Video foreign tourists impressed by Băile Herculane: “The landscape of old is fascinating, but some buildings are close to them”

The Herculane baths have become one of the most visited resorts in Romania, but the bleak state of many emblematic buildings continues to worry about tourists.

Over 150,000 tourists reach Băile Herculane (Caraș-Severin county annually), one of the oldest resorts with thermal waters in Romania.

Although he receives more and more tourists, the resort founded by Romanians on the Cerna Valley and developed by the Habsburg and the communist regime continues to amaze their guests with the appearance of many of his monument buildings.

Herculane railway station awaits renovation

The historical building of the railway station in Băile Herculane still reminds of the elegance of the resort of the past centuries, even though in recent years it has been increasingly degraded. The train station was built between 1878 and 1886, being inspired by the appearance of the hunting castle of Empress Maria Terezia of Austria, near Vienna.

The bar with baroque architecture impresses with the dome supported by two columns, adorned with paintings inspired by Roman mythology and covered with tile of several colors. The building would have been used initially as a hunting residence of Emperor Joseph of Austria (1830-1916), and towards the end of the 19th century, with the construction of the railway that linked Orșova to Timisoara, inaugurated in 1879, became the entrance gate to the resort for numerous Romanian travelers.

In the coming years, the train station will go through an extensive restoration process, meant to restore its brilliance. In the center of the resort, other old historical buildings from the 18th-19th centuries, have an uncertain situation. Many tourists remain impressed by their architecture, but they notice the state of degradation in which they were left.

“I liked this picturesque town, which once was a beautiful thermal resort. Time has left its mark, and some buildings are close to breaking down. Although some renovations are in progress, the landscape remains fascinating. I visited Băile Delphi, which offers a clear idea of what did the city. reports a tourist from the Netherlands, in a review left after the trip from Băile Herculane.

Huge hotels now empty

The mass tourism mentioned by it was encouraged in the 1960s and 1970s, when the big hotels in the resort were built, which received the names of some characters from ancient mythology: Aphrodite, Diana, Hercules, Roman, Minerva, intended to receive as many visitors. Annually, the resort received almost 100,000 tourists, many of them who came to treatment with thermal waters, known since the time of the Dacians and Romans.

While the communist authorities planned to expand the resort with new hotels, its oldest buildings, located in the historical center of the resort, were increasingly resisting the passage of time and neglect in which they had been left.

But after 1990, the communist hotels did not have a happier fate. Some were closed, in the absence of tourists and because of the problems that aimed at their administration.

In recent years, although official statistics show that the number of visitors from Băile Herculane has been constantly increasing, only a few historical constructions in Băile Herculane have benefited from restorations.

A century and a half -century old, the stone bridge over Cerna, from the entrance to Hercules Square, was rehabilitated and became an attraction of the resort. In contrast, the bridge as old, cast iron, from the entrance to the Neptune Baths, has been closed for several years, due to the accentuated degradation of the construction. Another bridge over Cerna, built in the years of communism, also presents risks, due to holes in its structure. Several historical buildings were, in turn, restored or are in the site, but some seem to disappear.

The most degraded monuments in the Băile Herculane resort, however, remained the buildings in Băile Neptun, built between 1883 and 1886, on the right bank of Cerna. Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria and his wife, Elisabeta (Sisi), guests of the resort in the 19th century were housed. The Neptune ensemble has been restored in the 1960s, but has continued to be degraded in recent decades. In 2019, there were also works to put on safe placement of his buildings, through a project carried out by the Locus Negovernmental Association. But the emergency interventions were not sufficient to remove the danger of collapse of historical monuments and their components.

After a visit to Băile Herculane, some tourists are pleasantly impressed by what they found here, despite the buildings affected by the passage of time.

“In addition to the relaxing walks through the Băile Herculane resort (the first documented resort in Romania, at the height of its development in the 19th century), you can discover other interesting places, such as Băile Neptun, today in comparison, but true architectural monuments from the 19th century, the statue of Hercules, the Old Hercules Romanian artifacts ”recommend another foreign tourist.

The controversies of the imperial baths

The city itself is picturesque and extremely romantic, with many terraces, sidewalks and bistros, perfect for lovers or freshly married.

“The sulfur baths are recommended for those who suffer from dermatitis or other skin conditions. For the active ones, eager for adventure, the resort is an excellent gate to the Domogled National Park (entering the park is 10 minutes by car from the city center) or to the Cheile Nerei Park”, complete it.

Other travelers notice the sad fate of the Neptune ensemble. In the past, says one of them Băile Herculane rival with Karlovy Vary resort. Today, however, it is just a pale shadow and a bitter memory of what was once.

“The imperial baths in Băile Herculane – designed by the famous architect Ignác Alpár and built between 1883 and 1886 – were once a true jewel, not only of the city, but also of the entire Habsburg Empire. Today, these buildings that were once wonderful are in ruin and degradation. I allow the beginning of the works, that the buildings belong to the municipality, but the land on which they are built do not belong and so on ”, he said.

The tourist demands the danger that the historical ensemble represents.

“Sorry over excuses to do nothing for this architectural masterpiece and historical monument. If you visit the Herculane baths, you will find these buildings near the stone bridge and the Hercules market … Unfortunately, it is in a state of advanced degradation-so if you go there, you are in the mesh. You still have to be careful ”, he remembers.

Other tourists hope, in their turn, that the architectural ensemble currently will regain their appearance.

The resort sought for almost two millennia

The thermal springs from Băile Herculane have their origin in the volcanic activity in this area.

The Romans set up the resort in the Banat Mountains in the second century, arranging the termines in the vicinity of Mehadia (Antica Ad Mediam) and near Orșova (ancient Dierna) – the place where the armies led by Emperor Trajan passed the Danube to invade Dacia.

The ruins of the Roman resort were unearthed in the eighteenth century, after centuries where the earth and forests hid them. The ancient ad aquas Herculi Sacras was transformed into the 19th century of Habsburgs into an attractive resort, often visited by members of the imperial family.

In the 20th century, the communist regime expanded the Băile Herculane resort around its 19th -century historical center. Some historical buildings have not been protected, on the other hand, hotel complexes with over 100 rooms were erected, intended for mass tourism. Băile Herculane resort declined after 1990, with the decrease of the number of tourists and the lack of investments in the tourist services.

“Although the Romanians are melancholy, thinking of the former glory of the Herculane baths, it can be seen that there are steps to restore the old center, says one of them,” says a foreign tourist after visiting the resort.