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HISTORY
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Budapest's Best Thermal Spas
A city famous for its thermal spas, Budapest's public spas are both luxurious and packed with history.
By Will Street
Jul. 25, 2019, 11:30 AM
Introduction
The public spa has been an essential feature of any civilization for multiple millennia. As the Ethiopians learnt how to cultivate the coffee plant, so too can man learn how to swim. Choosing commonly natural springs as the place of their bath houses, exemplified by the settlement of Aquae Sulis, now known as Bath, public bathing was an essential feature in society at first during the time of Ancient Rome. Growing once again in popularity much later, bathing would again come to prominence during the Georgian Period, where natural springs were thought to provide healing benefits. Through the times of Art Deco lidos to Brutalist leisure centres, bathing in public facilities would only increase.
Budapest is one city that extols and cherishes the public spa to the max, providing multiple across the city that are both decadent and packed with history. The city is lucky enough to be situated on top of several thermal springs, which was one of the principal reasons the Romans colonised the city in ancient times. In later ages, the Ottomans would construct opulent public baths that are still in use today, while the Enlightenment Period would witness the construction of elaborate Neo-Renaissance and Art Nouveau edifices. Right from the beginning, the mineral deposits in the warm water were considered to possess medicinal benefits. Today, they are still traditionally thought to be able to treat conditions ranging from arthritis to skin conditions and poor circulation. Now, all is left is to take a look at them in more detail.
Thaler Tamas, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Gellért Thermal Baths
Although the building that occupies the location today was constructed between 1912 and 1918 in the Art Nouveau style, references to the healing properties of the site’s natural spring exist as early as the 13th Century. In the Middle Ages it was the location of a medieval hospital and later bath houses came to be built during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. It was regarded as a “magical healing spring” by the Ottomans during the 16th and 17th centuries and commonly called Sárosfürdö (“muddy” bath) because of the sediments of minerals that created a layer of mud at the bottom before a filtration system was imbedded.
Today, the complex showcases an opulent Art Nouveau main hall with a gallery and glass roof. The current bath house and hotel was opened in 1918 and later expanded in 1927 and 1934, incorporating an outdoor artificial wave pool and a bubble bath. The complex offers both thermal baths, fuelled by underground thermal springs, and saunas, plunge pools, an outdoor artificial wave pool and an effervescent swimming pool. The thermal baths contain calcium, magnesium, hydrocarbonate, alkalis, chloride, sulfate and fluoride that are known to treat a range of medical conditions, whether it be skin conditions or joint pains.
Taking a dip in the indoor swimming, housed in the Art Nouveau building, the ornate pillars and resplendent glass roof provide a spectacular setting, yet be prepared for the cold at a frosty 19 degrees Celsius, whereas the thermal baths offer a warmer experience at a balmy 40. Take in the scenery as well, for Gellért Baths was also the shooting location of several films, including K-12 in 2019.
misibacsi, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Rudas Baths
An Ottoman thermal and medicinal bath house on the banks of the River Danube, Rudas Baths were first built in 1550 and maintain some of the key elements of Turkish Baths, including a dome and octagonal pool. The complex includes a selection of six historic thermal baths and a larger indoor heated swimming pool. Enjoy the curative properties of the thermal baths once more, for the thermal water contains traces of sulphur, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate and fluorine.
Christo, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Lukács Baths
Opened in 1880, this spa and hotel was named after Saint Luke. The thermal baths date back further, however, to the 12th Century and have been extolled for their healing properties for centuries, appreciatively recognised with plaques on one of the complex’s walls from people who felt they were in some way cured by the waters. Constituting an extensive complex, the site features a range of thermal pools, two swimming pools and a collection of other physiotherapy pools.
Széchenyi Thermal Baths
An enormous complex of multiple pools, Jacuzzis, thermal baths and steam chambers, Széchenyi thermal baths is one of Budapest’s most famous locations. The majestic Neo-Renaissance architecture surrounds the outdoor pools, offering opulent seating for spectators and a breath-taking setting.
The entrance façade was built in the early 20th Century in the Neo-Baroque style. Construction began in 1909, and by 1913 the spa welcomed roughly 200,000 bathers into its precincts. In 1927, further additions were constructed at the site, which expanded the complex to its current size bathers see today constituting three outdoor and fifteen indoor pools.
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With two thermal springs fuelling the complex, Széchenyi is the largest medicinal bath house in Europe. At temperatures of 74 and 77 degrees Celsius, the two thermal springs contain traces of sulphate, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate and a significant amount of metaboric acid and fluoride.
Király Thermal Baths
In a finale of Budapest’s thermal spas, here is the most ancient. Király thermal baths date back to 1565 when the city of Budapest was under the control of the Ottoman Empire. The 16th Century buildings still remain standing today, showcasing an Ottoman octagonal pool with an ancient domed ceiling. The small openings in the roof allow for steam to escape and bless the pool with a shimmering beauty. Within the same complex there are another three smaller thermal pools and a modern Jacuzzi. At a temperature of between 26 and 40 degrees Celsius, the waters are once again extolled for their curative properties, containing traces of sodium, calcium, magnesium bicarbonate, sulphate-chloride and a significant quantity of fluoride ion. All that’s left for you to do is relax and indulge in the ancient experience.
Conclusion
An enjoyable and therapeutic occasion, bathing in Budapest’s thermal spas has got to be high up on anyone’s bucket list. For those seeking a summery sun trap, take a walk down the opulent swimming pools at Széchenyi and bask in the Neo-Renaissance magnificence. If history’s your thing, where better to go to than Király’s Ottoman dome and witness centuries of cultural heritage. The multitude of options come aplenty. Featuring from the times of Ancient Rome to the 21st Century and as a pastime we all love, I hope you’ll join us at blawa.com in saluting Budapest’s selection of thermal baths.