Széchenyi thermal bath

The Széchenyi Baths (Hungarian: Széchenyi gyógyfürdő ) is a spa in the Hungarian capital Budapest. The plant is located in the City Park. Through its proportions, the bathroom is the largest of its kind in Europe. It was named after the statesman Count István Széchenyi.

History

The beginnings of Artesian bath

Vilmos ZSIGMONDY taught at November 24, 1866 a petition to the City Council of Pest, in which he expressed his belief that you could win in Pest with the greatest likelihood of success artesian wells ", where the water can be nothing else than thermal water. " on March 3, 1868 the contract for the work associated with the artesian wells in the City Park was finally signed. Finally, the drilling began on November 15, 1868 and ended in January 1878 in a depth of 970.48 meters.

The Budapest Council for Public Works approved the construction of a bathhouse at the Palatininsel on 1 July 1880. Just one year later, the bathhouse was opened. The costs amounted to 28 485 forints and 57 krajcar. As the popularity of the bath grew more and more, focused its attention in 1899 with its extension. From 1904 the bath was allowed to use the title spa. 1907 corresponded to the Artesian Bath nowhere near the claims and the capital decided to build a new bathroom. The building of the Artesian bath was demolished in 1936.

New construction and extensions

For the construction of the new bath costs have been estimated at 3.8351 million corona. Construction began on 7 May 1909 and lasted until June 16, 1913 The building was divided into five bathrooms. :

• Private bathrooms
• Steam rooms for men
• Steam rooms for women
• Public baths for men
• Public baths for women

From the main entrance in the main building is accessed via a vestibule in the domed hall, which was designed as a hub of transport in the building. It has been designed as a space of representation on most jewelery. The total built-up area, including the heating and machinery house was 75294.34 square meters.

The depth of the artesian well is located at 960 meters. 760 cubic meters of 73 ° C hot thermal water gushing out of the well every hour. The bathroom used which approximately 475 cubic meters. While in the old Artesian bath only 45 bathers could be received, the Szechenyi summarized now 421 bathers at a time.

Since the bathing caused losses, it was thought from 1924 on an extension of the Széchenyibades after. It should develop an outdoor swimming pool on an area of 11,000 square meters between the existing building and the road to the zoo. Furthermore, it should be connected to the swimming pool, the expansion of the public baths. The new pool was opened on 19 August 1927. The water surface of the three major basins is 2,040 square meters. This pool now took 3,400 bathers in addition.

In 1935 there was the spa of the following parts:

• Thermal for Men - 4 pools, changing rooms 151
• Thermal for Women - 4 pools, 93 changing rooms
• 14 thermal baths Salon
• 34 thermal baths, partly furnished for mud, hot air, carbon dioxide and water electrobath and medical treatment
• Machine Therapy ( Zandr )
• Thermales public baths for men - 3 pools, 300 lockers
• Thermales public baths for women - 3 pools, 300 lockers
• Outdoor pool - 3 pools, 59 cabins, lockers 1376

However, the problems of the economy of the bath were not solved by the extension. Costs for heating the water loaded with the budget 45000-46000 pengő in 1935. Finally, the bore of a second artesian well was approved by the City, which resulted in a depth of 1,256 meters on 16 March 1938 success. The new Saint Stephen's fountain was 6,000 cubic meters daily 77 ° C hot water. That was more water than originally estimated, and so in 1939 the old heating system of the bath house was converted to operation with thermal water.

New start in 1945

The Szechenyi had been damaged by the war, only 20 percent; the Saint Stephen's fountain was even remained completely intact. After January 23, 1945 the wreckage site clearance had begun, the outdoor pool and the spa for men and the two public baths were opened again on 20 May and the end of July will be put into operation. In 1949, a sludge department was set up in the left wing of the bath, and 1952 were added to the electro-therapy as well as a salt water bath. Since 26 November 1963, the swimming pool is open all year. However, the state of the bath deteriorated noticeably in the second half of the 20th century. In 1998 we therefore started a major renovation.

Bathroom equipment

The building now consists of three parts

• Spa
• Swimming pool
• Day hospital

The main entrance is located at the Kos Károly utca and decorated with columns and tympanum. He is the main axis of the five domes limit Czigler - wing. The main entrance flanked by columns of the swimming pool is situated opposite to the Állatkerti krt. He leads in a neo-baroque vestibule, in which both sides are at the cash counters. The day hospital can be reached from the north-east. The entrance to the southwest leads to the steam baths.