The second part of Sascha's report on Băile Herculane.
In the previous part we looked at the general overview of the village and it's springs and with some detail at Băile Venera.
Picking up from here, Sascha continues:
Well, we might have to use the correct name. travelguideromania:'Ceausescu Hot SpringsJust in front of the Băile Venera springs another hot spring is coming out of the wall. Soaking Romanians told me that the water comes from another hot spring that fed in the past a hotel that belonged to Nicolae Ceausescu.On the picture [above] you can see the ruins of the hotel with the two smaller roofs.I tried to check the hotel, but the entrance was closed. Even if it is easy to enter on the hotel ground, I was not in the mood for Urbexing and preferred to stay in the pool at the river.No idea if this hot spring has an official name, therefore I suggest temporarily to call the spring Ceausescu Hot Springs.The water was 48°C hot but mixes up to quickly with the cold water from the river. The bottom was quite muddy.The more comfortable soak was clearly on the other side of the river at Băile Venera'.
'Opposite it is a circular building with a conical roof accommodates the Neptune Fountain II (Stomach Spring). Its water is good for diabetes. We continue upstream on the banks of Cerna to arrive at Baia Neptun (also known as Austrian Empire Baths). It is one of the most imposing buildings from Herculane Baths having its own bridge over the Cerna river'.Pumped
After possibly naming a no name hot spring, the next on offer is actually named no name by Sascha:
'No name hot spring in Băile HerculaneContinue the walk on the right side of the river (where Băile Venere is located) and you will come to an unpopular hot spring of 38°C.I didn't see people bathing here, maybe because the entrance on the street was closed, maybe because of the noise of the water pumping machines right behind [the soak]'.
Massed
We now move towards Hotel Roman (Facebook), so-called because:
'In the monumental structure of the hotel [Roman] building, the old Romans Baths are incorporated. Inside, there is still an ancient bas-relief depicting the demigod Hercules. To see the remains of Roman baths you have to enter the hotel. Unfortunately this is not mentioned anywhere on the outside'.Sascha:
'Hot springs close to Hotel Roman
The next hot spring is a bit out of the town, but still at a walking distance.
Cross the town on the left side of the river and head to Hotel Roman. It is one of the old hotels of the 80s that are still open (at the moment it is a 2 star hotel) and needs urgently a renovation. At the hotel, it gives the impression that the road ends, but it continues under a kind of tunnel and goes straight to the national park.
Around 100 m after the hotel you will find the hot springs. When you walk you will see them immediately, but probably not when driving in a car.
The water varies from 40°C to 42°C. Two concrete pools are on top, that create two waterfalls that feed the lower pools with another stream. Therefore, the lower pools have more or less the same temperature than the concrete pools. It is advisable to soak early in the morning or late in the evening when the masses are back in their hotels for dinner. It is probably the most natural hot spring in the area, and it is always great to find a hot spring that gives possibility to refresh in a cold river.
Very closeby starts a hike to two caves that are special because they are heated by natural hot gas. Do not expect sauna temperatures, it is more a humid subtropical climate in the cave'.
Barepockets describes a visit to the soaks of Roman hotel:
'Two outdoor hot-water pools await climbers in front of Hotel Roman, right on the banks of the Cerna River. These are not as smelly or crowded, but freaking hot! Luckily, there’s a solution. People improvised a small dam on the river where thermal water mixes with the river’s. And if you feel like swimming, Hotel Roman has an indoor hot-spring swimming pool'.
More on Hotel Roman itself.
Tripadvisor gives it just 2.5 stars based on 18 reviews. Examples:
'Dirt and communism are oozing from every corner and crevasse, and there are lots of crevasses....The basement with the Roman baths is a gem, like the entire falling apart town'.Agoda reviews are similar.
