Gr Betschkerek Salzamt

The Hapsburg monopoly on salt-----white gold----- was an important source of income for the crown.  Salt is an indispensable component in the human diet as well as in food preservation.     The Hapsburg controlled most of the salt production in the empire, most of which was centered in the Tirol.  Hungary and Croatia tended to be salt poor and these countries were important markets for Tirolian salt.

As part of this salt trade a series of warehouses(Salzamts) were established in larger metropolitan areas for the distribution of Hapsburg salt.  This distribution system in the Banat took the form of warehouses in larger metropolitan towns including Temeswar, Gr Betschkerek and perhaps Lugosch as well as Orowitz.   The Salzamt in Gr Betschkerek still stands(as of 2015) although in a very derelict condition.  At that time there was some debate among city authorities on the question of restoration or demolishing the structure.  At this time, 2024, it appears that the city will likely demolish the structure which is regarded as beyond any practical salvage or restoration.

An 1818 entry in the monthly reports of the XII Deutsch Banater Grenz Regiment records the dispatch of detachments consisting of a corporal and seven troopers for guard duty on the Gr Betschkerek Salzamt.