Huge new thermal bath-and-spa complex opens in Bucharest

BUCHAREST, Romania – Austria's A-Heat Group has opened a giant thermal bath-and-spa complex in Romania that it says is the largest in Europe.

The 50 million-euro ($55 million) center, which opened Thursday just north of Bucharest, uses hot water pumped up from more than 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) underground and cooled to a constant 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 Fahrenheit) in its eight pools.

The facility, which offers indoor and outdoor pools, saunas and other leisure activities, covers 25 hectares (62 acres) and includes a giant botanical garden with 800,000 trees and plants. Tickets start at 39 lei ($9.50).