Lumshory in the Carpathians: why does everyone dream of enjoying SPA treatments in a beech forest?
One of the oldest and most famous mountain resorts in Zakarpattia is the village of Lumshory. It has picturesque waterfalls and bathing vats with hot mineral water. Learn about the history and traditions of this place, choose your own health tour and plan the most convenient route
The village of Lumshory is known throughout Ukraine for its extraordinary opportunities for recreation and health improvement - there are vats of mineral water and waterfalls here. The recreational complex is located on the Turychka River (Perechyn district, Zakarpattia region). The oldest resort in Ukraine has been operating here since the 17th century, and it has become so popular that 250-litre vats had to be installed in a neighbouring village. According to the latest data, 84 people lived here.
What is the history of the resort in Lumshory?
The village of Lumshory is located at the foot of the Runa valley and is fascinating for its ancient history. Old-timers say that in the past, ‘lumas’ were dried tree branches for use in agriculture, and ‘shoras’ were the lines that were used to make them. The resort dates back to 1600, when a spa was founded on the Turychka River and gained unprecedented popularity among the nobility of Europe. The first vat was located near a mineral spring with a high content of hydrogen sulphide and radon.
The Schönborn family made considerable efforts to develop the resort, turning the spa into the world-famous Lumshory Spa, the most popular among Austrian and Hungarian nobles. At that time, the ‘vats’ were wooden barrels with hot stones placed on the bottom to heat them. That was until the construction of a metallurgical plant in the neighbouring village of Turya Remety. It was there that the first cast iron vats were cast. By the way, they have not been lost - Volodymyr Opiara dug up the first one in a local stream in 1970, and the second one is now in the Vienna Museum. Over time, the number of cast-iron vats grew - one of them is still located at the U Tsimbora recreation centre.
Modern vats are heated with wood. The temperature in the vat rises to 36.6 degrees, a visitor dips into it, and the water gradually heats up to 40-45 degrees (depending on the visitor's medical conditions).
What opportunities do tourists have in the village of Lumshory?
Bathing vats with hot mineral water
The vats are made of cast iron and filled with hot mineral water for bathing. Doctors recommend the procedure for treating diseases of the nervous system, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, digestive and skin diseases.
The resort practices an individual approach to each visitor, taking into account medical conditions and age. When a person dips into the vat, the water is gradually heated to the required temperature.
A ‘contrast shower’ is also possible here: after bathing in the vats, those who wish to do so dip into the cool waters of the Turychka River, which has a positive effect on the nervous system and makes recovery more effective.
The diameter of the largest vat is 3.2 m: it can accommodate up to 15 people!