Târgu Ocna: Salt, Nature and History

The underground visitor complex of the Târgu Ocna Salt Mine features courts for mini-football, basketball, tennis and table tennis.

The complex brings together several clearly distinct uses within the same salt deposit. Sports facilities, rooms with vaulted or flat ceilings, and sacred architecture each represent separate elements of the underground complex.

Experiences

On the surface, the Târgu Ocna Salt Mine leisure complex was established in 2010. It includes a saltwater bath, showers, a medical office, a terrace and a shop. In 1992, the underground Orthodox Church of Sfânta Varvara was established within the Târgu Ocna Salt Mine as the first underground Orthodox church in Europe.

The interior areas of the salt mine consist of halls and passageways with vaulted or flat ceilings and irregular surfaces. Underground, sports facilities, sacred architecture and a varied spatial structure come together.

Nature

The Măgura Târgu Ocna Nature Reserve is a nationally protected natural area covering 89.70 hectares, with a predominantly floristic and forestry character. It lies on the right bank of the Trotuș and the left bank of the Slănic, at elevations ranging from 310 to 700 metres, within the territory of the city of Târgu Ocna.

The natural area therefore extends from the banks of the two rivers to the stated elevations; the salt lake in Parcul Măgura adds a separately named body of water to the landscape.

Parcul Măgura is home to the salt lake Lacul fără fund, also known as Groapa Burlacu. The natural area thus includes both the protected landscape and a named salt lake.

Culture

The Muzeul de Istorie Târgu-Ocna houses collections on archaeology, art, local history, numismatics and ethnography. It displays Neolithic pottery and Bronze Age pottery, as well as tools made of flint, bone, stone and bronze.

The museum’s numismatic collection comprises more than 400 pieces. Pottery, tools and coins are displayed alongside the collections on archaeology, art, local history and ethnography.

More destinations

More destination pages: Comăneşti, Onești, Hemeiuș, Moinesti, Darmanesti, Letea Veche, Agăș and Tescani.

When choosing a hotel in Târgu Ocna, travellers can compare their travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions with their plans. This leaves room alongside the accommodation for the salt mine, nature area, museum and historic monument as distinct points of interest in the town.

Architecture

The Biserica Buna Vestire (Răducanu) is a representative historic monument of late Moldavian Baroque, with a three-conch floor plan, a dome over the naos and a bell tower on the western entrance porch.

The enclosure of the former monastery has been preserved at the church: 5.20-metre-high walls stand on three sides, along with loopholes and two towers. The church and the former monastery enclosure thus preserve different architectural elements of the same site.

The historic monument highlights the Baroque architectural form and the preserved monastery enclosure as two distinct components.

Getting there

The Târgu Ocna Salt Mine can be reached via the Adjud–Ciceu railway line.

For the higher-level travel overview: Bacau.