Băile Tuşnad

Băile Tușnad, a picturesque town nestled in the eastern Transylvanian region of Romania, boasts a population of 1,372 as of 2021, making it the smallest town in the country by population. Nestled between the Harghita and Bodoc mountains in the Olt River valley, this little town, at 650 meters in the southern parts of the Ciuc depression, is really lovely.

The special geographical location of the town greatly adds to its appeal and therapeutic possibilities. Strongly ozonated air rich in resinous aerosols and negative ions defines a tonic mountain bioclimate that supports Băile Tușnad. Those looking for a break from the demands of daily life will find this natural surroundings perfect since they promote mental comfort and general well-being.

Originally a spa town in the middle of the 19th century, Băile Tușnad most likely started as a bathing station around 1842. First attracting great interest were the therapeutic qualities of the local mineral waters when a shepherd’s son claimed to have been miraculously healed from skin rashes. This incident sparked the founding of a business in 1845 to explore the springs, hence launching Băile Tușnad’s path as a well-known spa resort.

Still, there were challenges along the way to becoming famous. The damage the bathing station sustained during the 1849 clashes may have meant the demise for the nascent resort town. Fortune grinned upon Băile Tușnad when Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph paid visit in 1852. Understanding the area’s potential, he directed the rebuilding of the baths, therefore enabling the town’s revival and future expansion.

In Băile Tușnad, the years following 1860 saw fast expansion and change. Initiated by Count Benedek Mikes, the scientific assessment and use of the mineral waters of the town marked a turning point in its development. Mikes selected a scientist to examine the water of the spring that would subsequently bear his name, the Mikes-source, while chairman of the spa committee. This deed signaled the start of a more methodically scientific approach to make use of the local natural resources.

With the creation of the Stefánia Medical Center in 1890, the town’s infrastructure grew yet more. Serving the needs of guests searching the healing qualities of Băile Tușnad’s waters, this institution was the main treatment center of the spa for almost a century, until 1975. Along with other advancements, the turn of the 20th century saw artificial creation of Lake Csukás (now Ciucaș) in 1900. With the building of big hotels in the 1970s to serve the growing number of guests, the town’s expansion carried on long into the 20th century.

The historical path of Băile Tușnad is finely spun into the larger fabric of Transylvanian and Romanian history. Originally inside Transylvania’s Székely Land area, the town belonged to the Csíkszék district until 1876, when administrative changes brought it into Csík County in the Kingdom of Hungary. World War I brought about major transformations to the area. Declared in December 1918, the Union of Transylvania with Romania came under Romanian control at the beginning of the Hungarian-Romanian War of 1918–1919.

Officially joining the Kingdom of Romania, the Treaty of Trianon in 1920 made Băile Tușnad part of Ciuc County throughout the interwar years. But since the Second Vienna Award gave Northern Transylvania to Hungary, the town’s reputation changed once more in 1940. This state of affairs continued until the later phases of World War II when October 1944 Romanian and Soviet troops arrived in the town. Northern Transylvania, including Băile Tușnad, stayed under Soviet military control from then until March 9, 1945; it then once more became part of Romania.

For Băile Tușnad, there were further administrative changes in the years following WWII. It was part of the Magyar Autonomous Region between 1952 and 1960 and the Mureș-Magyar Autonomous Region between 1960 and 1967. With the dismantling of the autonomous areas and the founding of Băile Tușnad as a town inside the newly established Harghita County, an administrative system that still exists today, 1968 marked still another turning point.

The well-known baths and mineral waters of Băile Tușnad are at the core of their continuing attraction. There are seven springs in the town and its environs, which help to explain their reputation as significant spa locations. Long used for their medicinal qualities, the Székely people were among the first to identify and use their possibilities for bathing and healing.

Băile Tușnad has natural beauties outside of its mineral springs. Close by the village is Lake Sfânta Ana, a volcanic crater lake unique among others in Romania. Just 2 kilometers southeast of the resort and at a height of 900 meters, Lake Sfânta Ana enhances the geological and biological value of the region.

Băile Tușnad presents some interesting sites for those drawn in by the natural beauty of the area. Rising to a height of 701 meters, the 1883-built Apor Tower was rebuilt in 2008 and offers visitors expansive views of the surroundings. At 848 meters, Piatra Soimilor provides still another vantage point for enjoying the magnificent splendor of the surroundings.

Those who enjoy the natural surroundings will especially be interested in the Lake “Tinovul Mohos,” next to Lake Sfânta Ana. Declared a nature reserve, this area’s uncommon plant species add to the biological value of the area.

Apart from being a destination in itself, Băile Tușnad provides access to investigate other important sites in the area. Visitors within a 30-kilometer radius can tour the Miko Citadel and its ethnographic museum in Miercurea Ciuc. Both history and music lovers should find the Franciscan Monastery of Șumuleu Ciuc, 35 kilometers away, a topic of interest since it boasts one of the rarest organ installations in Transylvania.

Other nearby attractions include the Szekler National Museum, the Art Museum, and the 14th-century Gothic-style Reformed Church in Sfântu Gheorghe; the monument of the Secuians in Siculeni, the medieval fortification dating from the 16th century in Odorheiul Secuiesc, and other historical and cultural sites in Siculeni.

For those who want more daring activities, the area presents sites including the fascinating Bird Cemetery, a chasm with hydrogen sulfide emissions in Balvanyos, and the remnants of Balvanyos fortification. Recognized as natural monuments, the Cheile Varghișului and Poiana Narciselor can be explored by nature enthusiasts.