How To Discover The Amazing Hercules Bath In Romania

Baile Herculane/Herculesbad/Hercules Bath is really special among the Romanian spa resorts. Its huge prestige is due not only the long history of its wonderful healing powers(more than 2000 years), but also to its amazing hot mineral waters. These fabulous waters have been used by the legendary Hercules himself, representing according the locals one of the reason of his unearthly strength.

These waters have have many healing properties, and one can use them for inside or outside cure. Besides, qualified personnel offer some useful helping treatments, e.g. geriatric, acupunctural, apitherapic. You can have your daily water treatments very private in small bathrooms, or in bigger luxury pools (Ruschita marble. Your choice, your taste!). And if you come for a cure, you may not miss the fabulous environment. The town and resorts are surrounded by picturesque mountains and forests. You can walk there for days and weeks!

The fantastic Railway Station from Herculane is one of the most beautiful in Romania, and reminds to a Turkish bath

The position and climate of Baile Herculane is totally unique. Strong Mediterranean influences are to feel in the lack of very cold days, even during the worst Romanian winters. And about the vegetation, take a walk in the amazing Domogled National Park, with its unique endemic species, right near the resort.

The legendary Hercules must have been a local of Herculane

Reaching Herculane by train, you see first the railway station, of course. It is very old and stylish, one of the most beautiful railway stations in Romania. Its amazing Architecture reminds a Turkish bath! First, we walk and discover through Pecinisca, a quarter of the town Hercules Bath. Modern, with sad blocks of flats, and totally unspectacular. Cross the bridge on the Cerna River, build in the 70's on the place of an older, much nicer one, from 1896. On the right bank the rich forest simply falls on the town, while the left bank you can see the Domogled heights, inviting to a demanding walk. Not far is the breathtaking Central Park with a perfect mix of species. Very peaceful environment, with old couples walking, while the young kissing ones must be searched at night whether here, or in the hot pools. Daily, during the summer season, be sure to find the orchestra singing in the middle of the park. Discover here around the hotels Diana, Afrodita, and the old Bath Venera, build in 1752. On the other side of Cerna River, discover the wonderful Villa Livia, deeply Romanian in its Architecture. Very close, the Central Swimming Pool (1871) and the Hotel Traian, build in an interesting Vienna baroque style. A proud representing building is the former Casino, nowadays the Town museum. Don't miss the statue of Hercules in Hercules Bath, please, it is the symbol of all town and the locals are very proud about. They know a lot of myths and legends and pretend Hercules is simply one of them.

Baile Herculane is very stylish and peaceful

About the trekking and hiking trails I will let you know very soon, meet first this fabulous resort and spa retreat. You can do it in style in one of the resort's leading hotels, or on a budget. You are only pleased to enjoy life and the special environment of Baile Berculane.

The best spa retreats in Romania

There are many possibilities to relax in Romania, and I have presented a few of them, and I would like to keep on!

About relaxing, maybe I should remember you that Ana Aslan was a famous gerontologyst, living in Romania and leading even in the tough Ceausescu times rejuvenating cures.  Bucharest was a world capital of gerontology, and many world leaders and prominents have been cured here. Ana Aslan had a legendary vitality and died in a good menthal shape at 90 years. Many of her medicines are still made in Romania, and largely used in the today spa retreats.

Ana Aslan, the founder of the Romanian geriatrics school, and founder of gerovital

And there is another important fact I will reveal to you: the Romanian Transilvania has a huge geothermal potential, it lies literally on a underground sea of hot water, and has an unbelievable geothermal potential. Many of the popular water pools in Oradea are based on this hot water, which is also excellent for fighting against rheumatism, carrying many salts and minerals.Several cities in transilvania are heated with these hot waters and heating pumps.

So, the result is that Romania could be a spa paradise, which is not totally true, as this kind of tourism has been neglected a long period! nevertheless, there are a bunch of excellent spa retreats you should count, if you wanna feel better and looking as the 18 years! Besides, you will agree that most of Romanian hotels have a very relaxed atmosphere. Unfortunately, during these long  medical cures ( at least 2 weeks) you may drink only two glasses of wine, once to the dinner and once to the lunch (forget the third, to the breakfast!). But count on me for recommending the right wines!

In my opinion, the following resorts deserve to be nominated as the best Romanian spa retreats :

1. Baile Felix, where a series of proofed treatments are being executed in the many hotels of the resort. Baile Felix lies on an underground hot water sea, amazing!. Visit the Hotels Nufarul and Continental, and book also a rejuvenating Aslan treatment.

Open pool in Baile Felix, with thermal water, near Hotel Continental

2. Baile Herculane has been correctly evaluated even by the Romans, 2000 years ago!  The strong Hercules himself visited the resort and took a refreshing bath there! 150 years ago was at the peak of its glory, many elites from Vienna and Budapest came here for relaxing.

One of the many pools of Baile Herculane

3.Techirghiol carries the name of a neighboring lake, whose sapropelic mood has special properties against rheumatism. Has also a good tradition; also the Romanian Black Sea coast is there and you have a wide selection of ways to have fun.

Fun at Techirghiol dea in the early 60's

4.Eforie Nord has a special treatment basis in hotel Steau de Mare, with mood from Techirghiol, spa, mecicines and Aslan cures. The treatment is possible all year long, not exclusively during the peak deason from April to September. So, you can book right now!

Baile Herculane, the Romanian spa by excellence

If you are in that corner of Romania close with the today Serbia, just having visited Iron Gates (Portile de Fier) with their breathtaking landscapes, would be such a pity to miss a visit in Baile Herculane ( The Hercules Baths, German Hercules bad, Hungarian Herkulesfurdo).

According to the legend, Hercules himself took a bath and a rest in Baile Herculane. This statue is 150 years old  and is a mark of the resort

In the caves from the vicinity have been found traces of living people which dates back to Mesolithic and Neolithic. The legendary Hercules came here, took a bath and had an excellent rest. During the Roman occupation of 170 years important people and elites came here, setting a sort of aristocratic spa.

Hotel Cerna from Baile Herculane has a history behind, and is very proud of it.

At 1700-1900 the spa was one of the best known in central Europe, with excellent hotels and restaurants and exquisite clients. Visiting that part of the resort with the deserted hotels makes feel a little sad, if you thing to the growth and decay of everything. But there are also good news, for those who can receive them: the reopening of the rebuild Hotel Ferdinand since a few years gave to the resort a new impulse.

One of the old pools of Herculane, filled with warm thermal water, the main attraction point for youngsters, mainly when after sunset

During the communist times, the rulers tried to democratize the resort and brought mass tourism, building big hotels. This part of the resort is much more animated, and enjoys two very different categories of clients: very young and very old! The old ones try to rejuvenate through Aslan treatments, while the young ones love the thermal pools where  they stay very long,until midnight, without being sick!

It is a good idea coming To Baile Herculane by train, as the railway station  is very old, nice and spectacular. If you don't come by train, it is nevertheless a must seeing it, not only for Architecture or History freaks. Further, in Baile Herculane, you can make wonderful Danube cruises, climbing mountains in the neighborhood . Beware here the venomous snakes, but don't miss the Cerna Valley, which a gorge with abrupt walls of strong rocks. The hot air coming from the south west stays long in the valley, resulting in one of the hottest area in Romania! Add also the many rains, resulting in an a fast tropical vegetations, vey unusual for Romania.

The railway from Baile Herculane is the most beautiful in the all Romania. Very old, nice, and spectacular, is a must see for any visitor.

From Baile Herculane you can go to Drobata-Turnu Severin, Timisoara, Orsova. But first of all stay here at least a few days, you will feel much better!