “A bus will take you 1.2 kilometres down into the salt mine, about 100 metres below the surface. From there, tourists are taking the stairs, about 240 flights, to reach an old room, which is the starting point of a 600-meter tunnel network. These tunnels are 20 meters wide and 14 meters tall. These are impressive dimensions. Roughly, 80 percent of the tourists come from Hungary; the rest are from almost all European countries and we’ve even had groups from Asia and America. We talked to them and realized they were quite impressed with the salt mine and with what they see down there. I would like to convey a message to all your listeners that they are welcome here and if they want to be impressed, they should go and visit the salt mine in Praid.”

10 November 2016
Saline din România

România este unul dintre cei mai mari
producători de sare din lume, iar exploatarea sării este o ocupaţie foarte
veche. Salinele sunt o atracţie turistică tot mai răspândită, iar proprietăţile
aerului salin au dus la apariţia speleoterapiei şi a climatoterapiei,
tratamente în subteran, în peşteri şi în mine de sare. Astăzi intrăm în câteva
dintre cele mai renumite saline din România.

Începem călătoria noastră în judeţul
Bacău, în staţiunea turistică Târgu
Ocna. Exploatarea sării în forma actuală a început în Târgu Ocna de mult timp,
cam de prin 1967, însă turismul ia o altă turnură în anul 2005. A fost anul
când a fost pusă în valoare biserica Sfânta Varvara, spune Ilie Ion, directorul
Salinei Târgu Ocna. Aceasta fusese construită în anul 1992, în
baza unui proiect al salariaţilor Salina Târgu Ocna, în şase luni. La vremea
respectivă, a fost un monument unic, atât în Europa cât şi în România. Pentru a
o vedea, turistul va coborî 240 de metri în subteran, unde se desfăşoară baza
noastră de turism şi de agrement, pe o suprafaţă de 13 mii de metri pătraţi. Oferim condiţii optime pentru relaxare, mişcare pe terenurile de
minifotbal, baschet, tenis de câmp, tenis de masă. În acelaşi timp, se pot
trata şi afecţiunile respiratorii. Lacul cu apă sărată, existent aici, cascada,
completează cu succes un peisaj fascinant. Pentru copii, am amenajat spaţii de
joacă dotate cu leagăne, tobogane, balansoare. Mai mult, pentru micuţii
vizitatori, am încercat să adoptăm o serie de jocuri mecanice sau biliard, să
asigurăm spaţii pentru mini biciclete, iar în viitor vom asigura şi spaţii
pentru skateboard şi patine cu rotile.

În baza de turism se poate vedea, în
continuare, Muzeul Sării, continuă Ilie Ion, directorul Salinei Târgu Ocna: În cadrul acestuia, putem vedea date
despre geneza şi evoluţia exploatării, dar, totodată, şi despre prelucrarea
sării. Putem citi despre virtuţile sale terapeutice şi putem admira exponate
interesante, ce amintesc despre un trecut impresionant al exploatărilor de sare
de la Târgu Ocna, a căror tradiţie datează încă din 1380. De-a lungul anilor
ne-au trecut pragul vizitatori de pe toate continentele. Toată lumea rămâne
profund impresionată. Puţini turişti străini au avut ocazia să viziteze o
salină. În România sunt mai multe, de aceea nouă ni se par de multe ori foarte
interesante. Însă turiştii străini îşi împărtăşesc impresiile cu mare emoţie
după o vizită în subteran. Am avut ocazia să discut cu nişte japonezi, de exemplu.
Am discutat printr-un translator, iar dacă
acesta nu reuşea pe deplin să scoată în evidenţă emoţia pe care o trăiau
acei vizitatori din Japonia, am rămas impresionat de expresia feţei lor şi de
privirile lor.

Ne îndreptăm spre
nordul României, spre judeţul Suceava, localitatea Cacica. Aceasta a fost
menţionată în documente pentru prima dată în secolul al XVIII-lea. La Cacica,
administraţia austriacă a deschis o exploatare intensivă şi eficientă a sării.
Sarea se exploata sub formă de blocuri, prin tăiere manuală, iar prima cameră
de exploatare a sării geme a apărut la o adâncime de 27 de metri. Din jurul
anului 1817, a început exploatarea zăcământului. Ioana Croitoriu, ghid la
salina Cacica. Cacica înseamnă raţă în limba polonă. A fost
un teren mlăştinos cu multe raţe sălbatice, iar polonezii i-au pus acest nume.
Specialiştii estimează că aici avem rezerve de sare pentru încă 500 de ani.
Exploatarea a început în anul 1791. Avem aici o capelă mică, ortodoxă, cu
câteva sculpturi în sare. La 38 de metri adâncime avem un lac artificial. Pe
marginea acestuia se formează cristale de sare. Acolo se află şi o bărcuţă cu
care minerii, în timpul liber, îşi plimbau copiii, nepoţii. La 41 de metri
adâncime avem o sală de bal, unde minerii făceau baluri şi petreceri. Ea poartă
numele Agripa Popescu, care a fost primul director general. Apoi, se coboară la
75 de metri, unde, la început, a fost şi depozitul de brânză. Fiind o
temperatură constantă, de zece grade, brânza se păstra foarte bine în mină.
Acum este amenajat un teren de sport pentru cei care vin la tratament, cei
bolnavi de astm, cu afecţiuni ale aparatului respirator. Există, de asemenea,
şi spaţii de joacă pentru copii.

Ultima noastră oprire este în
Transilvania. Considerând că aşezările vechi de aici datează încă din anii
1100, Praidul se clasifică drept o aşezare relativ tânără, fiind
atestată din anul 1564. Însă e cea mai mare comună din judeţul Harghita. În
ciuda peisajului montan frumos şi al aspectului arhaic, Praidul este cunoscut
mai ales pentru salină, un adevărat oraş subteran. Conform ultimelor date
comunicate de administraţia salinei din Praid, numărul turiştilor a crescut cu
35 de mii în acest an, faţă de aceeaşi perioadă a anului trecut. Iar
media celor care coboară în subteran este cuprinsă între 3.000 şi 4.000
de persoane pe zi. Peisajul subteran este impresionant spune Seprodi Zoltan,
directorul salinei Praid. Se intră cu un autobuz. Traseul
acestui autobuz în subteran este de 1,2 km. Coboară cam 100 de metri de la
suprafaţă. De acolo, turiştii merg pe scări. Sunt 240 de trepte pe care le
parcurg pentru a ajunge într-o cameră mai veche. Aceasta are un sistem de
galerii în lungime de aproximativ 600 de metri, cu 20 de metri lăţime.
Înălţimea este de 14 metri. Aceste dimensiuni sunt impresionante. Turiştii
străini, în proporţie de 80% sunt din Ungaria. Restul sunt turişti din toate
ţările din Europa, chiar şi din Asia am avut grupuri, din America. Intrând în
contact cu ei, aflăm că sunt uimiţi de ceea ce se află în subteran. Tuturor
ascultătorilor dvs. vreau să le trimit un mesaj. Aici sunt bineveniţi şi, dacă
vor să rămână cu gura căscată, atunci, să treacă pragul Praidului şi al
salinei.

În speranţa că v-am convins de ineditul unui sejur prin salinele
României, vă aşteptăm şi data viitoare cu o nouă destinaţie.

10 November 2016
Salzbergwerk Praid – spektakulär und wohltuend für Gesundheit

Wir laden Sie heute auf eine Reise in eine historische Provinz Rumäniens ein — Siebenbürgen. Die ältesten Siedlungsnachweise in der Region stammen rund um das Jahr 1100. Demnach kann Praid als relativ junge“ Siedlung eingestuft werden, da sie erstmals 1564 urkundlich erwähnt wurde. Praid ist die grö‎ßte Gemeinde im Landkreis Harghita. Allerdings ziehen nicht die spektakuläre Berglandschaft oder der archaische Aspekt der Ortschaft die Touristen hierher an, sondern vielmehr das Salzbergwerk Praid, entwickelt zu einer unterirdischen Stadt im Kleinformat.

Laut von der Verwaltung des Salzbergwerks Praid mitgeteilten Daten hätten dieses Jahr 35.000 mehr Touristen die Salzgrube im Vergleich zum Vorjahr besucht. Durchschnittlich steigen täglich zwischen 3000 und 4000 Besucher in das Salzbergwerk hinab. Ein Besuch im Salzbergwerk dient nicht blo‎ß zur Entspannung, sondern hat auch heilende Auswirkungen. Im Salzbergwerk gibt es mehrere Möglichkeiten, die Freizeit unterhaltsam zu verbringen. Die Besuchergalerie verfügt über Kinderspielplätze, einen 3D-Kinosaal sowie über speziell hergerichtete Plätze, wo die kleinsten Besucher ihrer Kreativität freien Lauf lassen können. Aktive Besucher sind auch willkommen. Mehrere Tischtennis-Tische stehen den Sportliebhabern zur Verfügung. Das Angebot wird durch geleitete Gymnastikstunden ergänzt. Es sei sogar ratsam, Sport im Salzbergwerk zu treiben, denn somit wird mehr salzhaltige Luft eingeatmet. Luft mit hohem Salzgehalt ist optimal bei Atenwegserkrankungen, dient aber auch zu vorbeugenden Zwecken. Dazu gibt es in der Welt unter Tage auch drahtlosen Internetzugang. Ein nettes Café lädt die Touristen auf eine Tasse Tee oder Kaffee ein. Die hungrigen Gäste dürfen sich auch nicht unzufrieden abwenden, denn das hiesige Restaurant bietet leckere Speisen an. Die unterirdische Landschaft sei beeindruckend, so Zoltán Seprodi, der Leiter des Salzbergwerks Praid:

Die Besucher werden mit einem Bus in das Salzbergwerk hineingefahren. Der Bus fährt eine 1,2 Km lange Strecke. Der Höhenunterschied ist von etwa 100 m. Von dem Ort, wo sie abgesetzt werden, müssen die Besucher zu Fu‎ß laufen. In einer ersten Etappe sind 240 Treppen hinabzusteigen. Diese führen in eine alte Kammer. Von hier beginnt ein Stollen- und Galerienkomplex mit einer Länge von rund 600 m und einer Breite von 20 m. Die Höhe dieser Räume erreicht gelegentlich 14 m. Es ist wirklich beeindruckend.“

Die Anfänge des Salzbergwerks Praid werden kann man bis in die römische Zeit zurückverfolgen. Manche Unterlagen erwähnen vier Amphitheater-Tagebauwerke. Darüber hinaus befindet sich in der Nähe der Gemeinde Praid der sogenannte Salzberg. Der Salzberg ist ein geologisches Schutzgebiet, das sich auf etwa 60 Hektar erstreckt. Hier wachsen seltene Pflanzen, manche von ihnen sind sogar einzigartig in Rumänien. Doch wer besucht das Salzbergwerk? Dazu Zoltán Seprodi, der Leiter des Salzbergwerks Praid:

Die ausländischen Touristen, die das Salzbergwerk besuchen, kommen zu 80% aus Ungarn. Die übrigen 20% kommen aus allen Ecken Europas, sogar aus der ganzen Welt. Es gab einige Besuchergruppen aus Asien und den USA. Die meisten sind überrascht von dem, was sie hier finden. Ihren Zuhörern möchte ich sagen, dass sie bei uns herzlichst willkommen sind. Falls sie etwas Erstaunliches erleben möchten, sollten sie in das Salzbergwerk Praid hineingehen. Sie werden es sicherlich nicht bereuen!“

Doch vor dem Besuch im Salzbergwerk Praid, einige nützliche Informationen: die Lufttemperatur in der Welt unter Tage bleibt konstant bei rund 16 Grad. Falls Sie unter Tuberkulose, Bluthochdruck, ischämischer Herzkrankheit oder Klaustrophobie leiden, sollten Sie auf den Besuch besser verzichten. Das Salzbergwerk ist im Zeitraum 8.00 – 14.50 Uhr für Besucher offen.

Ein Besuch im Salzbergwerk ist bei Atemwegerkrankungen wohltuend. Das Mikroklima in der Salzgrube kommt allerdings auch denen zugute, die nicht unbedingt krank sind. Es entspannt und bringt einen wieder zu Kräften.

26 October 2016
Les gagnants du jeu-concours de RRI – « Les salines de Roumanie »

Chers amis, RRI vous a invités à tenter votre chance à un nouveau jeu-concours, « Les salines de Roumanie », avec des prix à la clé, bien sûr. Vous deviez envoyer vos réponses jusqu’au 28 février 2013, le cachet de la poste faisant foi. Cette fois-ci, il était dédié à lune des principales ressources naturelles de la Roumanie – le sel, ressource économique mais aussi de santé, grâce aux propriétés curatives de lair salin.

Le jeu a suscité un grand intérêt. Aussi, avons-nous reçu 429 réponses correctes ! Nous vous remercions de votre participation et vous attendons nombreux à nos prochains jeux-concours !

Le grand prix consiste en un séjour de 10 jours (9 nuitées), en pension complète, pour deux personnes, du 15 au 24 mai 2013, dans quatre régions de Roumanie connues pour l’exploitation du sel : Slanic Prahova (comté de Prahova), Targu Ocna (comté de Bacau), Praid (comté de Harghita) et Turda (comté de Cluj).

Les sponsors de notre jeu-concours sont : SC Salina Turda Durgău SA, la Pension « Elena » et le motel « Anda » de Targu Ocna. Nos partenaires sont : le Conseil départemental Bacau, le Conseil départemental Prahova, la mairie de la ville de Ploiesti, la mairie de la ville de Turda, l’Association de développement intercommunautaire Harghita, la Métropolie orthodoxe de Cluj, Alba, Crisana et Maramures, la Société nationale du sel S.A., y compris les succursales Salina Turda, Salina Slănic Prahova, Salina Praid, l’Union des artistes plasticiens et ses filiales de Ploiesti, Bacău et Turda, le Centre culturel départemental Harghita, la Maison municipale de la culture Turda, l’Ecole populaire des arts « Tudor Jarda » de Cluj-Napoca.

En écoutant les émissions de RRI, en visitant notre siteet nos profils Facebook, Twitter et Flickr, vous avez pu découvrir les réponses à nos questions. Le concours a donc pris fin le 28 février. Avant de connaître les noms des gagnants, rappelons les questions auxquelles nous vous avons invités à répondre et les réponses correctes :

– Pendant combien de temps la Roumanie pourrait-elle satisfaire les besoins de consommation interne sur ses propres ressources de sel ? Réponse correcte : 1000 ans.

– Nommez aux moins trois salines de Roumanie. Vous pouviez choisir parmi Ocna Sibiului, Turda, Ocnele Mari, Ocna Mureş, Slănic Prahova, Târgu Ocna, Ocna Dej, Slănic Moldova, Praid, Cacica.

– Quel est le nom du traitement qui utilise les qualités curatives de l’air salin ? Réponse correcte : spéléothérapie.

– Quelles salines visiteront les gagnants des Grands prix du jeu-concours de RRI ? Réponse correcte : Slănic Prahova, Târgu Ocna, Praid, Turda.

Et maintenant ouvrons vite la liste des gagnants :

Les 30 mentions sont allées à nos auditeurs ou utilisateurs d’Internet, dont nos amis Denis Ullmann et Claude Unsinger, les deux de France.

La fortune avait souri une fois de plus à Claude Unsinger qui, rappelez-vous, avait remporté l’année dernière le Grand prix de notre jeu « Busteni, la perle des Monts Caraiman ». « Ma motivation principale pour participer à ce concours est que cet aspect de la Roumanie — les salines et les mines de sel — mest encore mal connu. En effet, malgré mes nombreux voyages en Roumanie et le passage dans les régions où les salines existent, je nai jamais visité une saline », disait M. Unsinger dans son message de participation…

Parmi les gagnants des 30 Troisième Prix se retrouvent nos amis Djefel Djilali d’Algérie et Samba Ba du Sénégal. « Grâce à vos émissions et a vos concours — nous écrit M Djefel Djilali – jai appris a connaître mais surtout à aimer la Roumanie. Et puis, mes recherches mont poussé à découvrir beaucoup de choses sur votre pays ajoutant à lémerveillement dune beauté naturelle, lexaltation de la connaissance et de la découverte. Chapeau ! Continuez sur votre lancée! » Merci beaucoup, cher ami ! A vous et à M. Samba Ba, qui nous déclare tout simplement — « J’aime beaucoup RRI. Mes sources de documentation sont seulement sur votre site et la Radio ».

Pour les 30 Deuxième Prix, le nom de M. Mohamed Goumidi d’Algérie est également sorti de l’urne. /« La raisonqui ma amené àparticiper à ce concours, cest que jetiens à découvrir les ressourceslocales en Roumanie et notamment les minesde selqui abondentdans le pays. Le sel estune richessequi peut aider la Roumanieà se développer et à soutenir son économie. De même, les minesthérapeutiquessont essentielles pour la guérison de nombreuses maladies comme lasthme et lesallergies », nous a expliqué M. Goumidi dans sa motivation.

Les 10 Premier Prix* sont allés à nos auditeurs et internautes : Clemansa Ecaterina Baciu, Roumaine d’Italie, Leokardia Bogutska — d’Ukraine, Abdel-Rahim Ait Al-Awad, du Maroc, Udo Scherbaum, d’Allemagne, Gao Junxia, de Chine, Paolo Valente, d’Italie, Alexandr Abramov, de Russie, Mogire Machuki, du Kenya (auditeur des émissions de RRI en anglais), Jacques Giraud de France et Nouari Naghmouchi d’Algérie, auditeurs des programmes de RRI en français.

« Je suis un auditeur fidèle de RRI et j’ai participé à ce jeu pour visiter les salines de Roumanie mais surtout pour voir ma belle station RRI… », nous a écrit M. Naghmouchi. Merci encore pour vos mots.

Pour sa part, M Jacques Giraud de France a voulu tenter sa chance à ce jeu « pour découvrir un mode d’exploitation du sel inconnu en France où la production de sel a lieu très majoritairement dans des marais salants. Une seule mine française est actuellement en exploitation en Lorraine. Dans mes voyages, j’apprécie le tourisme industriel et j’aimerais effectuer un voyage de découverte dans ces régions qui possèdent un micro-climat exceptionnel et faire ainsi la promotion de votre pays ». Merci beaucoup cher ami !

Les 16 Prix spéciaux ont été gagnés par nos auditeurs ou utilisateurs d’Internet :Gennadiy Reşetnik, d’Ukraine, Abdel Kader Hasan Abdel Kader, d’Egypte, Khalil Abdel-Kader, d’Algérie, Joe Leyder, du Luxembourg (auditeur des programmes de RRI en allemand), Shan Jinhai, de Chine, Antonella La Brocca, d’Italie, Claudio Alfredo Martijena, d’Argentine, José Luis Corcuera Gil, d’Espagne, Elena Kurbanova, du Turkménistan, Roman Braghin, de Russie, Tracy Marvin et James Holthus, les deux des Etats-Unis, Richard Cooke, du Royaume – Uni, Satoshi Nishimota, du Japon, Eric Mompontet et Christian Canoën, de France.

« J’ai un intérêt personnel pour les salines – jessaye den visiter dans chacun de mes voyages car je suis photographe » motivait sa participation M Eric Mompontet, qui n’a pas encore visité la Roumanie. Son compatriote, Christian Canoën, a voulu explorer grâce à ce concours « la grandeur de la Roumanie, pays d’Europe Centrale, croisement de plusieurs cultures ».

Enfin, M. Joe Leyder du Luxembourg aurait aimé remporter ce jeu parce que « Javais déjà été choisi comme gagnant il y a quelques années, mais je navais pas pu venir, car cela tombait en pleine période des cours scolaires et comme je suis professeur de lycée, je nai pas pu me libérer. Jespère que cette année sera différente… » Eh bien, ce sera sans aucun doute pour une prochaine fois, mais nous vous attendons en Roumanie, quand vous voulez…

Nous remercions tous ceux qui ont répondu aux questions de ce jeu-concours et nous ont également écrit ce qui les a poussés à y participer.

Chers amis, le moment longuement attendu est enfin arrivé ! Les gagnants du Grand Prix, qui feront un séjour en pension complète à Slănic Prahova, Târgu Ocna, Praid, Turda et leurs zones environnantes du 15 au 24 mai 2013 sont Roberta et John Selesky, du Texas — Etats-Unis. Félicitations ! Nous vous attendons en Roumanie !

En apprenant qu’ils sont les grands gagnants du jeu-concours « Les salines de Roumanie », nos deux auditeurs américains nous ont écrit — « Nous vous remercions de nous aider pour que notre rêve devienne réalité. Nous sommes ravis de visiter les mines de sel dont nous ignorions l’existence avant d’écouter RRI. »

Les prix et les mentions seront expédiés par la poste. Merci de confirmer par lettre, par fax ou par mail l’arrivée des envois postaux ainsi que leur contenu.

Merci, une fois de plus, d’avoir tenté votre chance, en répondant au jeu-concours sur les mines de sel de Roumanie. D’autres jeux-concours vous attendent ! Nous vous y attendons nombreux. (aut. : Alecu Marciuc, Eugen Cojocariu ; trad.: Dominique, Andrei Popov)

17 March 2013
« Les salines de Roumanie », fin de partie

Le jeu concours de RRI, « Les salines de Roumanie », consacré à une des principales ressources minérales du pays, touche à sa fin. Cette édition de Radio Tour contient toutes les réponses au concours, vous permettant ainsi d’entrer en lice pour le grand prix : un circuit de 10 jours dans quatre régions roumaines connues pour l’exploitation du sel. Nous vous proposons un dernier périple dans les mines d’où on extrait l’or blanc et qui offrent d’excellentes conditions pour se détendre, mais aussi pour soigner différentes affections respiratoires.

Sans sel, aucun plat n’a plus de saveur et l’industrie chimique ne serait pas ce qu’elle est aujourd’hui. La Roumanie compte parmi les plus grands producteurs de sel et son exploitation est une occupation très ancienne. De l’avis des spécialistes, à l’heure actuelle, en utilisant ses ressources, la Roumanie peut assurer ses besoins de sel pour mille ans. Les mines de sel de Roumanie telles Ocna Sibiului, Turda, Praid, Târgu Ocna, Slanic Moldova et autres mettent à la disposition des touristes d’excellentes facilités de cure. Les propriétés de l’air salin ont été mises à profit par la spéléothérapieet par la climatothérapie, des traitements déroulés dans le souterrain, dans des grottes et des mines de sel. La cure prévoit en effet l’inhalation de l’air de la mine et il peut s’avérer utile dans le traitement des voies respiratoires (maladies asthmatiques, bronchites et allergies). Ce qui plus est, grâce à leur acoustique à part, ces mines sont des espaces idéaux pour accueillir des concerts.

C’est le cas de celle de Slanic Prahova, et notamment de la mine touristique Unirea. Le chef du service entretien et exploitation, Constantin Niculescu, passe en revue l’histoire de ce site : « Les premières données écrites concernant une telle exploitation datent de 1685. Le boyard Mihai Cantacuzène achète un domaine qui s’étendait sur une importante partie du territoire actuel de la localité, afin de mettre à profit cette richesse naturelle qu’est le sel. En 1685, il réussit à ouvrir la première mine de sel, qui prévoyait du point de vue technique quatre puits verticaux, dont deux pour l’extraction du matériel et les deux autres pour l’aérage et le transport du personnel. Dans la mine touristique Unirea, qui est ouverte au grand public, la température est constante en toute saison, à savoir 12 degrés. La pression atmosphérique, elle, est supérieure de 20 millimètres de mercure à celle enregistrée en surface. Cet aspect allait permettre, à compter de 1970, date à laquelle prenait fin l’exploitation du sel dans cette mine, d’y mettre en place des activités touristiques et de cure pour les maladies respiratoires, dont notamment l’asthme bronchique, les bronchites, les insuffisances respiratoires. »

La station thermale de Slănic Prahova accueille la plus grande mine de sel d’Europe. C’est toujours là qu’on trouve le Mont de sel, unique au monde. Située au cœur d’un paysage pittoresque, la ville offre d’excellentes conditions d’hébergement, de traitement et de loisirs. Bref, elle est l’endroit idéal pour passer des vacances inoubliables. Constantin Niculescu, qui dirige l’équipe de maintenance et d’exploitation minière à la mine touristique Unirea, à Slănic Prahova, nous parle des raisons pour lesquelles les touristes y reviennent immanquablement : « Tout d’abord pour la qualité des aérosols. Ensuite, pour le paysage souterrain impressionnant. Fortement médiatisé, cet objectif touristique est bien connu. A preuve la multitude de visiteurs qui arrivent des quatre coins du monde: Amérique, Asie, Israël, Moyen Orient, Europe. Nous avons à présent des vols qui nous relient au Moyen Orient et puis des cars bondés de touristes nous rendent visite presque chaque jour. Cet objectif présente un grand intérêt touristique. Les agences de voyage offrent des paquets de séjour variés, comportant logement et loisirs tant pour le tourisme en surface que pour les lacs anthropo- salins et pour cet objectif souterrain ouvert à longueur d’année. »

La ville de Slănic avoisine les Monts Teleajan. On peut les atteindre au bout de trois à cinq heures de marche en suivant les trajets balisés. Les touristes peuvent également faire des randonnées d’une demi-heure jusqu’aux sources à eau sulfureuse, calcique, chloro-sodique, qui se trouvent aux environs de la station. Je mentionnerais par exemple la Fontaine fraîche, la Fontaine de l’ennemi ou la Fontaine Gogon. A 39 kilomètres plus loin, dans la ville de Ploieşti, se trouve le Musée du pétrole. Voici ce que Gabriela Tănăsescu, directrice de cet établissement culturel, nous a appris : « Il existe des gens et des événements qui nous font parler du pétrole comme s’il était un organisme vivant, qui marque depuis des milliers d’années notre existence. La Roumanie se retrouve dès 1857 dans la hiérarchie des pays à longue tradition en matière d’exploitation et de traitement du pétrole. Ce fut une année mémorable en raison de trois premières. Primo: la Roumanie était à l’époque le premier pays au monde à produire du brut, les 275 tonnes de brut roumain étant consignées dans les statistiques internationales. Secundo: c’est toujours en Roumanie, plus précisément près de Ploiesti, que l’on construisit la première raffinerie industrielle au monde. Tertio: le 1er avril 1857, la ville de Bucarest devenait la première du monde éclairée au pétrole. »

Si vous êtes de passage dans la ville de Ploiesti, vous pourrez satisfaire votre curiosité aussi. De quoi s’agit-il? Réponse avec Tatiana Ristea, curateur du Musée de l’horloge « Nicolae Simache » : « La collection du Musée de l’horloge est structurée selon des critères relevant de la chronologie et de la typologie. Notre musée vous fera découvrir tous les types d’horloges, depuis les plus anciens, tels les cadrans solaires et les horloges à eau jusqu’aux horloges mécaniques, que l’on connaît tous. Le patrimoine du musée de l’horloge Nicolae Simache” comprend aussi des horloges de cheminée, une collection impressionnante de montres de poche et une autre de mécanismes musicaux. »

Chers amis,ici prend fin la dernière des émissions consacrées à notre jeu-concours « Les salines de Roumanie ». Si vous avez correctement répondu aux questions, vous pouvez gagner le Grand Prix. Il s’agit d’un circuit de 10 jours, pour deux personnes, en pension complète, dans quatre régions de la Roumanie réputées pour l’exploitation du sel, à savoir Slănic Prahova, Târgu Ocna, Praid et Turda. (trad. Alex Diaconescu, Mariana Tudose)

3 March 2013
Concursul „Prin salinele României”, la final

Concursul cu premii, cu titlul “Prin salinele României”, dedicat uneia dintre principalele resurse minerale ale României, a ajuns la final. În rubrica de astăzi am strecurat răspunsurile tuturor întrebărilor de concurs, astfel încât să puteţi intra în tragerea la sorţi pentru câştigarea marelui premiu: un sejur de 10 zile în patru zone din România, cunoscute pentru exploatarea sării. Vă invităm într-un ultim periplu prin minele din care se extrage aurul alb şi în care sunt amenajate baze turistice ce oferă condiţii excelente pentru relaxare, mişcare şi pentru tratarea afecţiunilor respiratorii.

Fără sare mâncarea n-ar mai avea gust, iar industria chimică n-ar mai fi ceea ce e azi. Zona de extracţie a sării din România este uriaşă. De altfel, România este unul dintre cei mai mari producători de sare din lume, iar exploatarea sării este o ocupaţie foarte veche. În prezent, specialiştii sunt de părere că România îşi poate asigura necesarul de sare din resurse interne timp de 1.000 de ani. Fie că vorbim despre salina Ocna Sibiului, Turda, Praid, Târgu Ocna, Slănic Moldova sau oricare altă salină turistică de pe teritoriul României, majoritatea pun la dispoziţia turiştilor excelente baze de tratament. Proprietăţile aerului salin au dus la apariţia speleoterapiei şi a climatoterapiei, tratamente în subteran, în peşteri şi în mine de sare. Tratamentul cuprinde, practic, inhalarea aerului din mină, fiind util în cazul bolilor căilor respiratorii (boli astmatice, bronşitice, alergice). În plus, salinele sunt, datorită acusticii deosebite, şi locuri ideale pentru concerte.

Este şi cazul salinei Slănic Prahova, pe care o vizităm astăzi. Aici am vorbit cu Constantin Niculescu, şeful formaţiei de întreţinere-exploatare minieră, la mina turistică Unirea, care ne-a făcut un scurt istioric al obiectivului: Primele date scrise referitoare la ceea ce înseamnă o exploatare cât de cât demnă de luat în seamă, datează din anul 1685, graţie Spătarului Mihai Cantacuzino, care cumpără moşia, reprezentând o mare suprafaţă din teritoriul actual al localităţii, de la moşnenii slăniceni cu intenţia de a valorifica această bogăţie naturală pe care o reprezintă sarea. Astfel, în 1685, el reuşeşte să deschidă prima ocnă, care presupune din punct de vedere tehnic o deschidere de la suprafaţă cu patru puţuri verticale: două cu destinaţia extracţiei de material derocat, iar celelalte două, unul pentru aeraj şi celălalt pentru transportul personalului. În asemenea spaţiu, în mina turistică Unirea, temperatura e constantă de 12 grade indiferent de sezon. Presiunea atmosferică este mai ridicată cu 20 de milimetri coloană de mercur decât cea de la suprafaţă. Acest lucru a dezvoltat încă din 1970, de când exploatarea în sine a fost încheiată, latura turistică şi medicală, de tratament al maladiilor respiratorii, în special astmul bronşic, bronşitele, insuficienţele respiratorii, pentru care mulţi dintre cei ce vizitează spaţiul vin cu recomandare de la medic.”

Slănic Prahova, locul în care este amplasată cea mai mare salină din Europa, este o staţiune balneoclimaterică şi un centru al sării unde veţi găsi Muntele de Sare, unic în lume. Veţi mai descoperi un oraş înconjurat de peisaje pitoreşti cu variate condiţii de cazare, tratament şi devertisment, practic, un loc ideal pentru petrecerea vacanţei. Am aflat de la Constantin Niculescu, şeful formaţiei de întreţinere-exploatare minieră, la mina turistică Unirea, Slănic Prahova, de ce revin turiştii: În primul rând, calitatea aerosolului, pe care îl oferă acest spaţiu subteran, dar şi măreţia spaţiului excavat în urma exploatării, fac mai mult decât atractiv acest obiectiv turistic. Obiectivul este mediatizat prin toate mijloacele posibile şi este cunoscut, dovadă că avem oaspeţi din mai toate părţile globului: America, Asia, Israel, Orientul Mijlociu şi ţările europene. Acum există curse de avioane ce realizează legătura între ţara noastră şi cele din Orientul Mijlociu şi vin aproape zilnic autocare cu vizitatori. Interesul pe care îl reprezintă din punct de vedere turistic acest obiectiv este mare şi există firme de turism care oferă şi variante de cazare, de agrement, atât pentru turismul de suprafaţă, lacurile antroposaline, cât şi pentru acest obiectiv din subteran cu funcţionare pe tot parcursul anului.”

Oraşul Slănic se află în vecinătatea Munţilor Teleajanului, la care se poate ajunge pe mai multe trasee marcate, în intervale cuprinse între trei şi cinci ore, însă puteţi face şi plimbări de aproximativ 30 de minute la izvoarele cu ape sulfatate, calcice, cloro-sodice din apropierea oraşului: Fântâna Rece-Sub cetate, Fântâna lui Duşman, Fântâna Gogon. Apoi, la doar 39 de kilometri, în oraşul Ploieşti, se află un Muzeul Naţional al Petrolului. Aici, am vorbit cu Gabriela Tănăsescu, directorul instituţiei: Există oameni şi evenimente care ne fac să vorbim despre petrol ca despre ceva viu, care ne marchează de sute şi de mii de ani existenţa. În ierarhia ţărilor cu o veche tradiţie de exploatare şi prelucrare a petrolului, România şi-a înscris numele încă din 1857, an în care au avut loc trei premiere. România a fost prima ţară din lume cu producţie de ţiţei, înregistrată în statisticile internaţionale, la acea vreme 275 de tone. Lângă Ploieşti s-a construit prima rafinărie din lume la nivel industrial, iar Bucureştiul a fost primul oraş din lume iluminat public cu petrol lampant, la 1 aprilie 1857.”

Iar după atâtea premiere, dacă tot veţi ajunge în Ploieşti, puteţi încerca şi o curiozitate. Aflăm despre ce e vorba de la Tatiana Ristea, conservator la Muzeul Ceasului Nicolae Simache”: Colecţia Muzeului Ceasului este structurată şi cronologic şi tipologic. În muzeul nostru veţi întâlni cele mai vechi tipuri de ceasuri, de la cadrane solare, ceasuri cu apă, ajungând până la ceasurile cu mecanisme, pe care le cunoaştem cu toţii. Dacă ne veţi călca pragul, veţi vedea ceasuri de şemineu, o colecţie impresionantă de ceasuri de buzunar şi o altă categorie, de automate muzicale, care fac parte tot din patrimoniul Muzeului Ceasului Nicolae Simache”.”

Aici se încheie ultima rubircă de concurs “Prin salinele României”. Dacă aţi răspuns corect la întrebările noastre, puteţi câştiga Marele Premiu, un sejur de 10 zile, cu pensiune completă, pentru două persoane, în patru zone din România cunoscute pentru exploatarea sării: Slănic Prahova, Târgu Ocna, Praid şi Turda.

28 February 2013