Băile Govora: iodine-bromine waters and inhalations

Băile Govora is a small spa in Vâlcea County, in a sub-Carpathian depression in the valley of the Hința river, at 360–380 m, south-west of the town of Râmnicu Vâlcea. It sits in the foothills of the Southern Carpathians among oak and beech forests. Its story began in 1876, when a peasant, Gheorghe Ciurea, digging a well, struck "burning water" (petroleum) and salty water. The springs were used from 1879, at first in wooden tubs near Govora Monastery, and in 1887 the first bath house opened with 29 cabins. The real boom came with the Palace Hotel, built in 1911–1914 to designs by the architect Ernest Doneaud — people said that here "the sun was rented by the hour", since every room got at least one hour of sunshine a day.

Natural healing resources

Govora is one of Europe's richest spas in iodine and bromine waters, and the iodine and bromine here are of organic origin. According to the spa operator, several types of water are used:

• highly concentrated iodine, bromine, sulphurous, sodium-chloride hypertonic waters;
• hypotonic sulphurous waters;
• hypotonic bicarbonate, sulphurous, sodium and calcium waters;
• mineral springs for drinking cures.

The climate is moderately continental with steady humidity, no temperature extremes and little allergenic pollen. In the park and near the springs the air is rich in negative ions, so walking cures (terrain therapy) are added to treatment.

What is treated

The spa's profile is respiratory and rheumatological. Indications listed by the balneology centre of the Palace Hotel: chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis, tracheitis, the state after repeated respiratory infections, atrophic rhinitis; degenerative rheumatic diseases (osteoarthritis), soft-tissue rheumatism (periarthritis of the shoulder and hip), inflammatory rheumatic diseases outside flare-ups (ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid and psoriatic polyarthritis), neurological conditions, excess weight and gout; also preventive programmes. This information is for reference only and is not medical advice: a doctor prescribes the course and procedures after a consultation.

Procedures and pump rooms

The main working unit is the medical centre of the historic Palace Hotel (operator Băile Govora SA). Procedures are prescribed by balneology doctors and given by nurses, physiotherapists and kinesiotherapists:

• inhalations with sulphurous and iodine water (15 minutes), ultrasonic aerosols and sprays;
• respiratory kinesiotherapy, walking cures in the park, a gym;
• iodine and sulphur water baths, underwater shower massage;
• warm mud wraps — with sapropelic mud from Lake Techirghiol on the Black Sea coast, not local mud;
• electrotherapy, Sollux lamp, magnetotherapy, therapeutic and relaxing massage.

The hotel also has an outdoor pool and a spa centre. The Spa Park, with fountains and long alleys, is pleasant for walks in any season.

Practical information

The spa operates all year. Opening hours of the balneology centre and prices of single procedures are not published on the official website — ask the Palace Hotel by phone. The spa is quiet and compact: hotels, park and treatment units are close together, and most visitors come for a course of treatment. Evenings are calm and entertainment is limited.

Getting there from Ukraine

From Chernivtsi it is 546 km, about 10 h 00 min via the Porubne – Siret checkpoint; from Rakhiv it is 476 km, about 8 h 12 min via the Solotvyno – Sighetu Marmației checkpoint; from Uzhhorod it is 559 km, about 9 h 03 min via the Diakove – Halmeu checkpoint; times are without border queues. Romanian roads require the rovinieta e-vignette. Băile Govora lies about 20 km from the town of Râmnicu Vâlcea.

Nearby

Six kilometres from the spa stands Govora Monastery, founded by Prince Radu the Great and renewed by Constantin Brâncoveanu; some of the first books in the Romanian language were printed in its press. Close by is the Ocnele Mari salt mine, and to the north, in the Olt gorge, the spas of Călimănești-Căciulata and Băile Olănești. The nearest mountain summit is Cozia (Ciuha Mare) above the Olt gorge.

Official website: palacegovora.ro

Photos: Leontin l, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; BICasian, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Costel Munteanu, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Sîmbotin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.