1. The History
In the heart of Cluj, in the shadow of the band new Cluj Arena and at the end of the Central Park, stands the ruin of what used to be one of the main summer attractions in the city. The first pool to be built in Cluj, it originated as public bath in 1843 and informally named "the soldier's pool", was the perfect place to spend a hot Transylvanian summer's day. In1852, the pool got upgraded and it was functioning throughout the year. In 1869 is was named "Diana baths" after the chief physician of the city, Gustav Szombathelyi. Sadly that same year it was hit by a fire but re-opened after repair in 1875.
During the communist times, the public bath became the Municipal Pool of Cluj. After the 1950s, the pool was equipped with “German” changing rooms, a chic bar and ping-pong tables. Although the water was changed once a week, heating was unavailable. The pool would heat-up from the sun during the week to reach the perfect temperature for the weekend.
After the fall of the communism, predictably, the municipal pool was forgotten and closed in 1989. Decades have since passed and the abandoned pool has slowly been reclaimed by nature and the city's graffiti artists. Up until 1990 the swimming pool and the land belonged to the OJT patrimony, and after 1990 ownership passed to the company Transilvania Tourism.
Subsequently, the company was fully privatized, and in 2004, the site was acquired by private tourism company, Unita Turism Holdings. After several years of trying to sell the land off, in May 2011 they failed to get approval from the local council for their intended project; the modernization of the swimming pool, the construction of a sports complex consisting of an eight-storey building with watering facilities, restaurants and a bridge over the Mori Canal. Currently the land is reportedly for sale at a cost of €650/sqm, or given its 12,378 sqm total area, just over €8m for the lot!
2. The Explore
A place I’d found prior to heading out to Transylvania. When I rocked up there was a police car sat right outside the pool entrance. Fortunately walking down the road a bit there was an old gate into the former pool site and it was open so in I popped. In the end it worked out a relaxed mooch but nothing spectacular like...
3. The Pictures
Not looking too promising this way in:
img6990 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6970 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Closed for business:
img6988 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Open for business:
img6971 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Do the…
img6969 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6987 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6986 by HughieDW, on Flickr
In we go…
img6974 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6978 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6982 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6981 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6980 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6979 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6977 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Pool-side:
img6983 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Assorted graff:
img6984 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6976 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6968 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And finally the old “Sport Hotel”:
img6994 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6991 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6992 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6993 by HughieDW, on Flickr
In the heart of Cluj, in the shadow of the band new Cluj Arena and at the end of the Central Park, stands the ruin of what used to be one of the main summer attractions in the city. The first pool to be built in Cluj, it originated as public bath in 1843 and informally named "the soldier's pool", was the perfect place to spend a hot Transylvanian summer's day. In1852, the pool got upgraded and it was functioning throughout the year. In 1869 is was named "Diana baths" after the chief physician of the city, Gustav Szombathelyi. Sadly that same year it was hit by a fire but re-opened after repair in 1875.
During the communist times, the public bath became the Municipal Pool of Cluj. After the 1950s, the pool was equipped with “German” changing rooms, a chic bar and ping-pong tables. Although the water was changed once a week, heating was unavailable. The pool would heat-up from the sun during the week to reach the perfect temperature for the weekend.
After the fall of the communism, predictably, the municipal pool was forgotten and closed in 1989. Decades have since passed and the abandoned pool has slowly been reclaimed by nature and the city's graffiti artists. Up until 1990 the swimming pool and the land belonged to the OJT patrimony, and after 1990 ownership passed to the company Transilvania Tourism.
Subsequently, the company was fully privatized, and in 2004, the site was acquired by private tourism company, Unita Turism Holdings. After several years of trying to sell the land off, in May 2011 they failed to get approval from the local council for their intended project; the modernization of the swimming pool, the construction of a sports complex consisting of an eight-storey building with watering facilities, restaurants and a bridge over the Mori Canal. Currently the land is reportedly for sale at a cost of €650/sqm, or given its 12,378 sqm total area, just over €8m for the lot!
2. The Explore
A place I’d found prior to heading out to Transylvania. When I rocked up there was a police car sat right outside the pool entrance. Fortunately walking down the road a bit there was an old gate into the former pool site and it was open so in I popped. In the end it worked out a relaxed mooch but nothing spectacular like...
3. The Pictures
Not looking too promising this way in:
Closed for business:
Open for business:
Do the…
In we go…
Pool-side:
Assorted graff:
And finally the old “Sport Hotel”:
