Trip to Alba Iulia and Turda Salt Mine; possible drop off in Cluj-Napoca (departure from Timisoara)
At 8:00, you’ll be picked up from your accommodation in Timisoara. We will drive east, cross the Carpathians, and follow the course of the Mures River. The first stop is Alba Iulia, the White City. This city’s got 2000 years of history, going back to the time of the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, Alba Iulia was the first capital of Transylvania. Starting in the 18th century, Transylvania became part of the Habsburg Empire, and a new fortress was being built here. This Vauban-style defensive structure is still standing, and this is what we are going to visit.
Time for lunch in a local restaurant, and after lunch, we drive to Turda, in the heart of what is also called the heart of Transylvania. Here, we’ll see the spectacular salt mine, which is one of the world’s most fascinating underground places (entrance fee). The deepest point is 112 meters underground! The mine is a healing place, but also a big tourist attraction. You can spend time there playing billiards, ping-pong, or even rowing a boat on a small salted lake at the bottom of one of the old shafts.
