If we were to descend into the depths of the earth, we would discover that the temperature rises by 10 degrees every 1000 meters. This happens if we dig, for there are blessed places where hot water rises to the surface without human intervention. If there has also been volcanic activity in the area, and the rocks have been able to accumulate minerals that have a positive effect, the water has certainly become more precious. That's kind of what happens in Baile Herculane. A wonder of nature. A perfect combination between the spectacle of nature and history.
Let'go back a couple millennia. The locals knew about the hot springs, they used them routinely. After the wars between the Dacians and the Romans, the beneficial waters of Herculaneum were used by the sons of Rome. On the line of defense between the Danube and the new capital of Dacia, between Drobeta - Orsova and Sarmizegetusa, the road passes near Herculaneum. The Romans had built a castrum in the area, located in today's small village of Mehadia. Well, when they referred to Herculane, they said "Ad Aquas Herculi Sacras ad Mediam", that is "To the holy waters of Hercules near Mehadia".
Well, the hero of mythology symbolizes the ideal combination of physical and spiritual health, between the strength of body and mind. But not only did Hercules give the resort its name, we also find his face on a rock in a well-hidden place.
We all know that the Romans had a spa cult. They spread it all over the empire, and at Herculane they didn't even need to heat the waters. They're hot from nature. Legend has it that after battles, wounded horses bathed in Herculaneum's waters and healed faster. Moreover, the animals inexplicably recovered from seemingly incurable conditions. This was the first hint that the waters at Herculane were not just warm, but truly beneficial. The nobles and emperors who passed this way never forgot to thank the son of Zeus for this discovery. Votive tablets with such declarations of gratitude have survived. One inscription reads: "The most illustrious man Calpurnius Julianus of the Fifth Macedonian Legion, imperial legate, governor of the province of Moesia, has gladly fulfilled his feast to Hercules, the divinity of the place, and the hot springs".
Imagine having access to Roman baths over 1900 years old. Pure springs, inherited from Roman ancestors. The story gets even more interesting in the 18th-19th centuries, during the Habsburg rule, when the resort was radically transformed. An Austrian town was built on top of a Roman town to treat the empire's soldiers. It wasn't long before the development of the place took off and Herculane was transformed into a modern, chic town, frequented by the aristocracy and the emperors of Vienna. Emperor Franz Joseph, who also ruled Karlovy Vary in today's Czech Republic, called Herculane "the most beautiful resort" in Europe.
It is also to be appreciated that the imperial zone has not "merged" with the everyday or hotel zone. Although the first two decades after the Revolution were not kind to the resorts spa in Romania, the time has come for Herculane to be reborn. As proof, some hotels have already undergone major improvements. A landmark is Aphrodite Resort & Spa, the complex that motivates other establishments to keep up and offer impeccable service.
A stroll through the upper city reveals stories of Hercules wearing the lion's fur of Nemea, of the queen of Lydia with whom he had a child, or of the gods of health, Aesculapius and Hygeea. The latter have also left us an important legacy: the symbol of health in the modern world is the staff of Aesculapius.
If under the newly renovated central park is the former Roman amphitheater and under the road there are ruins of ancient walls, in the upper part of the resort you will discover a hotel from the communist times. There is also a bas-relief of the mythical Hercules.
The natural landscape is sensational. Between the Cerna Mountains and the Mehedinti Mountains once flowed the wild Cerna River, the Tierna of old. On both sides, limestone and limestone cliffs rise. On the summits you can see the hardy Banat Black Pine, which stands fearlessly on the edge of the precipices or on the rocky corners. where no one expects it.
The story goes that during her walks here, Princess Sisi told her Romanian companions that she would like to have a picnic area. Overnight, dozens of locals erected wooden gazebos to surprise their much-loved empress. Today, we still have traces of these constructions in the Cerna Mountains: the Green, Yellow and the hardest to reach, the Red Foisorul. From these points you have a breathtaking view of the Bailors Herculane. Also in memory of Elisabeth von Wittelsbach (Sisi) we have today Villa Elisabeth and Stanca lui Sisi, which stands high above the town.
Baile Herculane offers us the possibility to combine relaxation, health, cultural and adventure tourism. The list of nearby tourist attractions is long - they are certainly worth mentioning:
Herculane is about mineral waters and thermal baths, nature, Roman history, Austrian imperial history and a lot of peace. We invite you to discover all these treasures yourself.
AUTHOR: Florin Arjocu
Travel guide
florin@drumliber.ro
www.drumliber.ro
The article was published in SPA&Wellness Magazine November 2016 edition.
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