RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Baile Herculane Thermal Spa Resort

An outlook on one of the oldest spa resorts in Romania.

Baile Herculane Thermal Spa Resort
Baile Herculane Thermal Spa Resort

, 23.07.2015, 12:24

“Return to the Water! Balance and Health. This is how one of Romanias and even the worlds first spa resorts could be promoted. First documented in 153 AD, the Baile Herculane thermal spa resort is part of the Valea Cernei – Domogled National Park. Many of the tourists who visited Baile Herculane have appreciated the Mediterranean climate and the healing power of the thermal waters here. The resort is worth more attention than it has received in the past 25 years, according to Viorel Silvoseanu, a physician specialized in rehabilitation, physical recovery and spa treatment. Viorel Silvoseanu:



The air here is highly ionized, rich in oxygen and very fresh, due to the currents on the valley of Cerna River and to the altitude. The ionisation here is the highest in the area and varies depending on the time of day. What does high negative ionisation mean? In the big cities there are 80 to 100 ions per cubic centimetre. This concentration goes up to 2,000 ions in Baile Herculane, so there is a clearly positive influence. These ions help us sleep better and balance our nervous system. Negative ions stimulate metabolism and speed up recovery. The spa resort offers a wide range of therapeutic procedures. The thermal sulphurous bath is the most appreciated by tourists, but we also have thermal baths using medicinal herbs. The herbs we use all chemical-free. We use mint, hawthorn, calendula, acacia, milfoil and lavender. We also use physiotherapy with low, medium and high magnetic frequency and the IR laser, available in all spa hotels in Romania, as well as therapeutic relaxation massage, hydrokinetic and kinetic therapy, psychological counselling and continuous medical education.



Doctor Viorel Silvoseanu has explained why the sulphurous bath is recommended as treatment:



We use it to treat degenerative illnesses such as osteoarthritis and chronic degenerative rheumatism. We also use it for illnesses of the locomotive system, of the nervous system and the skin, as well as for genital or neurological conditions. Post-traumatic disorders that follow labour and car accidents can also be treated here. The sulphurous bath has a positive effect on the body thanks to its three main components: the chemical, thermal and mechanical one. The major chemical component is the sulphur, not the one included in the periodic table but hydrogen sulphide, which enters the blood stream through the skin or by inhalation. It helps treat people suffering from joint impingement diseases.



Baile Herculane has a long tradition as a spa town. It is located at the foot of the southern Carpathians, in the Cerna river valley. Historian Dorin Balteanu tells us more about the history of this place.



The Romans were the first to realise the therapeutic benefits of these springs. Our Dacian ancestors had also been aware of the waters benefits and would build light structures made of wood at the place of origin of these springs. After the conquest of Dacia, the Romans pulled down these structures and built instead the first Roman baths, called thermae. An ancient altar can still be seen today in the resorts old centre, dating back to 153 AD. Baile Herculane is one of the oldest spa towns in the world. The thermal springs in Cerna Valley drew the attention of the new Roman rulers, who made their first investments in the area, building the first roads, aqueducts, viaducts and baths. The place soon attracted both important political figures from the Roman Empire and ordinary citizens, who came here for treatment and rest. Needless to say, there are many legends connected to this area. After bathing in the miraculous waters of the mineral springs, Hercules is said to have fought the Hydra in Cerna Valley. A number of megalithic statues can be found in Baile Herculane, such as the Sphinx of Cerna, the Banat Sphinx in Toplet and the bas-relief of the Imperial Roman Baths depicting Hercules clash with Hydra in Cerna Valley.



Travel blogger Florin Arjoc says Baile Herculane is more than a good place for a spa holiday or a nice place to walk around:



Baile Herculane is the perfect starting point for trips in an area of up to 200 km. Travellers can leave their luggage in Baile Herculane while visiting the surrounding area, and come back for a dip in the thermal waters. There are travel agencies that provide such packages. This year we have added a new route. One interesting trip is a cruise on the Danube. The trip starts in Orsova and can also include a visit to the museum of the Iron Gates hydropower plant. On the Danube, visitors can spot the monument of Tabula Traiana, the statue of Dacian king Decebalus, the Danube gorges and trips may be arranged to the caves on the Danube. Another idea is a trip by train from Oravita to Anina. The route is 30 km long and lasts for two hours, going through tunnels and across bridges. The train is an old model, but is in good condition. Its an amazing experience and I warmly recommend this train journey. Other places that can be reached from Baile Herculane and which are not so well known are several villages 20 km upstream from Herculane that can only be reached through some wooden steps. Once you are at the top of the mountain, the view is truly spectacular.



To end this programme, lets hear from the founder of the travel website Infotravel Romania, Petre Dordea:


Our website is for people who are interested in nature, history and traditions and can do without 5-star accommodation and all-inclusive holidays. I urge you all to come to Romania because it is a beautiful country, there are many interesting things to see here and, while it may not be the cheapest destination, it is by no means the most expensive.


Staţiunea Herculane (sursă foto: facebook.com/ProTurismHerculane)
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 07 November 2024

Herculane SPA in south-western Romania

We’re heading to south-western Romania, today. Our stopover is one of Europe’s oldest balneal resorts. In Herculane Spa, Baile Herculane, in...

Herculane SPA in south-western Romania
Walking on Brâncuși’s route in Gorj County
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 31 October 2024

Walking on Brâncuși’s route in Gorj County

UNESCO included on its world heritage list, in 2024, the Heroes’ Path, a sculptural ensemble in Târgu Jiu made by Constantin Brâncuși. The...

Walking on Brâncuși’s route in Gorj County
Attractive Romania
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 17 October 2024

Attractive Romania

Attractive Romania was launched in 2024. It is the most complex online platform created for the promotion of cultural tourism at home, Alao it is...

Attractive Romania
Foto: pixabay.com
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 03 October 2024

On the Transalpina in Ranca

Transalpina is the road located at the highest altitude in Romania, which is why it earned its reputation as “the road above the clouds”....

On the Transalpina in Ranca
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 26 September 2024

Speleological tourism in Romania’s Anina Mountains

Romania is home to roughly 12,000 caves, actually being one of Europe’s top countries in terms of the number and the diversity of the caves. Being...

Speleological tourism in Romania’s Anina Mountains
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 19 September 2024

Romania’s wine story

The itineraries and the tours taken around Romania’s wine cellars are focused on one single eventual aim: getting acquainted with the regions...

Romania’s wine story
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 12 September 2024

The Golden Apples Cultural-Touristic Route

The Cultural-touristic “Golden Apples” Route includes destinations such as Bukovina, the Danube Delta, Mărginimea Sibiului, Târgu Jiu and...

The Golden Apples Cultural-Touristic Route
Traveller’s Guide Thursday, 01 August 2024

Harghita, the Family Friendly County

In the center of Romania, in Harghita county, there is a petting zoo. Contact with animals can be therapeutic, and here you can find deer, Icelandic...

Harghita, the Family Friendly County

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company