Main points
- The Drohobych Salt Plant has been operating continuously since the 14th century, using the traditional method of salt extraction.
- The plant is among the 30 oldest continuously operating companies in Europe.
Drohobych Salt Plant / Drohobych Plant website
In today's world, many companies appear quickly and disappear just as quickly within a few years. However, there is an enterprise in Ukraine that has been operating continuously since the Middle Ages.
How long has the oldest business been in business?
We are talking about the Drohobych Salt Plant. This salt factory in the Lviv region has been operating continuously since the 14th century at the same location, according to the company's official website.
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According to historical data, the first mentions of salt production in Drohobych date back to approximately 1250.
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However, a documented record of salt mining appeared in 1390. It was then that the city was already known as an important center of salt mining.
For centuries, the prosperity of Drohobych was facilitated by the saltworks, which supplied salt not only to Galicia and Transcarpathia, but also to Volhynia, the Kholm land, the Kyiv region,
– it says in the company's history.
The company is currently on the list of the 30 oldest companies in Europe that have managed to maintain their operations continuously, VisualCapitalist notes.
Photo: Drohobych Salt Plant – One of the Oldest in Europe / VisualCapitalist
Important! Currently, the plant produces about 50 tons of salt per month. The products are mainly sold in the Lviv region.
How is salt made in Drohobych?
Just like over 700 years ago, Drohobych still uses the traditional method of salt extraction today:
- First, brine is extracted from underground sources;
- This brine is then boiled in special vats.
The work is not easy. Workers say that by the end of the shift they are exhausted.
Hard work. All housewives need salt, and who will make it for them if not us? We come home – immediately to the bathhouse,
– one of the salt makers told Gazeta.ua.
The uniqueness of the production lies in the mine itself, as it is built of wood without the use of metal. Thanks to the high concentration of salt, the wooden structures have been preserved and preserved to this day.
Interesting! In addition to industrial activities, the enterprise also performs a tourist function. Excursions are held here, during which you can see the old production facilities and the process of salt distillation.
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What are the oldest companies in the world?
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Most private companies in the world have an average lifespan of about ten years, but there are thousands of exceptions. Today, there are over 5,500 businesses that are at least 200 years old, and some have been in continuous operation for over a thousand years, passing the business down from generation to generation.
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The oldest company in the world is considered to be the Japanese Kongo Gumi, founded in 578 to build Buddhist temples. It remained a family business for over 1,400 years and only became part of Takamatsu Construction in 2006.
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In Europe, examples of centuries-old businesses include the Austrian restaurant St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, which has been operating since 803, and the Paris Mint, founded in 864 and still in operation today.