Author(s)

KOVACS FERENC

Abstract

The cultural concept called the Salt Road is closely related to the connection between salt and salt mining throughout their multimillenary historical development in view of the economic, demographic and territorial impact on the settlements, in comparison with the revenue resulted from the exploited amount of salt and the earned income, to which the hydropathic character is added during the 19th century, which transforms and freshens the cultural tradition of the use of salt in the development of the settlements. The Romanian research remained due to the elaboration of a detailed analysis of the historical, vernacular and vacationer architectural patrimony. The spa-oriented feature had become part of an extended tendency aimed at enhancing the value of existent spa resources in Transylvania and Europe in the late 19th century. The endeavour to turn to good account the balneary potential in Transylvania used to be productive and attractive in its early days and the importance of the spas was significant and beneficial to the inhabitants. The awareness and deep insight into the past through the promotion and presentation of its history are intended, not only in order to protect the originality and peculiarity of the cultural and historical site, but also to inspire future generations

Keywords

salt, salt mining, salt road, Transylvania, hydropathic baths, settlement growth, cultural identity, local and regional heritage, history, vernacular architecture