Buziaș

Buziaș is a town of 7,000 people (2011) in Timis County, Banat, Romania. Once one of the most renowned spa resorts of Austria-Hungary, today it is mostly in ruins, although some parts were restored in the 2010s.

Understand

Archeological evidence shows the existence of a town in the 13th century, which might have been the continuation of a Roman castrum named Ahibis. The town was first mentioned in 1321 in a document of Charles I of Hungary under the Hungarian name of Kisbuzjás. It was first inhabited by Serbs and Romanians, then colonised by Germans in the 18th century.

Due to favorable natural conditions, with rich mineral springs and mild climate, Buziaș has been recognized as a potential spa center. The therapeutic value of mineral water here was recognized following research in 1811. The first spa establishments were built in 1819, and by the mid-19th century, its fame was comparable to Karlovy Vary and Baden-Baden. It was visited by aristocratic families, including Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Josef. The park of Buziaș, with a surface of over 20 ha, is a dendrological park with many rare species of trees, the most important being the plane tree. The resort was built in Turkish-Byzantine style, the most symbolic element of the spa being the covered colonnade of the park.

After 1919, the region became part of Romania. In 1948 the spa was nationalised. While still famous, it has gradually declined, especially after 1989. Most villas and spa facilities were destroyed, and today there is hardly anything to do or see in the city.

Get in

By train

CFR operates trains between Timișoara and Lugoj that stop at Buziaș. Train services to Gataia and Jamu Mare are operated by Regiotrans .

By car

You can reach Buziaş from Timișoara if you take county road DJ592 which leads to Lugoj. You can also reach Buziaş from Timișoara or Lugoj if you take E 70 road and at Topolovățu Mare you take DJ572. If you come from Belgrade you must take E 70 to Pancevo, Vrsac, cross the Serbian-Romanian border at Stamora-Moravița, reach Deta and then Voiteg. From Voiteg you must take road DJ592B to reach Buziaş.

Get around

The city is walkable.

See

• 1 Central park. You can see the restored colonnade, some statues and fountains, and ruins of former villas and facilities. 
• The 2 Orthodox and the 3 Catholic churches.
• 4 Ethnographic museum. 

Eat

Most restaurants are near the central southern entrance of the park.

• 1 La Aeroport. Airport-themed restaurant offering pizza and fast food items.