RESEARCH AND VALORISATION HISTORY OF MINERAL WATERS IN BRAŞOV COUNTY MEREŢ RODICA 1 , ZAHARIA LILIANA 2 ABSTRACT. Research and valorisation history of mineral waters in Braşov county. There are different types of mineral water in several settlements of Braşov County, such as Perşani, Rodbav, Homorod, Rupea, Codlea, Grid, Veneţia de Jos, Zizin, Tărlungeni, etc. This paper aims to briefly present a history of research and valorisation of mineral waters within the main settlements of Braşov County. It is based on relevant information extracted from pertinent scientific papers, archival research, interviews with local people and authorities, and field observations performed between 2010 and 2013. The paper highlights novel aspects with regard to the first mentions and descriptions of the county’s mineral waters, exploitation facilities and their current state. Keywords: mineral waters, exploitation, spa resorts, Braşov County. 1. INTRODUCTION Mineral waters have been known and used in Romania since ancient times. There are numerous artefacts belonging to the Roman period that confirm their use for healing purposes. Starting with the second half of the 18 th century, but especially in the 19 th and the beginning of the 20 th , increasingly more written mentions of mineral waters can be found, and their exploitation begins based on medical recommendations. Dr. Ştefan Vasile Episcopescu, in "Apele Metalice ale României Mari” (Metallic waters of Greater Romania) (1837) quoted by Berlescu (1971), highlights the importance of mineral waters and of their exploitation in Romania, and Dr. Anastasie Fătu, in his Descrierea şi întrebuinţarea apei comune şi a apelor minerale din România (Description and use of common and mineral water in Romania) (1874) quoted by Berlescu (1981), details all theretofore known mineral waters in Romania (this paper is considered to be the most important Romanian study in the field up to that time). This paper aims to highlight representative issues regarding the research and valorisation history of mineral waters in the main Braşov County settlements, which have become small seasonal or permanent spa resorts of local interest: Zizin, Perşani, Rodbav, Homorod, Rupea, Predeal, Codlea, Veneţia de Jos - "Băile Sărata" (Fig. 1). We believe that, through the data it provides - the first mentions 1 Secondary School No. 19, Braşov, Romania e-mail: kanord2908@yahoo.com 2 University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography, Bucharest, Romania e-mail: zaharialili@hotmail.com 407