Baia Sprie is one of the most important settlements that define the mining belt of Maramureş county and throughout history has had an essential role in the region’s economy. With a centuries-old tradition in the extraction and processing of mineral wealth and unique elements in this industry, the mining heritage of this city is waiting to be brought to light and celebrated for its historical, cultural and scientific value.

The “Mines Park” project came into being in 2024 at the initiative of the Maramureș Mining Association and was financed by the Maramureș County Council and Baia Sprie City Hall and Local Council. Understanding the need to establish such a special theme park, specialists from the Montana Caving Club, the Maramureș History and Archeology Museum and the Maramures Mountain Rescue Public Service also joined the project.

The Mines Park is located on the southern slope of Mine Hill in Baia Sprie (area geographically included in the volcanic chain of the Gutâi Mountains) and has been known since the medieval period for its deposits rich in gold, silver and other non-ferrous metals. The main objective of establishing this theme park was to identify and promote the heritage generated by the mining  activities. Thus, the project aims to create thematic tourist circuits with a geo-mining character on Mine Hill, along properly arranged and marked trails. In addition to the already well-known landmarks that have an extremely high potential for attractiveness, such as the Blue Lake and the Crapatura Zorilor, other sites of historical, scientific, and cultural interest can also be admired/visited in the Mines Park, such as: private galleries from the last 300 years, spoil tips with extracted material from various historical periods, surface works and mining pits, old mining shafts, multiple outcrops, specific and spectacular erosion forms, and scenic viewpoints.We hope that through this project, the Mines Park will become not only a touristic destination, but also a space of academic and scientific research of national interest.