TRADITIONAL WHIRLPOOLS OF CHIUZBAIA

In the Baia Sprie area, the tradition of washing with vâltori (whirlpools) has been known since ancient times. In Chiuzbaia, a charming little village nestled at the foot of the Igniș Mountain, there are still four functional whirlpools.
Over the centuries, the locals of this small community have engaged not only in mining, but also in wool processing, creating the renowned local wool coats (gube) and woolen blankets (cergi).
The whirlpools are traditional wooden installations powered by water, typically positioned along moderately flowing rivers, and they function as genuine rural washing machines. These devices have been and still are, used both for washing and rinsing large textiles, as well as for thickening woolen cloth. In Chiuzbaia, they were also used to clean the dirt from the miners' clothes.
The whirlpools are built from logs arranged in a conical shape, where a fast stream of water spins. Water is diverted from the river and directed into the installation using a sluice gate, allowing for the water flow to be controlled. As the water falls into the whirlpool, garments like gube (traditional wool coats), woolen blankets and rugs are washed and thickened.
In Chiuzbaia, the still-functioning vâltori are used for cleaning purposes but also serve as local tourist attractions.