Today we arrive at one of the oldest spa resorts in Europe, attested around the year 150 CE. Located in southwest Romania, the Băile Herculane spa resort offers a varied range of treatment procedures. In addition to the special therapeutic quality of the mineral waters, the strongly ionized air balances the nervous system and ensures restful sleep. Thus, you will also be able to explore the surroundings of the resort, which offer multiple possibilities for leisure.
The archaeological discoveries made in 2016 in Herculaneum revealed pools used for bathing in thermal water built by the Roman civilization. Such constructions are not found elsewhere in the world, except in the area of Asia Minor or in the famous ancient city of Pompeii. Therefore, it is a place full of history, but also of stories and legends, says Laura Pătru, PR manager at the ProTurism Herculane Association.
“It has been attested since 153 CE, so it had time to collect a lot of stories, starting with those of the noble Roman families who came to Herculaneum, and whose traces are still visible today. There are still functional baths from Roman times in the Herculaneum Baths, so these stories are also preserved and tangible for those who visit the place. The resort also went through a period that we call the Austrian period, in one of its moments of glory, when it was a favorite place for many crowned heads, and today still bears the marks of these guests over time. Those who are passionate about history can come to see the gazebo of Empress Elisabeta, in Herculaneum, a place that was built by the locals so that Empress Sisi could have breakfast there.”
In the old center of the resort, you can still see the old treatment facilities. In the alley between them stands the statue of Hercules, in the middle. But few people know that in these complexes, which guard the statue of the legendary hero, operated the first hydraulic elevator in Europe, a technological marvel of the era, which appeared at the end of the 1800s. The elevator cabin was lifted by the water pressure from the thermal springs. And the legends are as fascinating as the history of the place.
“There are a lot of legends, because the natural landscape in Herculaneum is spectacular and, of course, it is related first of all to the legend of Hercules, the founder of the resort. Tourists can visit the Outlaws’ Cave, a place where treasures are said to be hidden, or see the Steam Grotto, where Burebista himself, the king of the Geto-Dacians, is said to have come to speak with the gods. So when we talk about history and legends, the Băile Herculane resort is very rich. Above all, Herculaneum is a spectacle of nature, both in terms of scenery and resources, so it can easily be a complete holiday experience, all the more so as it is an excellent base camp for a lot of sites in the surroundings.”
In Baile Herculane, you will also notice the building of a casino. It was built between 1862-1864 by the same Viennese architect who also designed the initial plans for Peleș Castle: Wilhelm von Doderer. A meeting and entertainment place for the crowned heads and the nobility of the time, the Herculane Casino was not only the first casino of this area of the continent, but also one of the most beloved by the aristocracy of the time. The place where fortunes were lost and made for the courts of Europe, a place bustling with carriages, precious stones, and period dresses.
Another famous vestige of the city is the railway station of the resort, considered the most beautiful in Romania and one of the most romantic in Europe. It is a copy of one of Empress Theresa’s hunting castles, near Vienna. From here, it is seven kilometers to the center of the resort, where tourists can enjoy the healing waters, says Laura Pătru, PR manager at the ProTurism Herculane Association.
“There are 16 springs, each with its own particularity, so a wide variety of conditions can be treated, from rheumatism to neurological and dermatological conditions. It’s quite a wide range. At the same time, the accommodation units in Băile Herculane keep up very well with all the European trends in terms of spas, and this trend says that we must somehow combine these water therapies with relaxation therapies. In the accommodation units of Herculaneum, you will find massages that include thermal waters, which are not exactly the treatment that we know from our grandparents, in the way it was perceived, but, nevertheless, we enjoy the power of the waters in a more modern way, which relaxes us. Of course, we try to bring the nature of the place indoors as much as possible, so that the therapeutic product from Herculaneum is specific to that place. You will find in the offers massages with combinations of local herbal oils, or massages with honey from local sources, because the experience must be authentic and specific to this place. The treatment bases in the resort are quite well developed, they also have a balneology segment and a spa segment. Therapies are very varied, there are local and international therapists.”
If you also explore the surroundings of the resort area, in the warm season, you will see a lot of butterflies. There are over 1,500 species here. This fact is due to the special properties of the air in the area, which means that 45% of the butterfly species in Romania are concentrated in Herculane, but also the only place in the world where some species of butterflies can be found. Also in the surroundings, you will be able to explore the Danube Gorges, a truly spectacular place, says Laura Pătru, PR manager at the ProTurism Herculane Association.
“Also, there is the Face of Decebalus carved into the rock face, which is the largest mountain sculpture in Europe. You can go on boat trips, by steamboat, and it is a very relaxing area, with spectacular landscapes. From Herculane, the village of Ineleț can be reached in a fairly short time. Access to it is only by a vertical wooden staircase, along a waterfall. The fact that this village is so difficult to reach has made tradition there, and time, stand still. Because technology has not yet penetrated this hamlet so high in the mountains, visitors can see the Banat Montan from 100 years ago, with its people and traditions.”
Here, then, are some reasons to visit the Băile Herculane resort, a place where the healing power of water has not disappointed for 2,000 years.