Baia Sprie

Baia Sprie is situated in north-western Romania, at the southern base of the Oaş-Gutâi-Ţibleş mountainous plateau, and comprises a main town of 16,000 people and three villages. Located in one of the most important mining centres in Romania, the gradual closure of local mines has had an inevitable impact on employment.

Today, Baia Sprie is aiming to become a tourism centre and mountain resort—having two skiable areas in Suior and Mogoşa that are attracting increasing numbers of visitors, especially at weekends. Along with skiing and snowboarding, the area also offers other leisure activities such as hiking, mountain-biking and swimming. A natural reserve in the nearby Chiuzbaia valley is a protected area.

Along with the sports and leisure pursuits, Baia Sprie is also looking to develop its cultural appeal, promoting its 17 historical buildings and 2 historical sites. The city’s earliest relics date from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, while the first document dates back to 1329. The old city centre features historic buildings built in the 18th and 19th centuries, including a Baroque-style city hall from 1739 and both a Roman-Catholic Church and an Orthodox Church from the 18th century.

Traditional folk-dancing and arts and crafts also have their places among the city’s cultural attractions. Traditional clay potters are particularly encouraged, while a nearby beauty spot, the Blue Lake (Lacul Albastru), has long provided inspiration for photographers and painters alike. Several groups of folk dancers and singers are based in the city.