Tusnádfürdő lies in the Ciuc Basin

The basin is an average 650 meters high mountain basin in Szeklerland in the Eastern Carpathians, located in Harghita County between the Harghita Mountains and the Ciuc Mountains. It runs north to south, is 60 km long and 10 km wide, with the Olt River cutting through it. It can be divided into three parts: Lower Ciuc, Middle Ciuc, and Upper Ciuc. It can be approached from Székelyudvarhely through the Tolvajos Pass, from Gyergyó through the Marosfői Pass, from the Tartós valley through the Gyimes Pass, from the Kászoni Basin over the Nyerges-tető, and from Háromszék through the Tusnádfürdő Olt Gorge.

Nestled in the Olt Gorge, among centuries-old pine forests, below the Sólyomkő, lies the pride of Ciuc country, the barely century and a half old Tusnádfürdő. This globally known Szekler spa town is the southernmost settlement of Harghita County. The foundation of the town is dated to 1842.

The settlement caught attention due to the alleged miraculous healing of a shepherd boy, leading more and more people to visit. Lajos Élthes, born in Tusnád, saw potential in the natural endowments of the area, and in 1845, he founded a joint-stock company with several landowner partners, leased the area from the settlements of Tusnád, Lázárfalva, Verebes, and Kozmás, and began to build the spa town known today as Tusnádfürdő. As a result of the investment, beautiful inns and villas sprouted like mushrooms.

The flourishing spa town's fate was sealed by the 1848-49 fights and the revenge of the local inhabitants, who, after the fights, burned down the town because they resented that the free mineral waters and bathing opportunities were taken from them. In 1852, Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the reconstruction of the town. The shareholders built more inns and Swiss-style villas. By the 1880s, Tusnádfürdő had become a thriving spa with modern medical facilities and a bath with two pools.

The First World War halted development, but from 1920, sports fields and treatment facilities were established, and a beach was built from the Csukás Lake, with an entertainment center on its shore. Its rapid development was stopped by World War II, and its fate was finally sealed by nationalization. Its beautiful, internationally renowned buildings were condemned to decay.

From 1970, with huge state investments, three hotels and a health treatment center were established on the spa site, making it the most important resort of the state trade unions.

It was elevated to town status in 1986, but after the regime change, interest in the little spa town waned and began to decline due to lack of visitors.

From the 2000s, it started to develop slowly again. Buildings were modernized and renovated to meet the needs of today. New hotels, guesthouses, and inns were built. A sports hall and ski slope were established, followed by the construction of a thermal water fun bath in 2013.

Today, the unparalleled natural endowments of Tusnádfürdő represent a huge value. Its healing springs and mofettas offer effective cures for many diseases.

The following sights can be reached from the five hiking trails starting here: Lake Saint Anne, the Mohos peat bog, Sólyomkő, Nagy Piliske, Vártető, Ludmilla lookout. The healing springs of this settlement lying at an altitude of 651 meters above sea level are justly famous.

The Bálványos Summer Free University, which has become famous under the name Tusványos, has been held here since 1997. This is the most prestigious event in the modern life of the town.

Nowadays, out of 1800 inhabitants, 1700 are Hungarian and 100 are Romanian.