Summary

The web content discusses the historical significance and current endangered state of the Neptune Baths in Herculane Baths, Romania, and the efforts of the Herculane Project, led by architect Oana Chirilă, to preserve and restore this heritage site.

Abstract

The Herculane Baths, one of the oldest spa resorts in the world, are facing a state of decay following their abandonment post-1989 Romanian Revolution. Among the affected structures is the Neptune Baths, a building of great historical value, now listed as one of the 7 most endangered heritage sites in Europe. The Herculane Project, initiated by Oana Chirilă in 2017, aims to reactivate the Neptune Baths through various stages of restoration, despite legal challenges preventing access to European funds. The project has made progress through donations, including roof interventions, debris removal, and protection of significant features like the majolica fountain. The author of the web content, deeply moved by the site's history and energy, has written a manifesto to raise awareness and encourage support for the Herculane Project's mission to save this piece of Romanian and European cultural heritage.

Opinions

The author expresses a profound connection to the Herculane Baths, viewing it as a place of historical and emotional significance.
The Neptune Baths are described as being in a "sad degrading state," indicating a sense of urgency for their preservation.
The author admires the beauty and grandeur of the resort as once acknowledged by Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
There is a clear call to action for readers to get involved and support the Herculane Project through donations or other means.
The author's personal experiences and reflections, such as the smell of linden and sulphur, and the sight of an old man playing a flute, evoke a romantic and nostalgic view of the site.
The author's manifesto is a testament to their dedication to preserving the Neptune Baths and is shared to inspire hope and involvement from a wider audience.
The author emphasizes the importance of the site not just for Romanians but for all of Europe, highlighting a shared cultural heritage.

A Manifest For Saving One Amazing Romanian Heritage: Neptune Baths

One Of The 7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites In Europe

Sheltered by mountains, guarded by beautiful skies, touched by sacred waters, here in Romania there is a thermal town with a long history: Herculane Baths (Ro: Băile Herculane).

Disaffected bridge towards the Neptune Baths(Photo taken by the author)

The History of Herculane Baths

Well, we should first make a really big step back in time. For me, it feels like I’m going at the beginning of time.

Herculane Baths have been documented from the year 153 AD, but it is said that the basis of the resort was established somewhere in the year 102 AD.

It is the oldest spa resort in Romania, south-eastern Europe and one of the oldest in the world.

In the year of 1852, the Emperor of Austria, Franz Josef, considered Băile Herculane to be “the most beautiful resort on the continent” and his wife Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sissi, owned Vila Elisabeta.

Going fast forward to a year closer to our times, 1989, when Romania had the fall of communism, this historic resort — including the grand old Neptune Baths— was abandoned.

Now, coming back to the present moment, 33 years later the Neptune Baths (ro: Băile Neptun) are in a sad degrading state.

And at the moment are listed as one of the 7 most endangered heritage sites in Europe:

http://7mostendangered.eu/sites/neptune-baths-baile-herculane-romania/

A bit of hope for Neptune Baths: Oana Chirilă & Herculane Project

In 2017, a young architect named Oana Chirilă was impressed by the building of Neptune Baths and she decided to do something in order to save it, to save our history — a history that belongs to all of us.

So the “Herculane Project” was born and since then, they have tried to reactivate the Neptune Baths . Yet it wasn’t and it is not easy due to the legal situation of the property which is preventing them access to European funds.

Still, through donations, they managed to implement the first stage of the project.

According to the information on their website (which I appreciate for its transparency):

they intervened in 12 areas at the roof level
they sanitised the building — 220 m³ of debris and garbage were removed from the inside (over 70 trucks)
they protected the majolica fountain
blocked the access to the building
and so much more (you can read all about it on their website: https://herculaneproject.ro/en/reactivation-of-the-neptun-baths/#tab-id-3).

And now I want to add a little more hope with my manifest inspired by this place filled with history, and amazing energy.

Neptune Baths (image taken by the author)

The Manifest

Finally, here I am.

The image of the rocky mountains, the cloudy sky, the river and the forest coming to life anchors me completely in the present moment.

I have arrived in this place that I have been carrying in my mind and soul for some time.

Now I wouldn’t be able to say precisely whether it’s a year, a life or several past lives.

Deep breaths.

It still smells like linden here. Ah, the sweetness of linden blossoms wafting through the air to cover the heavy smell of sulphur.

As for this cold summer rain, it cannot stop me from seeking, understanding, finding, encountering what is hidden among the ruins.

I let myself be held by the hand and carried slowly past the Neptune baths, I look fearfully at the aged walls that are about to collapse and I wonder what is happening with our history.

Neptune Baths — one of the entrances (photo of the author)

I go further and reach a sort of old center, some buildings are restored but in the middle stands a huge building that seems to have once been a magnificent hotel.

However, it is not the hotel that attracts my attention so much as the gentleman sitting in front of it. This old man fascinates me.

Close to Hercule’s statue (image of the author)

The image of him playing the flute, or whatever magical instrument he had, excites me and prepares me for what’s to come.

Deep breaths.

The smell of sulfur is more pronounced. The sun has almost come out of the clouds too.

I turn around.

On a sign next to that hotel it says: Apollo Baths — Queen Marie of Romania— a few other names.

I’m stuck at the second row, that’s all I can see.

50 meters up, I enter the Apollo baths.

Apollo Baths

I go down the stairs and the first room I see, the first face I recognize, the first tears of today are for her.

Queen Marie of Romania.

Finally, here I am.

I understand now.

Rereading the words of her testament on one of the walls that once watched her bathe, I feel her love for this country that in my times is renouncing its own history and its heritage.

“I bless you, beloved Romania, the land of my joys and pains, beautiful country, which you lived in my heart and whose paths I have known all. Beautiful country that I saw complete, whose destiny I was allowed to see fulfilled. May you be eternally abundant, may you be great and full of honor, may you be eternally towering among the nations, may you be honest, loved and skilled. (Ro: Te binecuvântez, iubită Românie, ţara bucuriilor şi durerilor mele, frumoasă ţară, care ai trăit în inima mea şi ale cărei cărări le-am cunoscut toate. Frumoasă ţară pe care am văzut-o întregită, a cărei soartă mi-a fost îngăduit să o văd împlinită. Fii tu veşnic îmbelşugată, fii tu mare şi plină de cinste, să stai veşnic falnică printre naţiuni, să fii cinstită, iubită şi pricepută.)” — Maria, Queen of Romania

Out of a deep respect and sincere love for this Queen, feelings that I do not seek to explain, I confess my dedication and involvement, as I can, as much as I feel, in saving the Neptune Baths and the buildings in this area.

I’m doing this by sharing this beautiful place with the entire world.

Would you add a bit of hope?

And I’m doing this by asking you to go on the website of Herculane Project (https://herculaneproject.ro/en/get-involved) /and find a good option for you to support their determination, their love for this heritage — a heritage that it’s not only ours as Romanians but it is also yours.

With hope in my heart,

the traveler with a romantic twist

Sweet note:

This summer, after I visited the Herculane Baths and wrote the manifest for Neptune Baths & Herculane Project, I also created this video that has been posted on my IG account.

The audio of the manifest (with my voice) is in Romanian but there are short films of the place which I think you’ll love to see.