The Regional Tourism Organisation Región Šariš together with the Solivar Museum is trying to gradually awaken and revive the Solivar area, which is unique of its kind in Slovakia. One of the ways is to „Salt Day“ event“, which, after last year's very good response, will take place on the premises of Solivar on 4 September 2021.
Salt Day 2018 was the first year of the cultural event, during which the organizers commemorated the historic event of the visit of Emperor Francis II. Habsburg, who in 1800 put the Franz Varna into operation and thus started the production of salt by cooking from brine. The attendance of the event was over 1500 visitors. In 2019, the second edition was held and the event was visited by over 2000 visitors from all over Eastern Slovakia and there were also visitors from Bratislava and Žilina. In 2020, due to the pandemic situation, the event was moved to 2021.
The third edition of the event will again be rich in a varied programme for families with children and individuals of different ages. There will be salt cooking demonstrations, creative workshops for children, period food tasting, craft stalls and a presentation of the new commemorative coin - Soľnobanski toliar, which collectors will be able to purchase during the event. This commemorative coin was issued on the occasion of 450th anniversary of the start of the excavation of the Leopold shaft, located in the Gápľa building. The unique coin has a diameter of 40 mm and was produced in two limited editions (pure silver and ZAMAC alloy). The front side of the toliar depicts the Gápľa building, which houses the Leopold shaft. The reverse side of the toliar depicts a double-headed eagle with a royal crown, holding a sword in one hand and a royal scepter in the other. Such a motif was used on the drayards between 1792 and 1835.
Undoubtedly the most enticing part of the programme will be Living Museum, which is again prepared by Lukáš Matufka with his theatre Portal. In the Četerní building thanks to them a story from the ancient history of the salt works comes to life.
Many expositions will also be an attraction glass craft from the Polish town of Krosno or demonstrations by craftsmen and miners from the partner salt mine in Wieliczka.
A novelty of the museum is also new touchscreen info kiosk, where visitors can virtually view all the objects open and not open to the public and where they can also find other practical information about the museum.
Salt warehouses have been used for centuries to store, handle or distribute salt. From October 2014 to September 2015, the building underwent extensive reconstruction, resulting in a representative multifunctional cultural and social space designed for exhibitions, presentations, congresses and educational activities.
More information on the Solivar Museum website: www.muzeumsolivar.sk
The event was supported by the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic and the European Regional Development Fund under the Interreg V-A Poland-Slovakia 2014 - 2020 programme.
Solivar National Cultural Monument
