Fabrikstadt Timeline – Fabrikstadt Photos – Baile Neptun (The Neptun Baths) – The Timisoreana Brewery – Bere Timisoreana in 2004
Fabrikstadt – Baile Neptun – The Neptun Baths
BAILE NEPTUN (the Neptun Baths), the monumental building and its tiny indoor pool that served as our “wet” training facility during the winter months in the 50s and early 60s. In 1963, the pool underwent a major remodeling effort, but that wasn’t enough to retain the swim team. In 1965, all winter workouts were moved to ILSA’s heated outdoor pool, thus marking the end of Neptun as a training facility for Timisoara’s swimmers.
The monumental building that houses the pool is located on the Fabric District side of the Decebal Bridge, just outside of Timisoara’s central Cetate District and directly opposite of the Parcul Poporului (People’s Park).
The edifice was built in 1913-1914 by the architect and original owner László Székely, who, during his tenure as the city’s Chief Architect, designed many other monumental buildings, such as the Piarist Lyceum, the Neuhauss and Weisz Palaces in the center of the city, and the Abattoir.
During the early days, the Neptun building was known as both the Székely House and the Hungaria Baths.
The ILSA initials stand for Industria Linii, Societate Anonima, the nationally-known textile factory founded in Timisoara in the early 1920‘s. Known as “Gyapjúipar” and “Wollindustrie” to Hungarian and German speakers, ILSA was one of the city’s largest employers, with a reputation for caring for the well-being of its workers. Read more about this group here.
Images courtesy of ILSA “Industria Linii, Societate Anonima” – Gabe Bohm.
Last updated: 08/15/2025