Valea Corund

Rezervația de Sare Praid

Hidden in the heart of the Praid Depression, in Harghita County, the Praid Salt Reserve is one of the largest salt operations in Central Europe, its saline massif plunging hundreds of metres beneath the village. The salt formed millions of years ago, when the Pannonian Sea withdrew and left behind an immense diapir that the Romans already worked. Visitors descend by dedicated buses through the mine gallery to the tourist base laid out at roughly 120 metres underground, where the aerosol-saturated air is prized for its therapeutic effect on respiratory ailments. The vaulted chambers hold play areas, a chapel carved into the salt, treatment rooms and a constant, warm, dust-free microclimate. At the surface, saline springs and valley baths continue the site's spa tradition. Practical note: bring a warmer layer, since the underground temperature stays cool throughout the year.