Balvanyos tour
The most active, after-volcanic activity of the area can be found under the volcanic cones of Puturosu and Balvanyos rising at the border of Turia village. The Sărat Meadow (Salted Meadow), the well-known Puturosu Cave, the Killer Cave, the Bird’s Cementery, the Timșoș Bath, the Buffogo Bogland, the ferries of Apor Girl’s Bath are the pilgrimage places of earth study (geologists) lovers. Under the Balvanyos Castle, the waters of Transylvania Bath, Balvanyos Spa Resort and Csiszar Bath provide healing for the patients.
Stations of the route: Sărat Meadow (Salted Meadow) – Small Cave – Puturosu Cave – Timșoș Cave – Killer cave – Bird’s Cemetery – Buffogo Bogland – Balvanyos stream valley – Timșoș Bath – Sărat Meadow (Salted Meadow)
About the route:
The peat bog can be reached by the DN12 national road (Miercurea – Ciuc – Sfântu Gheorghe) from which we land on the 113-county road in Bixad village. We are going on this road until it bifurcates, then we turn right to Balvanyos. Soon we arrive at the Balvanyos holiday buildings. Here we start our journey, going up to the famous Puturosu Cave, also known as Hell’s porch.
The lava tongues break through the sandstone, trough the volcanic gas, enriching the trail marked with red dot. On the 800-meter-long passage, the breath of the hell gets along. Occasionally barren, vegetation-free spots indicate the presence of volcanic gas. Nearly four thousand m³ of hydrogen sulphide carbon dioxide is flowing through the steep slopes on the wall of the Puturosu Mountain southward, killing all the living beings. Not only the geological phenomena lovers are attracted to the Small Cave and the Puturosu Cave, but also those who want to heal. The yellow sulfur and white whitewash flowering on the walls of the cave, pamper the visitor with the image of active volcanoes.
Leaving the Puturosu Cave we follow the blue point. On the steep slope of the Puturosu Mountain, a narrow path leads to the white walls of the Timșoș Cave. At the bottom of the cavern, the level of gas is indicated by the yellow fertilizer layer.
The really dangerous hell’s porch is coming only after this, the barely span wide path that winds up to the south-east ridge. As the trail goes north, we are moving on a better route. To the left of the marked path we reach the dark hollow of the Killer Cave and more to the left the Bird’s Cemetery. The tourists often encounter with the corpse of insects, birds and mammals which have died in the recess of cave. While in the previous mofettas the sulfur indicates the presence of the volcanic gas, in the darkness of the Killer Cave the sulfur-free carbon dioxide is present. This gas is very dangerous for man or animal as well.
From the Killer Cave, the path is leading trough a young beech forest to the cozy Buffogo Cave, which was formed on the spring area of Balvanyos stream, enriched with wet mofettas. The hiking trail marked by red triangle follows the valley of the Balvanyos stream, which borders from east the Puturosu Mountain. The monotonicity of the valley broken by the wetland habitat. As we descend into the deepening valley, the volcanic cone of the Balvanyos Mountain appears on the left, with the Apor Castle on top of it, known as the Balvanyos Castle. The Balvanyos Bath can be very easily reached by following the sign of the blue stripe, touching the Transylvania Bath as well on the route. There is a nice view of the surrounding mountain frame from the ruin of the tower.
As soon as we reach Turia village, we have to turn to right and follow the route in order to arrive to Timșoș Bath which has several swimming pools. Recently, it is also called the Apor Girl’s Bath. From here we will soon reach our starting point, the Sărat Meadow (Salted Meadow).
The lava tongues break through the sandstone, trough the volcanic gas, enriching the trail marked with red dot. On the 800-meter-long passage, the breath of the hell gets along. Occasionally barren, vegetation-free spots indicate the presence of volcanic gas. Nearly four thousand m³ of hydrogen sulphide carbon dioxide is flowing through the steep slopes on the wall of the Puturosu Mountain southward, killing all the living beings. Not only the geological phenomena lovers are attracted to the Small Cave and the Puturosu Cave, but also those who want to heal. The yellow sulfur and white whitewash flowering on the walls of the cave, pamper the visitor with the image of active volcanoes.
Leaving the Puturosu Cave we follow the blue point. On the steep slope of the Puturosu Mountain, a narrow path leads to the white walls of the Timșoș Cave. At the bottom of the cavern, the level of gas is indicated by the yellow fertilizer layer.
The really dangerous hell’s porch is coming only after this, the barely span wide path that winds up to the south-east ridge. As the trail goes north, we are moving on a better route. To the left of the marked path we reach the dark hollow of the Killer Cave and more to the left the Bird’s Cemetery. The tourists often encounter with the corpse of insects, birds and mammals which have died in the recess of cave. While in the previous mofettas the sulfur indicates the presence of the volcanic gas, in the darkness of the Killer Cave the sulfur-free carbon dioxide is present. This gas is very dangerous for man or animal as well.
From the Killer Cave, the path is leading trough a young beech forest to the cozy Buffogo Cave, which was formed on the spring area of Balvanyos stream, enriched with wet mofettas. The hiking trail marked by red triangle follows the valley of the Balvanyos stream, which borders from east the Puturosu Mountain. The monotonicity of the valley broken by the wetland habitat. As we descend into the deepening valley, the volcanic cone of the Balvanyos Mountain appears on the left, with the Apor Castle on top of it, known as the Balvanyos Castle. The Balvanyos Bath can be very easily reached by following the sign of the blue stripe, touching the Transylvania Bath as well on the route. There is a nice view of the surrounding mountain frame from the ruin of the tower.
As soon as we reach Turia village, we have to turn to right and follow the route in order to arrive to Timșoș Bath which has several swimming pools. Recently, it is also called the Apor Girl’s Bath. From here we will soon reach our starting point, the Sărat Meadow (Salted Meadow).
The Puturosu Cave
The Puturosu Cave in Turia – according to Jókai, the Hungarian author – is a “portico of Hell”. This famous and at the same time ill-famed cave is located on the southeastern side of Mount Puturosu (1143 m) at an altitude of 1052 m. The former sulfur mine was paved and arranged for visitors. The cave was originally the property of the Turia village on Puturosu Hill, and the extraction of the mine belonged to the village. Later it became the property of Baron Apor. The cave was decorated with stones carved by Apor Gábor in 1892, the same year the entrance door was fitted. After the First World War, it became the property of the pneumology sanatorium and was used for treatments, but later this service was interrupted. From the cave a huge quantity of mofetta gas is coming out, the flow exceeding 3000 m³/day, which makes the cave the largest mofetta at the European level, surpassing the similar reputation of the Naples Cave of Dogs.
The entrance to the cave is made of carved stones, the floor is covered and two banquets are available for the visitors. At this entrance, the hydrogen sulfide-carbon dioxide gas level reaches a height of one meter, as it shows the yellow deposit on the walls. This deposition gradually increases, the gas level reaching almost the ceiling of the cave, which is why the inner part was closed by a wooden grid. The cave can be visited from the Hotel Balvanyos by following the red spots. The total length of the cave is only 14 m, but in terms of chemical composition and gas intensity, it can compete with any other European cave.
The composition of the gas was first analyzed in 1884 by Ilosvay Lajos. The analysis showed that the biggest part of the gas is consisting of carbon dioxide CO2, and is associated with a small amount of sulfuric hydrogen (H2S). Sulfur gas is converted into sulfur dioxide in the air, and the released sulfur is deposited on the wall of the cave, painting the stone wall in yellow. According to Ilosvay, one and a half million kg of carbon dioxide and 6,400 kg of hydrogen sulfide is coming out of the cave every year. According to him, the cave air is composed of 95.82% carbon dioxide, 0.38% hydrogen sulfide, 0.16% oxygen, and 2.66% nitrogen. At this value, we add the radioactive radiation of 980.0 pCi/l (picoCurie/liter), which shows the highest value of all landfills and sulfates in the Eastern Carpathians. The concentration of negative ions (3.8×104 ions /ml), positive (3.3 ≤10.0 ions /ml), air humidity (95%) and gas yield (3000 m³/24h) make the cave the most important therapeutic reason for the area of Mount Puturosu. The sulfurous therapy has beneficial effects on the body, being proven in the fight against diseases such as rheumatic, cardiovascular, arterial, psychosomatic, allergic, dermatological diseases, etc. In addition to its nutritive and refreshing effect on the whole body, it also strengthens the physical and mental state of the body.
The entrance to the cave is made of carved stones, the floor is covered and two banquets are available for the visitors. At this entrance, the hydrogen sulfide-carbon dioxide gas level reaches a height of one meter, as it shows the yellow deposit on the walls. This deposition gradually increases, the gas level reaching almost the ceiling of the cave, which is why the inner part was closed by a wooden grid. The cave can be visited from the Hotel Balvanyos by following the red spots. The total length of the cave is only 14 m, but in terms of chemical composition and gas intensity, it can compete with any other European cave.
The composition of the gas was first analyzed in 1884 by Ilosvay Lajos. The analysis showed that the biggest part of the gas is consisting of carbon dioxide CO2, and is associated with a small amount of sulfuric hydrogen (H2S). Sulfur gas is converted into sulfur dioxide in the air, and the released sulfur is deposited on the wall of the cave, painting the stone wall in yellow. According to Ilosvay, one and a half million kg of carbon dioxide and 6,400 kg of hydrogen sulfide is coming out of the cave every year. According to him, the cave air is composed of 95.82% carbon dioxide, 0.38% hydrogen sulfide, 0.16% oxygen, and 2.66% nitrogen. At this value, we add the radioactive radiation of 980.0 pCi/l (picoCurie/liter), which shows the highest value of all landfills and sulfates in the Eastern Carpathians. The concentration of negative ions (3.8×104 ions /ml), positive (3.3 ≤10.0 ions /ml), air humidity (95%) and gas yield (3000 m³/24h) make the cave the most important therapeutic reason for the area of Mount Puturosu. The sulfurous therapy has beneficial effects on the body, being proven in the fight against diseases such as rheumatic, cardiovascular, arterial, psychosomatic, allergic, dermatological diseases, etc. In addition to its nutritive and refreshing effect on the whole body, it also strengthens the physical and mental state of the body.
Visitors guide
– It is advised to have a 5-10 minutes break before entering the cave.
– Move and talk as less as possible to keep the level of the gas. Direct inhalation of the gas can damage the health.
– The verification of gas-level is done using an open flame (matches, lighter): where the flame dies, the level of the gas starts.
– Leaning under the level of gas is strictly forbidden and deadly dangerous!
– It is not allowed entering the cave for children and drunk people!
– Animals must be kept away from the cave!
– In case of medical treatment please follow your doctor’s instructions!
– In case of medical treatment, the duration of the first visit must be under 10 minutes, then it can be gradually added 1 more minute. The visits must be under 2-3 times/day.
– In the case of dizziness, it is recommended to go out to the fresh air and to take deep breath.
– It is not advised visiting alone the cave.
– It is recommended to visit the cave in groups with less than 8-10 person.
– Please keep away from the cave your silver objects, watches, mobile phones, photo cameras or other electric appliances, because they can be damaged.
– It is proposed to have a 5-10 minutes break after leaving.
– It is advised to have a 5-10 minutes break before entering the cave.
– Move and talk as less as possible to keep the level of the gas. Direct inhalation of the gas can damage the health.
– The verification of gas-level is done using an open flame (matches, lighter): where the flame dies, the level of the gas starts.
– Leaning under the level of gas is strictly forbidden and deadly dangerous!
– It is not allowed entering the cave for children and drunk people!
– Animals must be kept away from the cave!
– In case of medical treatment please follow your doctor’s instructions!
– In case of medical treatment, the duration of the first visit must be under 10 minutes, then it can be gradually added 1 more minute. The visits must be under 2-3 times/day.
– In the case of dizziness, it is recommended to go out to the fresh air and to take deep breath.
– It is not advised visiting alone the cave.
– It is recommended to visit the cave in groups with less than 8-10 person.
– Please keep away from the cave your silver objects, watches, mobile phones, photo cameras or other electric appliances, because they can be damaged.
– It is proposed to have a 5-10 minutes break after leaving.
Sărat Meadow (Salted Meadow)/Balvanyos Resort (935 m) – Timșoș Bath (710 m) – Small Cave – Puturosu Cave (1053) – Timșoș Cave – Killer cave – Bird’s Cemetery – Buffogo Bogland – Balvanyos stream valley – Sărat Meadow (Salted Meadow) /Balvanyos Resort (935 m) – hiking route:
Marking: red triangle, red dot, blue dot.
Duration of the route: 3 and a half hours (2.5 h of hiking, 1.5 h of resting). Time spend there: depends on the tourist/group, up to a few hours.
Length: 8.3 km.
Level difference: 438 m.
Grade: 3.2% for the whole route.
Marking: red triangle, red dot, blue dot.
Duration of the route: 3 and a half hours (2.5 h of hiking, 1.5 h of resting). Time spend there: depends on the tourist/group, up to a few hours.
Length: 8.3 km.
Level difference: 438 m.
Grade: 3.2% for the whole route.
