The ciubăr — a traditional Romanian wood-fired hot tub carved from a single piece of timber — is the crown jewel of the Feriland experience. Its origins reach deep into the rural traditions of Transylvania and the Banat region, where communities have gathered around heated water for centuries, long before the word "wellness" entered any vocabulary. At Feriland, we've preserved the authenticity of this ancient practice while setting it against one of the most beautiful landscapes in western Romania.
An Ancient Wellness Ritual
Our ciubăre are crafted from local oak and heated the old-fashioned way: a wood-burning stove submerged in the water gradually brings the temperature up over the course of an afternoon. There is no thermostat, no electric pump, no chlorine. The slow preparation is part of the ritual — tending the fire, testing the water, watching the steam begin to curl into the air. By the time you step in, the water has reached the perfect temperature, softened by the natural tannins of the wood. The heat penetrates deep into muscles and joints, releasing tension that you may have been carrying for weeks.
Under the Stars
As darkness falls and the sky fills with stars — far from the light pollution of any city — the ciubăr becomes something transcendent. The steam rises in slow columns into the cold night air. The fire crackles softly beneath the water's surface. Above you, the Milky Way stretches from horizon to horizon in a display that most Europeans haven't seen since childhood. On clear nights, you can spot constellations, satellites, and the occasional meteor with the naked eye. Many of our guests tell us this single experience — floating in warm water under an infinite sky — is what they remember most vividly about their stay.
The Ritual of Disconnecting
There are no phones in the ciubăr. No screens, no speakers, no distractions. Just the warmth of the water, the sound of the fire, the cold air on your face, and a sky full of ancient light. This is not a spa treatment — it's a reset. A return to something fundamental that the body recognizes even if the mind has forgotten. Couples share it in comfortable silence. Friends share it with laughter. Solo travelers share it with themselves. However you come to the ciubăr, you leave it lighter.
Some luxuries are ancient. The ciubăr is one of them.
