Cacica mine

Cacica salt mine is an underground complex in Suceava County where several chambers were carved directly from salt rock formations. The rooms sit roughly 40 meters down and display the raw walls and floors that miners left behind as they extracted the mineral over time.

Salt extraction started here in the 18th century, making this site an important source of income for the region. By the 1800s, the mine gradually shifted toward welcoming visitors and showing off its underground spaces to the public.

Two chapels made from salt crystals sit side by side in the chambers, one for Catholic and one for Orthodox worship, reflecting how miners found spiritual comfort underground. These spaces still show the religious importance this mine held for the community.

You enter and move through the chambers using original wooden stairs that descend into the cool depths, so bring comfortable walking shoes and a light jacket. The paths through the mine are relatively flat and easy to navigate, though the temperature stays cool year-round.

Deep in the lowest chambers sits a soccer field where locals still play games and train regularly. This unusual feature shows how creative people became about using the underground space for recreation, transforming a working mine into a place for leisure.