Balneary resorts are spread all over Romania where people across Europe come to relax and enjoy a nice vacation. This time I’m going to tell you more about Baile Felix. This resort is located in the western part of Romania, near Oradea, Bihor county.

Historical facts

It is believed that in the year 1000 A.C a monk, Felix, discovered the “hot springs”. Between 1711 and 1721 historical records acknowledge the first houses were built for people who came to treat their wounds. There are few resorts like Baile Felix which are still an attraction for tourists of all ages. Being one of the oldest balneoclimateric resorts in Romania, Baile Felix had the advantage of tradition. For thousands of years people came here to get treatment for their
aches: whether they were rheumatically affected or stressed out, all of
them found a cure here due to the thermal and mineral waters. During the communist era, many Romanians found here a peaceful place where they could have a perfect holiday.

Why should I visit Baile Felix?

If you’re looking for a place to relax and enjoy your free time, Baile Felix is the right place to be because:

• You can enjoy the thermal water no matter the season. There are a few major hotels, like Apollo, which have indoor pools with hot water. So, if you’re looking for a hot pool during winter, you can find it in Baile Felix. The water is always between 35-49 degrees Celsius.
• Visit the surroundings. Nearby you can visit Baile 1 Mai, a smaller resort and visit the Betfia lake. The surprise about this lake is that it is never frozen due to the water’s temperature which is always between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius, even during winter! Also you can enjoy the park of Baile Felix and the pools where you can a see the turtles and a very rare specie of sub-tropical water lily, Nymphaea lotus L. The best season when you can see these amazing flowers blossom is summer.
• Explore the caves, the valleys and the waterfalls. You can visit Pestera Ursilor (about 86 km from Oradea). This is unique in Romania due to its gorgeous natural architecture. Also here you can see fossils from bears who used to live in the cave about 15.000 years ago. Pestera Vantului is another cave you shouldn’t miss. It’s the longest cave in Romania, 4 km long. Legends say that people died in Pestera Vantului because they couldn’t find the way out. Don’t worry though, it’s perfectly safe to visit now but only if you have a guide. Outside of Baile Felix, near Betfia village you can enjoy the view from the top of the hill Somleu. This is called “Crater” by local people. After the quarry closed down, some huge holes remained. One of them is 80 meters deep.
• Visit religious sites. In Haieu, a village near Baile Felix, you can see an impressive Chapel from medieval times, dating back to the 14th century. Let’s not forget about the catholic church in Oradea, built between 1752 -1780, the biggest Baroc church in Romania. It is made completely out of Carrara and Vascau marble. Another interesting church, also in Oradea, is the Moon Church (built between 1784 – 1790). Underneath the church’s clock there is a 3 meter sphere which shows the moon phases.

No matter the reasons why you decide to visit Baile Felix from Bihor county, remember that this is a unique peaceful piece of Romania. A place to relax, to enjoy clean air and get away from the noise of a big city. After 1989 many small pensions and hotels grew out of nowhere. This means you can find a nice, comfy place to stay whenever you’ll decide to visit.

Author: Liliana Ianculescu

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