In one of Europe’s oldest spa towns, Baile Herculane, graffiti encircles the crumbling walls of the main thermal baths.
A dedicated team of young architects is now working to revive the picturesque Romanian resort, which once attracted emperors to its healing waters, despite decades of neglect.
Oana Chirila, a 31-year-old architect, once said, “Someone once said that if you drink water from the spring from Herculane, you never leave.”
The town in southwest Romania, which is surrounded by mountains and a river, was “amazed by the beauty of the place” she remarked. She continued, referring to the deterioration of the historic thermal baths, “and at the same time, I was shocked by its condition.”
Chirila claimed that she had a chance when she first went to Baile Herculane eight years ago.
One of the recent civil society initiatives to protect Romania’s historic monuments is the restoration project led by her group.
Around 800 of these monuments have advanced to the point where they could completely collapse. Some already present significant risk to public safety.
The Neptune Imperial Baths, which were built in 1886, once attracted prestigious clients seeking the warm sulfur treatments.
Franz Joseph, the Austrian Emperor, and his wife Elisabeth, also known as Sisi, were among these illustrious visitors. The town was referred to as Europe’s “most beautiful spa resort” by Franz Joseph.
The bathrooms are closed as of right now, with graffiti on the walls, debris on the floors, and rain seeping through the ceiling.
Tourists frequently take a moment to admire and photograph the long, rusted facade, with some attempting to see the interior through cracked windows.
Chirila and her volunteer team are currently limited to the exterior of the baths’ structure. She explained that full restoration cannot be accomplished until legal disputes between government and private owners are resolved. “There’s always this fear that it might collapse,” she continued.
The majority of historical monuments are currently in their current state, which means they are constantly in decay, which prevents the use of public or European funds for restoration.
Visitors can currently enjoy three “little bathtubs” of sulfur along one side of the riverbank.
One of the numerous projects her team has completed throughout the town was to renovate these basins and build wooden changing areas.
According to local officials, Baile Herculane, which has 3,800 residents, has seen a steady increase in tourism in recent years. In 2024, 160, 000 tourists visited, up from 90, 000 in 2020, many of whom were looking for both hiking and climbing opportunities.
Source: Aljazeera
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