Széchenyi thermal bath

"Széchenyi fürdő" redirects here. For the metro station, see Széchenyi fürdő (Budapest Metro).
Széchenyi Thermal Bath
Location City Park, Budapest, Hungary
Coordinates 47°31′07″N 19°04′55″E / 47.51861°N 19.08194°E / 47.51861; 19.08194Coordinates: 47°31′07″N 19°04′55″E / 47.51861°N 19.08194°E / 47.51861; 19.08194
Built 1913
Architect Győző Czigler
Location of Széchenyi Thermal Bath in Budapest

The Széchenyi Medicinal Bath in Budapest (IPA: [seːtʃeːɲi], Hungarian: Széchenyi-gyógyfürdő) is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. Its water is supplied by two thermal springs, their temperature is 74 °C (165 °F) and 77 °C (171 °F), respectively.

Components of the thermal water include sulphate, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate and a significant amount of fluoride acid and metaboric acid. Medical indications are on degenerative joint illnesses, chronic and sub-acute joint inflammations, as well as orthopaedic and traumatological post-treatments.[1]

History

In planning since the 1880s, the bath had originally been referred to as the Artesian spa (Artézi fürdő), but when it opened on 16 June 1913, it was officially named Széchenyi spa (Széchenyi gyógyfürdő) after István Széchenyi.

The bath, located in the City Park, was built in Neo-baroque style to the design of Győző Czigler.[2] Construction began on 7 May 1909 with designs by architect Eugene Schmitterer. The pool construction cost approximately 3.9 million Austro-Hungarian korona. The built-up area was 6,220 square metres (67,000 sq ft). The attendance of spa was in excess of 200,000 people in 1913. This number increased to 890,507 by 1919. At that time it had private baths, separate men and women steam-bath sections, and different men / women "public baths". The complex was expanded in 1927 to its current size, with 3 outdoor and 15 indoor pools. It is now possible for both sexes to visit the main swimming and thermal sections.

After the expansion, the thermal artesian well could not supply the larger volume of water needed, so a new well was drilled. The second thermal spring was found in 1938 at a depth of 1,256 metres (4,121 ft), with a temperature of 77 °C (171 °F). It supplies 6,000,000 litres (1,600,000 US gal) of hot water daily.[2] Between 1999 and 2009 the full reformation of the Széchenyi thermal bath took place within the confines of a blanket reconstruction.

Units

The bath during the day

In the baths there are pools of varying temperature. The outdoor pools (swimming pool, adventure pool and thermal sitting pool) are 27 to 38 °C (81 to 100 °F). The swimming pool's depth is 0.8 to 1.7 metres (2 ft 7 in to 5 ft 7 in). The adventure pool's depth is 0.8 metres (2 ft 7 in). Guests can use the water streaming, whirlpool and massaging water beamand. The indoor pools are of varying temperatures, between 18 to 38 °C (64 to 100 °F).[3] The complex also includes saunas and steam. Massage services are available.

Transportation

It can be reached by public transport, metro line 1 (yellow line) from Vörösmarty square.(It is also a station of the yellow M1 (Millennium Underground) line of the Budapest Metro) or the trolleybus 72. From downtown, the bath is a few hundred metres beyond Heroes Square.

References

  1. ↑ "Baths in Budapest - a guide for students", Budapest Corner, retrieved 2010-12-14
  2. 1 2 "Széchenyi Bath". Budapest: Hungária Koncert Kft. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  3. ↑ "Bath Units of Széchenyi Thermal Bath | BGYH". Budapestgyogyfurdoi.hu. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
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