Gellért Baths
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Gellért Thermal Baths and Swimming Pool, also called Gellért fürdő or Gellért Baths, is one of the most beautiful and elegant baths in Budapest, built between 1912 and 1918 in the (Secession) Art Nouveau style. They were 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 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. 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. The complex also includes saunas and plunge pools (segregated by gender), an open-air swimming pool which can create artificial waves every ten minutes and an effervescent swimming pool. Masseuse services are available. Different types of massage are available. In a half hour massage, patrons and are escorted into a room with 3 massage beds and are asked to remove all their clothing. The massages given are completely nude, with 3 massages going on in the same room at once. Gellért Baths also offer a wide range of medical services, but they must be booked ahead of time.
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[edit] References
- "Budapest". DK Eyewitness Travel Guides (2004)
- 1000 Places to See Before You Die
[edit] Trivia
- The Hotel is the basis for the Thermal Bath Hotel in the game Hitman: Codename 47
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Gellert Baths site?
- Budapest Spas and Hot Springs entry on Gellért Baths
- Danubius Hotels Gellért Baths site?
