Ocna Sibiului

The town’s history goes back in time three thousand years before Christ, more exactly when they used to exploit salt here. Later on, the Romans included Ocna Sibiului in an exploitation network and set the basis of the so-called “salt route”.

Salt extraction remained the main activity in the following centuries, too; in the 13^th century, for instance, salt miners were given legal privileges and rights following the salt trade and in 1346 the settlement was declared a burgh. But gradually the salt mines were abandoned one by one and in time, under the influence of the climate factors, the walls collapsed and the salt mines became today’s lakes. Their healing effects became famous in the entire Transylvania in the 16^th century. In mid-19^th century the burgh was transformed in a spa resort upon the opening of the cold and hot baths.

The Ocna Sibiului spa resort is famous in the entire country due to the natural therapeutic factors: the highly concentrated salty lake water; the mineral water from the Horea spring; the sapropelic mud and also the calming, hilly topoclimate. They all help in the treatment of various diseases: chronic rheumatic diseases, diseases of the locomotive system, functional ailments, gynaecologic problems, sterility, obesity, endocrine illnesses, peripheral circulatory troubles.

At Ocna Sibiului there are two modern treatment facilities and in 2011 the lake facilities were all modernised. Besides the fun at the lakes or the spa treatments, we would also suggest a visit to the town. You shall discover the beautiful 13^th century fortified church or the venerable oaks reserve.