Băile Herculane (or Herculane Baths) is a town situated in the valley near the Cerna river in Romania. It is surrounded by the most amazing mountains (Mehedinți mountains and the Cerna mountains). The town has a population of around 5.000 people and has a very long history. It is one of the oldest resorts in the world. Several archaeological discoveries show that the area has been inhabited since the Old Stone Age. Legend has it that a Roman hero and god named Hercules dropped by the village to bathe and rest. Multiple statues of Hercules have been discovered around town.
Emperor Franz Joseph in 1852 called Băile Herculane “the most beautiful resort on the continent”. Together with his wife Empress Elisabeth (Princess Sisi) they loved staying in the town. Empress Elisabeth even had a house in the center of the town. In current times, Băile Herculane is mostly known because of its (supposedly) natural healing hot springs with sulfur (my god, that stinks!), chlorine, sodium, magnesium and other minerals. During the Communist rule, facilities were built for mass tourism like 8-12 storied hotels.
All kinds of people visited the town, but it was mostly popular with employees and retired people, who would visit Băile Herculane to spend their state-allotted vacation vouchers while hoping to improve their health. Nowadays, the town is also regularly visited by younger people. At the end of the 20th century, a couple of privately-owned hotels and pensions appeared. Unfortunately, some of the older buildings (Austria-Hungary era) are derelict and have fallen into decay. I’ve visited a couple of these buildings and photographed them earlier this year. After my great trips to Georgia and Abkhazia, this area was a lovely surprise.
Băile Herculane (or Herculane Baths) is a town situated in the valley near the Cerna river in Romania. It is surrounded by the most amazing mountains (Mehedinți mountains and the Cerna mountains). The town has a population of around 5.000 people and has a very long history. It is one of the oldest resorts in the world. Several archaeological discoveries show that the area has been inhabited since the Old Stone Age. Legend has it that a Roman hero and god named Hercules droOne of the buildings I looked most forward to and the main reason I’ve visited Băile Herculane is Băile Neptun (or Neptune Baths or Austrian Imperial Baths). Băile Neptun has been built at the end of the 19th century (between 1883 and 1886). Architect Alpar Ignat designed the plans for the building. Băile Neptun has former sulfur and thermal baths with 32 individual cabins and 2 large pools built of red marble. The pools were getting their water from the Neptune I and Neptune IV springs. On the first floor used to be a gym. It is a huge building with a lot of rooms. However, one of the rooms stands out. The reception hall has amazing colors, details and a ceramic fountain in the middle of the room. Luckily enough, this is still quite well preserved (considering the circumstances).pped by the village to bathe and rest. Multiple statues of Hercules have been discovered around town.
In the resort, Roman origins are present throughout the building. For example, plaques dedicated to Hercules, Aesculap, and Hygeia (protective gods of this place) can be found.
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