Bacău (county)

Bacău (county)

Bacău county offers a trip 240 meters below the grass into a world of white salt. You descend into the Târgu **Ocna** mine where the air is cool and very fresh. There is even a small church, **Saint Barbara**, carved entirely out of the rock salt walls. It is a silent space that feels very far from the world. The ground under your feet is white and sparkly like fresh snow. Follow the **Trotuș** Valley for a scenic mountain drive. Thick forests cover the hills and hide the salt springs of **Slănic Moldova**, known as the Pearl of Moldavia. Local spas offer a chance to drink from 20 different mineral springs that bubble from the earth. The scenery is lush and full of life near the **Cireșoaia** peaks. It is a great route for travelers who want to feel healthy and fresh. The **Nemira** peaks watch over the small mountain towns. You find the **Ghimeș Pass** where the old border of the empire used to sit. Stop at a local market to try **balmoș**, a heavy mountain dish made with corn and sheep cream. The people are warm and always ready for a chat about the forest. This eastern route is a mix of deep mines and high woods.

Bacău (county) highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route
The Heritage Drive
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History of Bacău (county)

Bacău is the industrial backbone of Moldova and a land of ancient princely forests. This region was once the favorite hunting ground of the Moldavian kings who protected the massive bison herds that roamed the Eastern Carpathians. The local history is defined by its strategic position on the trade routes connecting the mountains to the river plains which turned the county into one of the earliest centers for salt and oil extraction. In the 15th century Stephen the Great established a princely court here to oversee the defense of the eastern border against invading nomadic tribes. The landscape is a mix of rugged peaks and deep river valleys that witnessed intense fighting during the Great War. The Oituz Pass became a legendary site of resistance where the national army held the line against superior forces in a series of brutal mountain battles. You can still explore the remains of trenches and monuments that mark this heroic defense. The city history is also tied to the work of the poet George Bacovia who captured the melancholic beauty of the local parks and the grey industrial silhouettes in his famous verses. For road trippers the county offers a drive through the Trotuș Valley where the history of salt mining comes to life. You can visit the Târgu Ocna salt mine which houses an underground cathedral and a lake deep beneath the earth. The mountain resorts like Slănic Moldova have been famous since the 19th century for their healing mineral springs which were prized by the European aristocracy. The local villages still preserve the tradition of the Bear Dance a prehistoric ritual performed during the winter to drive away evil spirits. Bacău is a powerful journey through the strength of the eastern industry and the wild soul of the Moldavian woods.
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