Băile Herculane is a spa town in Romanian Banat, in Caraș-Severin County, situated in the valley of the Cerna River. The spa town of Băile Herculane has a long history of human habitation. Numerous archaeological discoveries show that the area has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era. Legend has it that the weary Hercules stopped in the valley to bathe and rest.

In modern times, the spa town has been visited for its supposedly natural healing properties, hot springs with sulfur, chlorine, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and other minerals, as well as negatively ionized air. Following the First World War and the Treaty of Trianon, Banat and Baile Herculane became part of Romania. Before the Second World War, when the first modern hotel was built it remained a popular destination with Western Europeans. During the Communist era, mass tourism facilities were built.