Transylvania
Băile Tușnad
The smallest town, below Saint Ana Lake.
Băile Tușnad is the smallest spa resort in Romania and also one of the most picturesque, set in the Székely Land, in the Olt gorge between the volcanic Harghita and Bodoc mountains. Surrounded by dense forests of conifers and broadleaves, at a high altitude, the resort has a tonic sub-alpine climate recommended for cardiovascular and nervous conditions.
The place owes its fame to its mineral springs, mofettes (therapeutic carbon-dioxide emanations) and clean mountain air. The resort, developed from the 19th century onward, has a romantic belle époque air, with old villas and a spa park. Nearby lies one of Romania's most fascinating natural wonders: Saint Ana Lake, the only volcanic (crater) lake in the country, a clear eye of water nestled in the crater of an extinct volcano, alongside the Mohoș peat bog, a protected marsh with rare carnivorous plants.
Băile Tușnad is also famous for the brown bears that frequently descend into the resort, making the area a reference point for wildlife watching. The atmosphere is quiet and restorative, ideal for relaxation and hiking.
Székely gastronomy offers goulash, stews, smoked products and kürtőskalács. Practically, the resort is reachable by train and car from Miercurea Ciuc or Sfântu Gheorghe, right on the road linking the two. It is worth visiting for Saint Ana Lake, for the spa treatment, and for the wild nature all around.
