Another trip with @elliot5200 mixing up a bit of culture with exploring. This was quite out of the way but I'm really glad we got to see it as it's boarded up and under lock and key now as far as I'm aware. There were loads of workers carrying out structural repairs when we arrived so we didn't have high hopes of getting in, but after wandering around the town for a while (which is an amazing place by the way) we went back and found they'd all gone for lunch, leaving the front door wide open for us. Result!
The first documented records of this spa resort date back to 153 AD. Since then, the site has been under Roman, Hungarian, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian reign. The current structure of the Neptune Baths was constructed between 1883 and 1886, as part of the Casino Ensemble. It houses 63 individual bathing or massage rooms and four communal pools. At the time of the building’s construction, it was the most modern spa in Europe.
After the fall of communism in 1989, the spa resort was abandoned and fell into decay. Despite being declared as a Class A monument in 1980, the Neptune Baths have suffered further degradation from water ingress and being exposed to the elements. Two structural walls and a roof collapsed in 2019, plus another wall in 2021. In 2022 the Neptune Baths was listed as one of the Seven Most Endangered monuments and heritage sites in Europe. The nomination was made by a Romanian NGO created in 2017 by young architects and graduates who started a project hoping to save the historic complex. A series of temporary interventions have been carried out thanks to the group, but the building continues to degrade even further. The project relies on donations from the public while the government sadly does nothing to help. Shame to see such an amazing building in such a state but hopefully it can be saved thanks to these passionate volunteers who are making it difficult for the government to ignore.
Such a stunning exterior. You will notice the beginnings of hoarding being put up if you look closely.
The building is very narrow so it consists mostly of long corridors with small bathing rooms either side.
One of the communal thermal pools
The roof had collapsed in this section but now has a temporary roof thanks to the volunteer group
This is the state it was in before....
The most outstanding feature of the Neptune Baths is this grand vaulted, frescoed lobby with an ornate Hungarian-made ceramic fountain as its centrepiece. On our visit the fountain had been secured with a wooden frame and covered with a tarpaulin to protect it from falling debris. Annoying for photos but good that it's being looked after for the first time in over 30 years. Surprised it's lasted this long without being vandalised. Perhaps due to the remoteness of the location, I'm not sure.
This frescoed ceiling is still in surprisingly good condition
The rest of the corridors are painted with vivid colours
Across the river we found the entrance to the old casino which has now been converted.
Elsewhere in the town we came across this stunning railway station which was constructed just before the Neptune Baths in 1878. This is still in use and NOT abandoned but I thought it was worth sharing a few pictures as it's very cool and considered to be one of the most beautiful stations in Romania.
Thanks for looking. Still a few more bits to post from this trip when I get time.
The first documented records of this spa resort date back to 153 AD. Since then, the site has been under Roman, Hungarian, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian reign. The current structure of the Neptune Baths was constructed between 1883 and 1886, as part of the Casino Ensemble. It houses 63 individual bathing or massage rooms and four communal pools. At the time of the building’s construction, it was the most modern spa in Europe.
After the fall of communism in 1989, the spa resort was abandoned and fell into decay. Despite being declared as a Class A monument in 1980, the Neptune Baths have suffered further degradation from water ingress and being exposed to the elements. Two structural walls and a roof collapsed in 2019, plus another wall in 2021. In 2022 the Neptune Baths was listed as one of the Seven Most Endangered monuments and heritage sites in Europe. The nomination was made by a Romanian NGO created in 2017 by young architects and graduates who started a project hoping to save the historic complex. A series of temporary interventions have been carried out thanks to the group, but the building continues to degrade even further. The project relies on donations from the public while the government sadly does nothing to help. Shame to see such an amazing building in such a state but hopefully it can be saved thanks to these passionate volunteers who are making it difficult for the government to ignore.
Such a stunning exterior. You will notice the beginnings of hoarding being put up if you look closely.
The building is very narrow so it consists mostly of long corridors with small bathing rooms either side.
One of the communal thermal pools
The roof had collapsed in this section but now has a temporary roof thanks to the volunteer group
This is the state it was in before....
The most outstanding feature of the Neptune Baths is this grand vaulted, frescoed lobby with an ornate Hungarian-made ceramic fountain as its centrepiece. On our visit the fountain had been secured with a wooden frame and covered with a tarpaulin to protect it from falling debris. Annoying for photos but good that it's being looked after for the first time in over 30 years. Surprised it's lasted this long without being vandalised. Perhaps due to the remoteness of the location, I'm not sure.
This frescoed ceiling is still in surprisingly good condition
The rest of the corridors are painted with vivid colours
Across the river we found the entrance to the old casino which has now been converted.
Elsewhere in the town we came across this stunning railway station which was constructed just before the Neptune Baths in 1878. This is still in use and NOT abandoned but I thought it was worth sharing a few pictures as it's very cool and considered to be one of the most beautiful stations in Romania.
Thanks for looking. Still a few more bits to post from this trip when I get time.
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