Gellért Baths

The effervescent swimming pool in Gellért Baths.

The entrance hall to the Gellért Baths complex.

Gellért Bath
Location	Buda, Budapest, Hungary
Built	1912 - 1918

History

In the Buda side the famous Hotel Gellért is the home one of the most famous bath of Budapest, the Gellért Thermal Baths and Swimming Pool. It is also called Gellért fürdő or Gellért Baths, is a bath complex in Budapest, Hungary, built between 1912 and 1918 in the (Secession) Art Nouveau style. It was damaged during World War II, but then rebuilt. References to healing waters in this location are found from as early as the 13th century. A hospital was located on this site during the Middle Ages. During the reign of the Ottoman Empire, baths were also built on this particular site. The "magical healing spring" used the Turkish during the 16th and 17th centuries. The bath was called Sárosfürdő („muddy” bath), because the mineral mud settled at the bottom of pools.

Reconstructive work

The Gellért Bath underwent its first extensive renovation in 2008. The bath closed only once in its almost century long existence due to a burst pipe. The Gellért was open even during World War II Towards the end of the war the prestigious Art Nouveau women's thermal bath was bombed, destroying the the Zsolnay pyrogranite facade and the wooden interior of the dressing rooms. Due to economic condition following the war, the thermal bath was redesigned in a much more puritanical manner. The 2008 reconstruction served to restore the bath to its original splendor.

Pools and treatments

The Gellért Baths complex includes thermal baths, which are small pools containing water from Gellért hill's mineral hot springs. The water contains calcium, magnesium, hydrocarbonate, alkalis, chloride, sulfate and fluoride. Medical indications of the water includes degenerative joint illnesses, spine problems, chronic and sub-acute joint inflammations, vertebral disk problems, neuralgia, vasoconstriction and circulatory disturbances; inhalation problems for the treatment of asthma and chronic bronchitis problems. There are two different thermal baths, according to the signs on the walls of the baths, one is around 36 °C and the other around 38 °C. The thermal baths are decorated beautifully with mosaic tiles.

Gellért Spa is famous for its main hall with gallery and glass roof, built in Art-Nouveau style.

The current bath complex and hotel was opened in 1918 and was expanded in 1927 and 1934 with artificial wave pool and with bubble bath.

The complex also includes saunas and plunge pools (segregated by gender), an open-air swimming pool which can create artificial waves every 30 minutes and an effervescent swimming pool. A Finnish sauna with cold pool and children's pool is also enclosed within the complex. Masseuse services are available.

The one warm water swimming pool is possible to visit mixed, but the male and female thermal sections (saunas and massage) are separate. Every Sunday is a family day, so all sections can be visited mixed.

Gellért Baths also offer a range of medical services.Towels and swimsuits may be rented or bought in the Spa. On holidays and at weekends the entrance fee is higher than on workdays. In February 2012, the prices were between 4100 and 4600 HUF. Massage is charged extra, 4200 HUF (basic massage). (Current prices: see external link below.)

Spas and Nightlife

Budapest is famous for its baths as well as its world class music scene and nightlife, so it seems natural to combine these to for a series of unique programs such as Cinetrip Sparty and Fürdők Éjszakája (Spa Nights). So partygoers can enjoy the bath facilities while listening to concerts and dj sets. These events allow individuals of 18 years or older.

Transportation

It can be reached by public transport, tram 47 or 49 from the Deák Ferenc tér or tram 19 from Margaret Bridge.

References

• Budapest. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides (2004)
• 1000 Places to See Before You Die
• Épülettár.hu

External links

• Budapest Spas and Hot Springs entry on Gellért Baths
• Danubius Hotels Gellért Baths site?
• Online entrance and massage tickets