Thermal Destination
Baile Herculane
Băile Herculane · Romania
Set deep in the wooded Cerna Valley of south-western Romania, Băile Herculane is one of the oldest spa towns on earth — founded by the Romans in 153 AD and dedicated to Hercules himself, who legend says bathed in these very waters.
In the footsteps of Hercules
The Romans named the resort Ad Aquas Herculi Sacras — “the holy waters of Hercules” — and dedicated its sixteen thermal springs to the demigod said to have rested and bathed in the valley. During the Empire it was a fashionable retreat, ringed with baths, temples and votive altars; many of those ancient inscriptions survive in and around the town today. It remains one of the oldest continuously used spa destinations in the world.
The grand Habsburg baths
Under Austro-Hungarian rule Băile Herculane blossomed into one of Europe’s most elegant resorts, lined with ornate villas, a casino and grand bathhouses.
Its centrepiece, the Neptune Baths of 1883–1886, drew crowned heads including Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” and Emperor Franz Joseph, who is said to have called it the most beautiful spa in Europe.
Sacred to Hercules
Where soldiers and emperors took the cure
A mighty bronze statue of Hercules, cast in Vienna in 1847, still stands at the heart of the town — a reminder of the Roman legionaries and aristocrats who once came to these sixteen springs for healing and rest.
Plan your visit
Good to Know
How to reach the Cerna Valley, the best time to visit and what to see in and around the resort.
Travel information →Where to Stay
Hand-picked hotels and spa resorts among the historic baths of the Cerna Valley.
Hotels in Băile Herculane →Booking
Browse bookable Roman thermal spa travel packages for Băile Herculane.
View packages →Local Tourism Information
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