Hercules Baths and the Danube

The multiethnic region of Banat spreads out on three countries: Romania, Serbia and Hungary. The unique history and multiculturality gives this place a unique feeling when one travels from one place to the other. The Romanian side of Banat is home to Romanians, Hungarians, Germans, Serbs, Czechs, Bulgarians, Slovaks and other minorities, each leaving their mark in either the architecture, the traditions, the language or the cuisine.

We will depart from Timișoara early in the morning and we’ll head south towards the Danube, which is the natural border with Serbia. The landscape will change from the fields to hills and then stunning mountains. The road is full of surprises and our first one will be in the town of Resita. Here, we’ll get the chance to see an open air railway museum featuring 16 steam locomotives, all produced in this city that was a European leader of the industry in the second half of the XIXth century.
Once we drive deeper into the mountains, we will stop by one of Romania’s most famous waterfall, the Bigar waterfall, and then we’ll head on to Hercules Baths.
Hercules Baths is the oldest resort in Romania, dating back to 153 AD. The place was named by the Romans, who realized the curing effects of the local springs, where the thermal water is enriched with sulphur. After becoming part of the Habsburg Empire in the eighteenth century, the Austrians started rediscovering the beauty of this place and the resort started to develop. Emperor Franz Joseph and Sissi considered the place the most beautiful resort on the continent. We will walk around the resort, discovering the new side and the old side of it, stopping by water springs for different treatments.

Our trip will takes us further South, to the banks of the Danube, where the impressive town of Orșova, placed on the Danube waterfront guards the borders of Romania. We will reach Eșelnita, a place famous for the tallest rock sculpture of Decebalus, the last king of Dacia. Here we will enjoy a boat ride on the Danube between Romania and Serbia, during which we’ll have the opportunity of discovering some amazing caves by the river, famous for being used by the smugglers during the communist regime.

After enjoying a day in this nature blessed area, we will return to Timișoara.