The Drohobych Saltworks is a historic gem of Galicia. It is often described as the oldest continuously operating enterprise in Ukraine since its founding. The production site is located in the city of Drohobych, Lviv region.
History of the Saltworks
The exact date of the saltworks’ establishment is unknown. It is often said that it has been operating since 1250, although there is no documentary confirmation of this. Archaeologists claim that people settled near the salt springs as early as the 11th–13th centuries. Most likely, salt production was the reason the city emerged.
The first written mention of Drohobych salt appears in a 1390 letter from Pope Boniface IX to the Bishop of Przemyśl, Erich. It not only confirms the existence of Drohobych but also refers to the transfer of a tithe of salt to the Galician archbishopric.
More than a thousand domestic artifacts dating from the 6th to the 20th centuries have been found during archaeological excavations around the saltworks. However, documented evidence of continuous production only dates back to the 18th century.
Salt Production
The saltworks consists of buildings constructed in different periods across 5.8 hectares. Only the oldest facility remains operational: the royal shaft No. 1, which has been in use since the 15th century. The mine-well is 48 meters deep.
Salt production is based on evaporating natural settled brines (also known as “ropa”) in large copper pans called panvy. The brine is stored in unique brine reservoirs—structures unlike anything else in Europe. As the water evaporates, the brine becomes oversaturated and crystalline salt begins to form. Wood is used for heating, as gas supply to the site was cut off in 2012. Because this evaporation process is slow, only about 700 kg of salt is produced per day, amounting to roughly 180 tons annually. When the furnaces ran on gas, the saltworks could produce up to 10,000 tons per year.
Modernization is hindered by technical limitations and lack of funding. The production method remains unique and corresponds to 13th-century technologies, making the site a candidate for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status.
The relatively small scale of extraction helps maintain the local physicochemical balance and prevents the formation of underground voids.
About the Salt
Salt evaporated from natural brine is considered purer and healthier than rock salt or salt derived from seawater. It contains almost no gypsum or bromine impurities, and the amount of insoluble substances is below 0.45%. However, it also lacks iodine, so the final stage of production includes iodization.
Freshly evaporated salt resembles snowflakes. It is warm and tastes less salty than the finished product. Unlike the mechanical grinding of mineral rock, evaporation allows producers to shape the final appearance of the salt. Some of the most fascinating forms include crystals that resemble fish scales or bloom like flowers.
Drohobych salt is more expensive than other types, but demand has recently been growing. The saltworks supplies both retail chains and private businesses. Even with high production costs, this traditionally produced salt remains an attractive tourism and souvenir product. The on-site shop offers various salt blends with spices, cheese, and coffee. Locals are particularly fond of coffee with cinnamon and salt.
So if you ever visit Drohobych, be sure to stop by the saltworks—see how “white gold” is born and taste the local coffee with salt crystals.
Photo by Natalia Babak, Tetyana Kosorotikova, Ukraine
