Egerszalók Salt Hill

About this place

Salt Hill is a set of white travertine terraces built up by a hot spring at the village of Egerszalók in Heves County, northeastern Hungary, about 6 km southwest of central Eger in a straight line. The village lies in the Laskó stream valley between the Mátra and Bükk ranges. The spring water comes out at 68 °C from an aquifer beneath the volcanic Mátra Mountains. The area's waters have been used since the 1730s, and the present spa opened in 1961. As the water meets the air it drops minerals that build up the gleaming travertine, which locals call salt, giving the hill its name. The steaming water runs down a series of small cascades and shallow basins rimmed in white and cream travertine, so the hill looks snow-covered even in summer. Pine, apple and beech trees grow around it, and the spa buildings stand behind. Visitors walk around the hill photographing the white terraces and rising steam, especially on cool mornings. The spa next door has 17 indoor and outdoor pools rich in calcium and magnesium, open to non-guests for an admission fee.