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Băile Herculane
Băile Herculane is a resort town in SW Romania, population 6,076 (July 1, 1991). located between the Mehedinti Mountains in the east and the Cerna Mountains in the west, spread along the valley pass of the Cerna River, between high limestone walls, 19 km from the storage lake of the Danube River (at Orsova), and 40 km from Drobeta -Turnu Severin. The spa is part of the Cerna-Domogled National Park. It is one of the few places in Romania where one can find evidence of volcanic activity, and it is said that the negative ions in the air around the town are good for the health.
The maximum and minimum temperatures are 31.1° C (1953) and -18° C (1950), respectively. Average: 10.5 C
It was cold and raining in the Cerna River valley when the Alexis team visited. The river was swollen with the rain.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th May 2010
The well built buildings are now part of a ghost town. Few live here.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th May 2010
Water was streaming down the steep sides of the valley
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th May 2010
Alexandru taking shelter from the heavy rain.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th May 2010
At one time the town of Herculane was famous throughout Romania and abroad. Today it is a ghost town.
In the 19th century and after, this town was well known for its high life. It is a strange feeling to see ghost buildings, dead under cold rain and crying in the cold wind.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th May 2010
Sometimes, a man, like a ghost himself, passes on the road, while the mountains around are guarding the grave of Herculane, like another Pompei.
Perhaps during the night, sometimes behind broken windows, you can see candles and hear sweet music from past centuries.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th May 2010
Although the buildings have now been abandoned, most of the structures are still sound. The town is a beautiful tribute to a past time, when tourists came to bathe in the hot springs, and the town was full of laughter and song.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th May 2010
Today, the tourists who visit are simply passing through the area, and they only stop for a short time.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th May 2010
The town has been noted for its hot springs since Roman times.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th May 2010
These warm water sources are close by the Cerna River in the Mofete area.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
The water comes from deep underground, and is used to help with a long list of ailments such as diseases of the eye, liver, and for rheumatism.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
Concrete structures have been built to contain the warm spa waters, and allow visitors to bathe in the health giving waters.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
As with other springs in Romania, often elaborate structures are built to preserve the continuity of the water.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
This rotunda has been built above the banks of the Cerna River, and may be seen in the photograph of Băile Herculane at the top of this page.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
The warm waters have been used for many hundreds of years. The sign in Latin reads "Ad Aquas Herculi Sacras" which I translate as "Sacred to the spa of Hercules".
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
Herculane is named after the hero Hercules, and this large statue of him is placed in the middle of the town.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
Historical photographs
These photographs come from an excellent site, http://orsova.xhost.ro/_sgg/f10000.htm, with many superb historical photographs of Băile Herculane, Orsova and the Iron Gates area.
The Hotel Carol in Băile Herculane
Photo: http://orsova.xhost.ro/_sgg/f10000.htm
The position of Băile Herculane deep in the Cerna Valley is well shown in these photos.
Photo: http://orsova.xhost.ro/_sgg/f10000.htm
The Railway Station in Băile Herculane
Photo: http://orsova.xhost.ro/_sgg/f10000.htm
Cafe and stores in Băile Herculane
Photo: http://orsova.xhost.ro/_sgg/f10000.htm
The Cerna River was enclosed in well constructed stone walls to maximise the available land area for buildings and public space.
Photo: http://orsova.xhost.ro/_sgg/f10000.htm
A superb iron bridge over the Cerna River in Băile Herculane. At this time the area was very popular, and there was money for this sort of expensive infrastructure.
Photo: http://orsova.xhost.ro/_sgg/f10000.htm
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Alexis Project Filiasi/Romania
RC J/263/230/2007 CIF 21464151
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