Four outdoor pools with cold mineral water, springs along the Blahnița and a Roman fort give Săcelu several distinctive features. The spa, landscape and archaeological history shape the place in different ways. If a particular spa treatment is important to you, check its current availability in advance.

Spa and treatments

Băile Săcelu has four outdoor pools with cold mineral water, as well as a pool for aeroheliotherapy. The water in the four pools takes on different colors depending on the season. The spa treatment center offers mineral-water tub baths, mud and paraffin packs, electrotherapy, galvanic baths, underwater and Scottish showers, aerosol treatments, massages, and rooms for therapeutic exercise. The Izvorul Căciulata spring is used for internal spa treatments at Săcelu spa. If a particular treatment is important to you, confirm its current availability before your trip.

Hills, forests and springs

The spa is bounded to the east by Dealul Ciocadia (579 m) and to the west by Dealul Săcelu (570 m). At 579 meters, Dealul Ciocadia is nine meters higher than Dealul Săcelu. The hills around the spa are characterized by deciduous forests of beech, oak and linden, as well as pastures. Izvorul de Ochi, also called Sadoveanu, lies in a secondary channel of the Blahnița River. Izvorul Săcelata, also called Sfânta Treime, is on the left slope of the Blahnița, southeast of the spa. Piatra Buha is designated as a natural area within Săcelu commune.

Roman history

Săcelu spa has been documented since 1480. The Roman fort at Săcelu is considered a military and cultural center. Investigations of the fort documented Roman coins, remains of baths, carved stones, three stone statues, columns without capitals, inscriptions about the use of the mineral springs, and a thermal bath complex. Capitals are the upper parts of columns. La Buha is one of the known Roman-era archaeological sites in Săcelu. The inscriptions about the use of the mineral springs and the thermal bath complex connect the Roman finds thematically with Săcelu’s spa. The Roman finds and the spa’s documented history from 1480 onward provide two distinct historical points of reference: archaeological evidence on the one hand, and documentary records on the other.

Getting there and accommodation

Săcelu is on county road DJ661. The easiest way to reach Săcelu is by car, taking European route E70 to Târgu Jiu and then the county road toward Crasna and Săcelu. A regional tourist route runs from Târgu Jiu via Curtișoara (Bălănești), Mușetești, Crasna (Săcelu), Novaci and Baia de Fier to Polovragi. The driving directions describe how to get to Săcelu; the tourist route places the town among several regional stops. When looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether the spa, landscape or Roman history will shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Aninoasa, Polovragi, Muşeteşti, Ţânţăreni, Novaci, Târgu Jiu, Rânca, Aninişu din Deal

See the main travel overview: Gorj.