Gellert Baths
The Gellert baths are considered the most beautiful in the whole of Budapest, which is rightly considered a resort city. The complex was built between 1912 and 1918. Today it is part of the famous Gellert Hotel in Buda. There are 13 similar establishments in the city, and they are popular.
The history of the Gellert baths
It began even before the appearance of the city: a wandering monk decided to settle for a short time in a cave at the foot of Mount Gellert. He accidentally discovered a miraculous spring. The monk believed that it was silt or mud that brought health benefits, but numerous studies conducted much later showed that it was water.
During the time of the Ottoman Empire, traditional Turkish baths were installed next to the spring, and after a hot sauna, it is not only useful, but also very pleasant to plunge into the cool water. At the beginning of the 19th century, a "Muddy barn" was built here, although not the most pleasant name, but still a fair one. The muddy waters are indeed quite muddy, but this has not made them less popular.
To give the place more polish, Emperor Franz Joseph I decided to rebuild a real palace. A lot of funds were allocated for its construction, the work took 6 years. And so in 1918, the grand opening took place. It turned out to be a real work of art in the Art Nouveau style. Statues, arches, stained glass windows, columns, pools and numerous fonts with water of different temperatures.
The majestic Gellert baths came under fire several times during the Second World War, as a result of which they turned almost into ruins. They were restored only by 2008.
Features of the Gellert swimming pool
Bathing is especially recommended for people with aching joints, pain in the intervertebral discs, problematic blood vessels and circulation, as well as those suffering from asthma or bronchitis.
Today, a comfortable spa hotel has been created on the basis of the hydrotherapy center. It has two outdoor pools, one of them is open even in the cold season, many fonts with water of different temperatures, baths and saunas, showers and changing rooms, springs with drinking water.
It is best to plan a visit to the Gellert swimming pool earlier in the morning, it starts working at 6 a.m., and by lunchtime there are quite a lot of visitors. In order to enjoy your vacation in relative solitude, it is better to choose the time from the opening to 10 o'clock.
A bracelet is given at the entrance, this is the key to the passage to the Gellert swimming pool, which opens the cubicles for storing personal belongings. It is useful to take a bathing cap with you, you need it when visiting a warm outdoor pool, you can pour water from the springs into the bottle you brought with you. However, if desired, you can rent everything you need.
