History of the Hotel

Druskininkai is the oldest and largest year-round balneological, mud, and climate resort in the country. Richly endowed by nature, it is valued not only for its therapeutic properties but also for its picturesque scenery.

Some sources suggest that on 20 June 1794, by order of the Polish King Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski, Druskininkai was officially declared a healing area — a date often considered the town’s founding day. Other sources cite 4 January 1838, when Russian Emperor Nicholas I, following research by Vilnius University professor Ignacy Fonberg, approved the establishment of a health resort in Druskininkai.

The first medical facility of the resort was established in 1838: a wooden mineral water spa was built and soon expanded to 50 baths. As with many wooden structures of the time, it suffered from fires and floods, and the original Druskininkai health resort was no exception, burning down in 1894.

In 1896, the first brick health centre was constructed on the site of the former wooden spa. The building that now houses Europa Royale Druskininkai is the oldest brick architectural heritage object in Druskininkai.

The elegant building, reflecting the architectural fashions of the period, was designed by Vaclovas Michnevičius, chief architect of Vilnius, who also designed notable buildings such as the Vilnius Hall Market, the Russian Drama Theatre, and numerous Lithuanian churches.

The one-storey yellow-brick building, built in the Petersburg architectural style of the time, was known as Nicholas I’s clinic or simply the Tsar’s clinic. It became the centre of the expanding resort, with 150 baths installed, offering salt, mud, carbonic acid, electric, solar and air baths, as well as massages and therapeutic orthopedic exercises. The resort could proudly claim one of the largest and most advanced facilities of its kind in Europe.

Between the World Wars, the resort was popularised by Polish Marshal Józef Piłsudski, who frequently spent his summers here. He paid special attention to the park surrounding the brick health resort, known at the time as the “Park of a Thousand Roses.” Throughout the summer season, orchestras from Gardin or Bialystok played in the open colonnades, accompanied by poetry readings, cultural evenings, and dance events.

After World War II, from the 1950s, Druskininkai grew rapidly, with new sanatoriums and clinics constructed. The original Tsar-era brick health resort became known as the “old sanatorium building.” Between 1954–1960, a new mud treatment facility was built adjacent to the old treatment rooms — the current Druskininkai treatment area. The brick building remained in use until the 1970s, after which it was abandoned for 35 years.

In 2006, the historic building was carefully restored and adapted for hotel use. Architectural integrity was preserved, and blocked council buildings that obstructed the view of the Nemunas River were demolished. The reconstruction respected the building’s original style and luxury: the central section was left unplastered, as it had been historically, and the internal walls, corridors, and volumes were retained, ensuring each room in the historic wing is unique.

Original decorative details were restored, particularly in the lobby, where arches, Roman pilasters, plant motifs, and authentic floor tiles near the restaurant entrance can still be seen. The building was safeguarded against decay and included in Lithuania’s architectural cultural heritage register.

A modern glass building was added on the former boiler house site, housing additional rooms, a SPA Boutique, swimming pool and sauna area, conference and bowling facilities, and a fitness centre.

Both the historic and modern buildings are connected to the Druskininkai health resort and water park via a covered corridor, echoing the integrity of the original spa complex while offering guests maximum comfort — all treatments and entertainment can be accessed in slippers and a robe.