Tourist guide Toplița, Harghita

1. Tourist Info Center

It is located on Nicolae Balcescu Boulevard at number 14A. I was glad to find useful tourist information for my plans in the area and for this article. Let's start the city tour!

2. Banffy Baths resort

I parked for free in Banffy Baths Toplita on Vilelor street in front of camping-the cottage which is also used as a picnic spot. In the distance we saw the snowy ridges of Calimani Mountainswith the peaks of Pietrosul Calimanilor and Negoiul Unguresc, seen as a trapeze. We descended near Baile Banffy Toplita Toplita and to the right still downhill on Magura street until we reached Muresului Valley, where we turned 180 degrees right following a signpost on Cascadei street upstream on the Mures riverbank near the railroad to the highlight of Toplitei... 1,2 km from the cottages....

3. Mesothermal waterfall

The address is 9 Cascadei Street. It is open anytime.

The area is a geological and landscape nature reserve. It is a waterfall 10 meters high, but a special one, in that the water of the spring that flows from the Banffy hot springs and feeds the waterfall is thermal water. It is unique in our country because of the travertine deposits precipitated from the thermonin water. The waterfall very rarely freezes, sometimes in winter the waterfall can offer spectacular pictures with huge ice peaks. For this tourist attraction you can read a dedicated article.

A joy of drips and sprays of steamy water falling about 10 meters on the travertine rock. I took its temperature empirically and it was not 27 degrees as it said on the information board near the waterfall. In front of the waterfall there is a picnic area with benches.

Another 1,2 km at walking pace until the next pit stop. I walked back along the railroad tracks to the barrier. Here I found a big map with tourist routes in Gurghiu Mountains, the mountains on the left bank of the Mures, where we were. We crossed the railroad and continued in the same direction on the road between the railroad and the Mures until we reached the railway station, where we turned right at a sharp angle to cross the Mures. From the bridge I already spotted the next objective, also properly marked with several signs in the city.

4. Urmanczy Furdo Swimming Pool

The address is 19 rue Apelor.

Here is the largest swimming pool in the city with the dimensions of an Olympic pool 50 m x 20 m. It is set in open space and supplied with thermal water at a temperature of 26 - 27 degrees Celsius. A rarity is the small pool with springs that naturally heat the stones at the bottom of the pool. There is also a baby pool. Lots of greenery, a playground and a small farm are the attractions for locals and tourists. In winter the pools are empty.

The Urmanczy baths were founded in 1835. (!) The composition of the water is a natural bicarbonated, chlorinated and calcareous mineral water beneficial for hydro-kinetotherapeutic procedures.

From here we exit into the nearby DN 15 which we continue to the exit to Reghin. After 1 km from the beach we cross the third stop.

5. Monastery of St. Prophet Elijah

The address is on the E578 road at number 89.

It is an Orthodox monastery of monks, historical monument. It was moved here by the first patriarch of Romania, Miron Cristea. The bust of the patriarch is located in the courtyard of the monastery, a large, clean space, with many flowers and ornaments, inviting you to a moment of silence.

We turn back on the European road 1,5 km to the exit to Miercurea Ciuc passing by the Church of St. Nicholas, we cross the Toplita river and pass the Centenary Park to reach the next tourist attraction.

6. Roman Catholic Church

The address is on Avram Iancu street.

It is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. It was built in the 19th century. It preserves an altar with the image of St. Gregory the Shining, the apostle of the Armenians, being one of the few churches in Transylvania with Armenian donors and supported by the Hungarian community.

We turn in the direction from which we came 500 meters, but on the other sidewalk.

7. Cultural Center

The address is Nicolae Balcescu Boulevard.

The Cultural Center is located right next to the Tourist Info Center. Currently it hosts the Folkloric Ensemble "Rapsodia Calimanilor", Sbarcea Library and Museum of Ethnography. On Google Maps it is slightly misplaced.

In the roundabout opposite the center is the statue Capitoline magnifying glass, and on a small street to the left Heroes Park.

If we're here (I did it the other day) we can get down to Urmanczy Castlebetween this park and Mures, accessible via Eroilor street.

8. Urmanczy Castle

The address is 26 rue Eroilor.

It was built at the beginning of the 20th century, cataloged as a historical monument and it is the only castle in Transylvania built in secessionist style. The architecture of the castle is dominated by the Water Tower. You can get a guided tour if you ask at the Tourist Info Center or if you are lucky enough to find it open, as we were. Unfortunately the inside is a ruin.

We get ready to close the Toplitei sightseeing loop. From Lupoaica we follow the direction of Baile Banffy resort, cross the railroad and the Mures river and arrive at an already known point, the one with the map of the Gurghiu trails.

After the signs continue uphill to reach ....

9. Wellness Center Banffy

The address is 13-60 Magura Street. Open all year round.

The center has 2 pools with thermal water, one indoor and one outdoor, jacuzzi, saunas.

10. Banffy Beach

The address is Magura Street.

100 meters behind the wellness center is the swimming pool. It has mesothermal water at a temperature of 26 - 27 degrees Celsius from the Banffy spring. The 2 swimming pools and playgrounds are summer attractions for tourists. In off-season we saw the water in the pool covered with frog silk.

We return to the Wellness Center and walk up a short inclined slope to reach the parking lot where we started the tour.