Văidoaia Panoramic Point

But first, we want to tell you a few words about the tunnel. About this lookout point that was built in 2022 by Adopt a House volunteers. You might wonder why this tunnel has the shape it does, a trapezoidal shape that you certainly already noticed in other places here. Well, this trapezoidal shape is specific to Roman mining galleries and it seems to be unique in the world. Through such "tunnels," miners emerged to the surface, often in the rocky walls of the mountains around you - like the one in front of you, Cârnic, or those in the visitable section of the Mining Museum - which we encourage you to see if you haven't already.

If you look carefully, you'll notice several lakes or "tăuri" as they're called in the area. Water was essential in gold processing, with the entire activity revolving around it. In the Rosia Montana - Corna mining basin, there were over 100 such lakes or "tăuri," which were used for gold ore processing. They are all artificial, made for powering gold mining production. Many are still present today and both blend in and add to the beauty of the  landscape. From here, you can clearly see  Tăul Brazi and Tăul Anghel, artificial reservoirs or lakes built to store water and allow its direction to the streams where the stamp mills or gold ore processing facilities were installed. You can learn more about the stamp mills in the audio content entitled "Rosia Montana’s stamp mills" along the road to the village.

Also from up here, you'll see the three churches in the historic center - each identified separately on the panel at the far end. You can also see in photographs Rosia Montana in its days of glory. It’s a complex landscape that makes this area so important. In addition to the mining landscape and the traces of mining exploitation from antiquity to modern times, Rosia Montana stands out both through its mining and cultural heritage, to which its natural beauty is added. It's no surprise that this village was designated a UNESCO site due to several unique aspects:

The underground Roman mining network at Rosia Montana stands as a remarkable testament to the diffusion and advancement of precious metal mining techniques during the Roman Empire's expansion. It features unique technical attributes such as trapezoidal galleries, spiral stair shafts, and carved rock stairs, unparalleled in its early period. The traditional mining town reflects the transition from rural to urban life, preserving its character as a mining village through the pre-industrial era right through to the industrial age. The mining landscape of the Rosia and Corna Valleys, characterized by artificial lakes, mountainous terrain, and mine entrances, typifies the pre-industrial period. Additionally, the waxen tablets found here  played a pivotal role in rediscovering Roman Law, influencing legislation worldwide. These aspects underscore the exceptional and universal value of Rosia Montana's cultural heritage, deserving protection and recognition for its historical significance to understanding the history of gold mining.

You have listened to the content dedicated to Rosia Montana’s Văidoaia Panoramic Point.

The UNESCO tour of Rosia Montana is a project implemented by the non-governmental organization ‘Rosia Montana in Patrimoniul Mondial’. The audio-tour is co-financed by Romania’s Administration for National Cultural Funds. We based our story telling on local anecdotes and the works listed on the bibliography on our website. We encourage you to follow the trail that we prepared for you via our website. This will ensure that you discover all objects and their stories of Rosia Montana. Have a pleasant journey and ‘drum bun’ as we say here.