The Torja (Turia) Pass Mofetta

The „Dr. Benedek Géza" Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Hospital in Covasna was established in 1960 and is the only hospital in the country specializing in providing health care to people with cardiovascular disease by combining classical treatment with a specific spa treatment due to environmental factors. The hospital has the largest mofetta built in the world  (100 m2) that can host up to 100 people at a time.

The Bardócz Mofetta represents a unique natural monument and folk medicine site in Covasna town, preserved almost in its original state from the spa era of past centuries. This special place reflects the perfect harmony between nature and human ingenuity, offering visitors a true oasis of healing. 📍📆 The mofetta is open from March 1 to November 1. History and Origins The story of the Bardócz Mofetta began nearly 150 years ago when Sgt. Áron Bardócz discovered dead animals around his household. The local medical doctor quickly identified the cause of the death: carbon dioxide poisoning emanating from the soil. After the barn was deemed unsuitable for raising animals, Áron Bardócz decided in 1882, to establish a treatment center in his own yard. Thus, alongside the mofetta, a warm mineral water bath, a cold water pool used for Kneipp therapy, and several guest rooms were built. The mineral water was heated by introducing stones that had been heated in the fire, a method reflecting the technology of the era. His widow, Emma Bardócz, continued the therapeutic activity;  her devotion and conscientious attitude is reflected all over the place. felt in the atmosphere of this special place. A Unique Therapeutic Experience From the small balneologicalenterprise only the mofetta has survived; that it remained in its authentic and original form. The two-room system was originally designed to separate the "ladies" from the "gentlemen", according to the standards of decency of the time. On the interior wooden wall of the mofetta, there is a unique "guestbook": patients who were looking for their healing here left their pencil-written names and small observationsat the mofetta. This is a cherished pride preserved by the Bardócz Mofetta. One of the special features of the Bardócz Mofetta lies in the unique combination of concentrated carbon dioxide gas and healing radioactive factors, as well as the presence of saturated vapors. At a depth of just 3 meters, there is a mineral water layer, and the high pressure of the gas that emanates fills the mofetta with carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) aerosols. The visible humidity on the wooden floor of the mofetta is explained by the saturation of water-carbonated vapors, which, in the coolness of the mofetta, reach the "dew point," favoring continuous condensation. This phenomenon significantly enhances the therapeutic effects compared to dry mofettas. It is no coincidence that locals have called the Bardócz Mofeta "the evaporatingmofetta" from the beginning. The Importance of Mofettas The therapeutic use of carbon dioxide has a tradition of thousands of years. In the 1st century, Celsus and Pliny, and later Paracelsus used this gas to treat various ailments. In Transylvania, folk medicine has used carbon dioxide for over 600 years; its vasodilatory effect was first scientifically described in 1858. The therapeutic effects of the mofetta have also been studied by Márta Tatár, MD, chief cardiologist at the "Dr. Benedek Géza" Cardiology Hospital in Covasna. According to her, the unique healing power of the mofetta is due to the synergy between carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, radon, and the special microclimate. Mofetta therapy is effective for rheumatological, locomotor and angiological conditions. A Gateway to Another World Patients of the Bardócz Mofetta often feel that when stepping into this courtyard they enter a special and tranquil world. The proximity of nature, the energy of the place, and its century-old history emanate peace and harmony. This place is not only a space for healing the body but also for the soul. The Bardócz Mofetta remains a place faithful to the spirit of its founder and continues the Transylvanian spa tradition, offering an authentic and unique experience to those seeking healing and regeneration.

Services offered by the Hătuica Bath Centre: • Mofetta  • Bath, hot water and hydromassage in bathtubs  • Sauna  • Massage  • Fitness equipment  • Accommodation  The mofetta and other treatment facilities can only be used on the recommendation of our chief physical medicine and rehabilitation balneology doctor, after consultation. ❗ For consultation, prior appointment is required (+40 731 121 077). ☎️ 

Valea Zălanului is one of the smallest and most remote settlements in Covasna County, but also one of the most famous, as the British King Charles III bought an estate in this unspoilt “living skansen”.  Close to the estate of the British monarch is the Bugyogó Bath with its small pool and a small mofetta that blends into the landscape. It’s the ideal place to cool your feet in the cold mineral water after a hike in the woods and then try the dry bath, or mofetta. Location: Valea Zălanului, Plus Code 2Q57+993 Valea Zălanului Useful information: read up on the contraindications to mofetta use beforehand. Check the gas level with an open flame: where the flame goes out, you should not bend down. For occasional use, mofetta should not exceed ten minutes! Children are not allowed to use mofetta! Do not use phones or cameras below the gas level.