Praid

Salt mine is near Sovata spa. The Basin of Praid is situated on the East coast of the Transylvania Basin ("a huge salt cellar") at the base of Gurghiu Mountains, that forms a micro region so called "The zone of Salt Mines". The geographical zone of the salt mines is unique in its way and the name of "The salt region" comes from the salt mine of Praid. This salt settlement is one of the biggest from Europe. Its reserve could provide the salt need for Europe for hundreds of yearsb in future. . The beginnings of the salt mining history lasts since roman period. In written documents there are remembered four surface excavations ("amphitheatre" type) and some bricks with the inscription: LVM ( Legio V. Macedonica). The excavations left by Roman were continued by Avars and later by Bulgars. In migration people period ( Goths, Huns, Gepyds ) people didn't extract salt from here. The first written reference about mining in Praid is a document by King András the III rd (from 1291), where he refers to the king's right over the salt mines (the letter appears in the "Study of Transylvanian settlements" written by dr. Schmidt Elegius Robert). The underground exploitation begins in 1762, under the leading of the Austrian engineer Frendl Aladár, so he opens the "József" mine. This mine had a bell-shape, and it was the first underground mine in Praid. The extracted salt was tied in buffalo leather bags and was pulled up to surface by four pair of horses with the so called "horse lift <b>...</b>