Thermal spa Gata

Gata source of thermo-mineral water is among the most respected in Bosnia and Herzegovina, well known for its healing properties and a long tradition of use.

Wealth of (re)sources

Bosnia and Herzegovina abounds in thermo-mineral springs that appear in two geographical regions of the country: in the northern part, where Gata is, and in the central part of the county. Most of these springs are located in the area of the Central and Inner Dinarides and are related to faults / cracks in the Earth's crust whose occurrence is associated with Mother Earth's tectonic activities. The Gata thermo-mineral water has average temperature of 36°C and is a type of homeothermal weater whose temperature can varie from around 34°C to about  38°C, close to a temperature of the human body (Spahić i Temimovic, 2014, pp. 59 - 60). 

The permeable rocks of their subterranean, primarily Triassic dolomites, in which water, usually rainwater or groundwater, accumulates and easily descends deeper into the subsoil are responsible for such an abundance of springs that adorn Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the neighboring Republic of Croatia. Deep in the bowels of our planet, the groundwater is then enriched with minerals, heated by hot rocks, and carried back to the surface along faults / cracks thanks to underground pressure (Lončar, 2006).

It's always important to remember how amazing the planet we live on really is and what a wealth of natural resources she offers to its equally special and amazing inhabitants - it's just up to us to manage these resources with great care and love!

Medicinal Properties

Local residents were the first to verify the healing powers of their spring, but the high quality of Gata thermo-mineral water and the power of its medicinal properties have also been confirmed through scientific research. Recent data obtained by the researcher Prof Ratomir Tišma, MD, PhD, DMedSc (ZU Lječilište Gata, 2016), have once again confirmed Gata’s high quality and healing properties:

- Gata is rich in electrolytes; salts which dissolve in water and give ions: the positive ions (cations) and the negative ions (anions). Most abundant cations present in the Gata water are calcium, sodium and magnesium, and to a lesser extent potassium while the top 3 of the most abundantly present anions are sulfate, hydrogen carbonate and chloride;

Electrolytes are charged particles that are critical for biological systems and all higher life forms. Their function is to conduct and properly exchange electrical signals inside and outside of the cell membrane.

- Gata is rich in a wide variety of oligoelements or microelements, which is a rare occurrence in thermo-mineral waters. Gata boasts the presence of essential metals including lithium, arsenic, copper and cobalt, but also essential minerals (microminerals) like zinc, strontium, barium, manganese, cesium, molybdenum and selenium.

Mineral substances and oligoelements are crucial for the normal and healthy functioning of the organism. Many complex chemical reactions in the body cannot take place without the simultaneous participation of minerals and oligoelements.

- Gata is mildly radioactiveradon, radium and uranium are found at low levels in Gata spring water and all three belong to a group of approximately 60 naturally occurring radionuclides found in the environment.

Uranium, radium, and radon have proven to be highly successful in increasing the cure rate in patients suffering from inflammatory rheumatic diseases and post-traumatic orthopedic conditions (conditions after conservatively or surgically treated fractures, sprains or dislocations).

The healing waters of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been used since the ancient times; archeological traces date back to the Ancient Romans period. 

Roman Baths

For a large part of their early stage of development, baths were the result of the essential need to maintain hygiene, in ancient Greece they were public, as well as in the Roman era, where along with private baths, public baths were also developed, because few could provide a bathroom in a modest home. The history of baths is very long and can be found in different cultures, and the Romans got their inspiration from ancient Greece, which had public baths widely distributed throughout its cities. The Romans only further elaborated the Greek bathing concept; sometime in the 1st century AD they started replacing initial "unsightly assemblies of different structures" with architecturally thought out and often in larger cities monumental buildings equipped with an underfloor heating system, the idea which they also took over from the Greeks and further elaborated by inventing radiant heating systems with wood-burning fireplaces under marble floors. Roman baths, especially those in larger centers and cities, included multiple rooms with different temperatures, pools of cold water, and places for socializing, massages and certain health treatments, and also for relaxation and reading. They usually opened around lunchtime and remained open to all citizens until dusk, both for the rich and the poor (Cartwright, 2013).

The appearance of the Roman aqueduct system as the first system for distributing fresh water to populated centers enabled the construction of such large baths, which could hold a few hundred or even thousands of people (Gianfaldoni, S. and others, 2017, pp. 566-567).

In all their newly conquered colonies, the Romans embarked on the construction of baths at the sources of thermomineral waters, where they treated the most common rheumatic and urogenital ailments, as well as the common side effects of excessive eating and drinking. With the construction of baths, the Romans also formed a new recreational and social center in the new Roman community (Tubergen, Linden, 2002, pp. 273).

We can safely assume that the Romans also knew how to appreciate the healing properties of the Gata thermal water, because archaeological traces found at several thermal springs in Bosnia and Herzegovina prove that the springs were intensively used, like the rich sites of Vrućica or Ilidža, for example (Operta, Hyseni 2013, p. 25).

Bathing played a major part in ancient Roman culture and society, a habit which they didn't neglect even during their conquest and colonization when they mixed the use of baths with local traditions and customs. With the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the costly Roman baths cease to operate. On the other hand, in the eastern half of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, which continued to survive for almost another 1000 years, thermal baths were less present and sought after, but still survived in larger centers, albeit in a much more modest form (McDonald, 2021).

The Roman bath

Turkish Baths

Turkish nomads made their first contact with Roman baths during the 11th century in Anatolia, which they settled after migrating from Central Asia, but even as nomads they cultivated the ritual of bathing in their nomadic tents. They harmonized this traditional custom with the "hygiene decree" prescribed by the Islamic religion, which they adopted around 1000 AD (Namal, 2017).

A Turkish bath, hammam, mostly evolved from the Roman roots and adapted to the needs of ritual purification according to Islam by combining elements of the Roman baths with the Asian Turkish tradition of steam bathing, ritual cleansing and respect of water.

Similar to their Roman predecessors, the Turks also built numerous baths, hammams across the conquered territories during their reign, and although there are many points of similarity between the traditions of Roman baths and Turkish hammams, mainly their public health role, there are still some interesting differences.

During the Ottoman period, hammams were built primarily for two reasons, one was humanitarian because the revenue from delivered services was used for humanitarian purposes, and the other was of a religious nature because hammams were often built close to mosques to ease a traditional cleansing ritual before religious services.The Turks took on Roman heating system, as well as the layout of the rooms: the entrance room Apodyterium or Soyunmalık where the bathers changed their clothes, which in the hammam also had a fountain in the middle and a separate part with a small fireplace for brewing and serving tea or coffee; then the transitional, warm bathroom Tepidarium or Ilıklık, and the warmest, hot bathroom Caldarium or Sıcaklık. That hot part of the hammam, Sıcaklık, had about 40 cm high "polygonal marble platform" in the middle (also called the navel - göbek taşı) on which bathers could lie down, relax or enjoy a massage or body scrub, also separate cells (halvet) in the corners for those who wished privacy while bathing, as well as marble sinks and bowls where bathers refreshed themselves by pouring water all over their bodies. One of the unique features of this hot room was a dome with many small openings for light, similar to domes on mosques (Saglam, 2013, pp. 12-16).

The hammam was both a bath and a social center – and not exclusive to men as one might think. Women and men used the hammam at different times or the hammam complex had separate quarters for women and men. On various occasions, these were the places for dancing and food, especially in the women's quarters, as well as places for various festivities, beauty treatments, relaxation and skin treatments before weddings, major holidays and birth celebrations. Covering the body between the navel and the knees was mandatory. The female and male parts of the hammam had their own attendants who took care of the bathers, providing them with massages, body scrubs and other services, and all bathers wore unusually elevated wooden slip ons that ensured that the body did not touch the impure water on the hammam floor (Namal, 2017).

Today, we can enjoy Turkish steam saunas in almost all modern spa centers. With air temperature between 40 and 50°C and humidity rising to 80 to 100%, this bath has a beneficial effect on numerous bodily functions and immunity. The process goes in stages, it starts with relaxation in the preparation room, followed by 15 minutes in the steam bath, and the process ends with a cold shower and relaxation.

This fabulous hot steam hydro-therapy has a miraculous effect on both the physical and mental state of bathers.

Old Turkish Hamam

The medicinal properties of thermo-mineral waters have always been appreciated, so it is easy to assume that the value of the Gata water was also recognized during the Ottoman reign. With the fall of the Empire, many hammams were closed, but impressive examples of Turkish hammams can still be seen further north, for example the Király Bath, the oldest thermal bath in Budapest, which was built during the Ottoman rule and is still distinguished by its unique Turkish design.

Gata's First Buildings

The very beginning of the organizational management and the use of medicinal springs in Bosnia and Herzegovina began in 1895 when the first accommodation and spa facilities were built (Operta, Hyseni 2013, p. 25.). About a hundred years later, in 1990, a modern building was built near the Gata spring which to this day serves as a public health institution widely recognized for its excellence in balneo-physical and rehabilitation treatments as the only one in this area with the necessary technology and qualified medical professionals.

The combination of the healing properties of Gata’s thermal water and the quality of professional therapies has so far proven to be highly successful in the treatment of:

  • rheumatism
  • neurological and neuromuscular disorders
  • musculoskeletal disorders and injuries of the extremities
  • skin disorders
  • gastrointestinal disorders
  • gynecological problems and conditions.

Gata source of thermal water is located in the Northern Bosnia, 18 km northwest of the town of Bihac. Although still primarily a public healthcare institution dedicated to the treatment of domestic patients, Gata also accepts reservations for patients who make their own arrangements and have an original letter of recommendation from their internist.

In the future, hopefully in the near one, Gata plans to offer modern medical and wellness programs to general public in addition to health services.

For more information please use below contacts:
ZU Lječilište Gata
Ilidžanska bb Gata. Bihac, BA
E-mail: ljecilistegata@hotmail.com
Reservations: +387(0)37 328-156 (Mon - Fri: 7:00 to 19:00, Sat - Sun:  7:00 to 14:00)

Future Tourist-Rehabilitation Center Gata

According to effective utilization of available public resources, Gata continually works on improving its capacities and infrastructure to ensure service quality and make their clients feel welcome and comfortable. In hopes of a brighter future, they look forward to cooperate with responsible investors in defining future complex tourism products that rely on a responsible, ecological and sustainable use of natural resources.

The plan includes: development of tourism and hospitality industry infrastructure and amenities; the construction of hotels, swimming pools and accompanying spa, sports and recreational facilities.

Today, this historic thermal spa is an important part of the GWT2P regional tourist destination led by two natural gems, Plitvice Lakes and Una National Parks!

The future ancient Gata deserves!The Future Gata Deserves!
Explore Local represents a part of our natural and cultural heritage; for a fuller overview of the tangible and intangible heritage, see our Interactive Map under Experiences and Events and Activities Calendar with many suggestions for your itinerary.

References

1. Cartwright, M. (2013, May 2). Roman Baths. World History Encyclopedia. ˂https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Baths/˃
2. Gianfaldoni, S., Tchernev, G., Wollina, U., Roccia, M. G., Fioranelli, M., Gianfaldoni, R., & Lotti, T. (2017). History of the Baths and Thermal Medicine. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences5(4), pp.566–568. ˂https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2017.126˃
3. Lončar J. (2006, Oct 3). Iskorištavanje geotermalne i mineralne vode u Hrvatskoj. Geografija.hr., Hrvatsko geografsko društvo i Geografski odsjek Prirodoslovno-matematičkog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. ˂https://geografija.hr/iskoristavanje-geotermalne-i-mineralne-vode-u-hrvatskoj/˃
4. McDonald E. (2021, Feb 6). Roman Baths: An Integral Part of Life in the Ancient Empire. The Collector. ˂https://www.thecollector.com/roman-baths/˃
5. Namal A. (2017). Turkish Baths In History And Their Place In Daily Life [PowerPoint prezentacija]. Znanstveni skup Tradicije i izgledi za razvoj lječilišne kulture u Iwonicz Zdróju u europskom kontekstu Iwonicz Zdrój, 29.-30. June 2017 ˂https://www.academia.edu/43099291˃
6. Operta, M.¹, Hyseni, S.² (2013, Feb 22). Thermal mineral waters in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the potential for tourism development. University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography¹; University of Prishtina, Faculty of Geosciences & Technology, Mitrovice, Kosovo². International Journal of Water Research 2013; 1(1): 25-09 (p. 25). ˂https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288841229˃
7. Saglam, Hasan S. (2013). The Decline of Hammams: Conservation Strategies for the Turkish Baths. [Master's Thesis, The University of Sheffield, School of Architecture, Conservation and Regeneration]. Academia.edu. ˂https://www.academia.edu/33587807˃
8. Spahić, M., Temimovic, E. (2014). Thermomineral Waters Of Bosnia And Herzegovina as a Function Of Balneological Tourism. [Izvorni znanstveni rad, pdf izvadak, University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Science, Department of geography, Zmaja od Bosne 33-35, Sarajevo, Bosnia i Herzegovina (2014, 2, pp. 55-64)]
9. Tubergen, A., Linden, S. (2002). A brief history of spa therapy. ResearchGate. Ann Rheum Dis 2002; 61:273–275. DOI:10.1136/ard.61.3.273.
10. ZU Lječilište Gata [@ZU Lječilište Gata­_fb] (2016, Sep 5). Da li znate sastav vode Lječilišta Gata? U termimineralnoj vodi Banje Gata ima najviše prisutnih katjona natrijuma [objava]. Facebook. ˂https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063858900824˃

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