Castles, Citadels, Architectural Curiosities
Belvedere Panoramic Tower
The Belvedere Tower in Sovata is part of the network of paths and alleys around the salt lakes, which have been created so that tourists can admire the arboretum of the Bear Lake Nature Reserve. The tower can be found at the end of the Western Alley, if you walk up from Bear Lake, but it is also accessible by car from Privighetorii Street. The tower is 28 m high and can be visited free of charge. The spiral staircase takes the traveller to the top level of the tower, where a 360-degree panorama opens up, with views over the surrounding hills and villages in the central, eastern and northern direction of the town.
Learn more
The Historic Villas
With the fame of Sovata's healing waters, the reputation of the resort also grew, developing rapidly especially after the construction of the first public bath in the town (Géra Baths). Thus, the aristocracy began to build summer residences at the foot of the salt mountain in the early 1840s and beautiful villas began to appear, many of which still exist today. Here we can mention Villa Sara, Villa Doina, Villa Gemeni (Hotel Pacsirta), Villa Cornelia or the Magistrates' House. After the First World War, the resort also came to the attention of the Romanian Royal House, and Queen Maria together with King Ferdinand and Prince Carol II often visited the place for relaxation and treatments. During this period, Sovata had two hotels, with 32 and 18 rooms respectively, 74 villas with a total of 417 rooms and 510 beds for rent, two restaurants, a café, a reading room, and the resort was open from June 1 to September 30.
Learn more