Soul journeys through memories. (3) Postcards from Băile Herculane

 Motto:
"We are not supposed to know

how miracles happen,

there is no road to happiness,

no happy one can recall the path

that led him to happiness secret door.

Alas, to hunt the bird of happiness

is to go without roads

and to take without hands.

To be king in happiness fairy-tale

is to stand dumbfounded and amazed.

"We wait for miracles from the day,

the day fades cold and pale.

Ask again, tired brain,

is your dream, the star of your happiness,

fraud and guile?" 
The Road to Happiness by

     Edith Södergran, 1916

     Once we left from the main highway, we've turned right on the way to Herculane, a spa resort situated in the valley of the Cerna River, between the Mehedinţi Mountains to the east and the Cerna Mountains to the west, elevation 168 meters.

         Imediat cum am părăsit șoseaua principală, am pornit chiar pe drumul spre Herculane, o stațiune balneară situată în valea râului Cerna, între Muntii Mehedinti la est și Munții Cernei la vest, la o altitudine de 168 de metri.

Sursa/source of photo above: Wikipedia :
"Băile Herculane seen from a mountaintop at Elisabeta pavilion"/ Panorama văzută din vârf de munte la foişorul Elisabeta, M-tii Cernei.

From Did you know Category/ Știați că*: 

Pe scurt/ In brief:

"Băile Herculane (Latin: Aqua Herculis; German: Herkulesbad; Hungarian: Herkulesfürdő; Czech: Herkulovy Lázně) is a town in Romanian Banat, in Caraş-Severin County, situated in the valley of the Cerna River, between the Mehedinţi Mountains to the east and the Cerna Mountains to the west, elevation 168 meters."
"The spa town of Băile Herculane has a long history of human habitation. Numerous archaeological discoveries show that the area has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era. The Peștera Hoților (Cave of the Thieves), contains multiple levels, including one from the Mousterian period, one from the Mesolithic period (late Epigravettian) and several from the later Neolithic periods.

"Băile Herculane la 1824",  
Drawing by Erminy, lithographing by Adolph Kunike
Sursa/source of photo above,  Wikipedia

Legend has it that the weary Hercules stopped in the valley to bathe and rest. During the 165 years of Roman domination of Dacia, the Herculaneum Spa was known all over the Empire. 

Unearthed stone carvings show that visiting Roman aristocrats turned the town into a Roman leisure center. Six statues of Hercules from the time have been discovered. A bronze replica of one of them, molded in 1874, stands as a landmark in the town center." 

"Originea Băilor Herculane se întinde pe o durată de aproape două milenii. Bazele staţiunii au fost puse în anul 102 d.Ch. de Împaratul Traian, romanii introducând cultul balnear preluat de la greci pe care apoi l-au dezvoltat. Numele staţiunii de care este legat si numele societăţii noastre, vine de la zeul Hercules, fiul lui Zeus şi al frumoasei Elena, consemnat în

mitologia romană ca patron al izvoarelor termale, simbol al puterii şi al echilibrului între forţa fizică şi cea spirituală. Romanii au construit aici, la Therme Herculi (Ad Aquas Herculi Sacras), temple, băi, monumente şi statui, închinate zeilor Hercules, Aesculap şi Hygieia. Atestarea documentară a staţiunii datează din anii 153 d.C., fapt consemnat într-o tabulă votivă din băi: „Zeilor şi divinităţilor apelor, Ulpius Secundinus, Marius Valens, Pomponius Haemus, lui Carus, Val, Valens, trimişi ca delegaţi romani să asiste la alegerea în calitate de consul a fostului lor coleg Severianus, întorcându-se nevătămaţi, au ridicat acest prinos de recunoştinţă”.
*More to read on : 

 Internet &Wikipedia.
*****

The first stop: at the hotel for accommodation and change of

 impressions after the long travel, after long hours in the car...

Welness & Med Spa at the hotel.
"The modern spa:

In modern times, the spa town has been visited for its supposedly natural healing properties: hot springs with sulfur, chlorine, sodium, calcium, magnesium and other minerals, as well as negatively ionized air." Click to read more info on Wikipedia

Panoramic aspects. Views from the old tourist centre. Below

Panoramic aspects. Views from the old tourist centre. 

Along Cerna river. Buildings of the old balnear treatment center.

Panoramic aspects. Views from the old tourist centre. 

Along Cerna river. Buildings of the old balnear treatment center.

Ansamblul de arhitectură balneară II
a historic monument in județul Caraș-Severin, classified with number CS-II-a-B-10980.

Ansamblul de arhitectură balneară II
a historic monument in județul Caraș-Severin, classified with number CS-II-a-B-10980.

Băile "Neptun", foste Baia "Szapary", Baia "Regina Maria", 
"Băile termale cu bazine și cabine" 1883 - 1886. 
Former sulphurous baths. Fostele băi sulfuroase. A historic monument in județul Caraș-Severin, classified with number CS-II-m-A-11015.

Above. Central park.Parcul Central.  
Băile Herculane. Ansamblul Cazinoului, (1850 - 1900; înc. sec. XX.)
The old building of Casino in the Spa resort. Cerna Valley; Domogled.
***
Below: Info about The Black Pine Banatica (Pinus nigra subspecia banatica). "Pinul negru este râspândit în sudul şi, parţial, centrul Europei, peninsula Asia Mică şi nordul Africii. native from south-eastern Europe, it is spread from Iberian Peninsula until Pontic regions. 
Pinus Nigra ssp. Banatica - pinul negru de banat . Arie inclusă în Parcul Naţional Domogled - Valea Cernei şi este desemnat SIT de Importanţă Comunitară." 
Click to read for more info Wikipedia.

Arhiva foto privată/ Private photos archive.

Click to see enlarged views.

From the September, 2015. End of summer or early in autumn.
Roads to Herculane/Domogled National Park;  
Cerna Valley in Băile Herculane.
Caraș-Severin County, România. 

Series of photo instants, 
up-close & collages in color and/or black & white. 

September visions. 

©AlexaT&GândCălător.blogspot.com

Previous and related posts:
Soul journeys through memories:

(1) Călătorii de suflet.  

(2) Postcards.

Nb.*
Sursa/sources of info: 
From Did you know Category/ Știați că: 

"A destination spa* is a resort centered on a spa, such as a mineral spa. Historically many such spas were developed at the location of natural hot springs or mineral springs. Typically over a seven-day stay, such facilities provide a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthy cuisine and special interest programming."
"Mineral spas* are spa resorts developed around naturally occurring mineral springs. Like seaside resorts, they are mainly used recreationally although they also figured prominently in prescientific medicine."
"Balneotherapy (Latin: balneum "bath") is the treatment of disease by bathing, usually practiced at spas. While it is considered distinct from hydrotherapy, there are some overlaps in practice and in underlying principles. Balneotherapy may involve hot or cold water, massage through moving water, relaxation, or stimulation. Many mineral waters at spas are rich in particular minerals such as silica, sulfur, selenium, and radium."

Definition and characteristics

"The term "balneotherapy" is generally applied to everything relating to spa treatment, including the drinking of waters and the use of hot baths and natural vapor baths, as well as of the various kinds of mud and sand used for hot applications. Balneotherapy refers to the medical use of these spas, as opposed to recreational use. Common minerals found in spa waters are sodium, magnesium, calcium, and iron, as well as arsenic, lithium, potassium, manganese, bromine, and iodine. All these may be contained in the peat that is commonly used in preparation of spa waters. Resorts may also add minerals or essential oils to naturally-occurring hot springs. Though balneotherapy commonly refers to mineral baths, the term may also apply to water treatments using regular hot or cold tap water.


Mud-baths are also included in balneotherapy, and the dirt and water used to mix mud baths may also contain minerals which are thought to have beneficial properties."
Public info on Internet &Wikipedia;
e-media; written e-press.

**Sursa/Source of quotes/positive images: Internet; 

Spirit Science; CE Collective Evolution; Trust Your Journey.

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Be joyful, amazing and never give up to smile! 

Stunning things are all over! 
Have a positive and awesome year of 2016! 

Stay positive, today, tomorrow and always! 

Rămâi pozitiv, astăzi, mâine și întotdeauna!

So, very thankful, each and every day, to be inspired...
All is well...