The Spa of The Emperors, A Never-Ending Restoration Story

Baile Herculane is probably the oldest citadel in the area that I live. While my hometown is something like 50 years old, Baile Herculane is a "spa town in Romanian Banat, in Caraș-Severin County, situated in the valley of the Cerna River, between the Mehedinți Mountains to the east and the Cerna Mountains to the west" which dates since the times of the Romans.

It's got the name "Herculane" from the might all mighty Hercules who's supposedly the builder of the town. That according to some legends of course. Truth is that...

The town is known for its hot springs, which have been attracting visitors for thousands of years.
The history of Baile Herculane dates back to Roman times, when the hot springs were first discovered and used for their healing properties. The Romans built baths and temples in the area, and the town became a popular destination for those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation.
source

Long story short, all the "high-quality bloodlines" that roamed around here, starting with the Hungarian Kingdom and ending with the Habsburgs wanted a piece of the healing powers the thermal water from Baile Herculane has to offer and somehow these rich families added to the development of the town... up to a point.

Once the communist regime took over the country's bridles the involvement of foreign kings and queens in the city's development around the spas that are to be found there was halted. Don't get me wrong, the communists didn't ruin the town. It was what came after them that actually left everything that was once state-owned in a free fall and a rapid and constant decaying process.

What you see in these pics are what once used to be wellness centers that used to host visitors from across Europe. Now all of these are in a deplorable state and although there are signs on these buildings saying that these are in restoration, truth is that the restoration process is a never-ending one.

The only thing that got massively developed over the past 30+ years since the communist regime fell is the privately owned tourist industry... Ever since I remember this town, and believe me I visited it a lot since I was a child, it was always in such a deplorable condition.

It's such a pity that these magnificent buildings rocking such marvelous architecture are "left to die". These are just a couple of examples that I photographed yesterday while passing by, but the town is full of such falling buildings. Corruption is a painful plague in Romania and these buildings are just a few examples of how such plague has affected the country.

I don't want to make this post all doom and gloom, so I hope you appreciate the pics and my artistic skills :)). This is about it from my side for now, I wish you all a great day, and see you next time.

Thanks for your attention,
Adrian

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