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The Lukács Thermal Bath is located in the
ancient Frankel Leo street imitating the style of the 15th century.
From the sunbathing area of the roof, a unique panorama opens to a
narrow and scenic street with tram traffic. Opposite the building
line up the Malom-lake covered by water lilies, a picturesque hill, a
crumbling Turkish bath, the Saint Steven Chapel and some150 year old
apartment houses. Even before the Turkish era, well-known and
well-utilised water sources could be found at the place of the Lukács
Bath. The modest institution began to be developed from 1884. Its
flourishing period lasted right until the First World War, but due to
its excellent quality water it was still extremely popular even in
its run-down state. Outside the building of the Bath-which is
embraced by a spa-park with giant sycamore trees-outdoor swimming
pools, whereas inside the thermal and the physiotherapy sections of
ORFI (National Rheumatism and Spa Institution) are located. The
elegant drinking hall and the ancient tablets of gratitude placed on
the wall for decades must also be mentioned. The Császár Thermal Bath
and Swimming Pool is located in the neighbourhood of the Lukács Bath,
the oldest yet still operating bath of which used to belong to Veli
Turkish governor and was built by Szokoli Mustafa the pasha of Buda.
It has reached its final shape during the reconstruction work
finished in 1844 and designed by József Hild. The Bath currently is
part of the ORFI. Outside it has a giant pool and next to it stands
the modern Komjádi Béla Sports Swimming Pool.
Named after St Luke, Lukács Spa is one of the
most attractive of the 19th-century bathing establishments with
friendly staff and pleasant surroundings. The complex comprises the
16th-century Császár thermal baths and two outdoor swimming pools.
Natural hot springs keep these pools heated all year around, allowing
locals and tourists alike to bathe in comfort eve in winter time.
Both the thermal baths and the swimming pools are favorite meeting
place for writers and artists. You can walk around and relax in the
huge park, and even drink curative waters in the drinking hall. The
comprehensive physiotherapy unit (day hospital) deserves special
emphasis from among all the services of the spa. Sun roof open in
summer.
The water of
the just recently renovated Lukács Bath has positive
health effects, but the people of Budapest savor swimming in open air
warm water pool both in the winter and in the summer, regardless of
age and health condition.
Apart from
using the naturally flowing springs, excellent bathhouses have also
been built on artesian wells, which have been drilled since the 19th
century based on the charts of the ingenious Hungarian geologist
Vilmos Zsigmnondy.
The present baths was built in Buda in 1894, and until the Széchenyi
Baths was ready it was the biggest and most popular spa in Budapest.
Besides the thermal baths the swimming pool is also a favourite
meeting place for writers and artists. The 1800sqm area around the
spa is a popular place for relaxation under its century old trees.
A drinking hall here offers curative waters. On the sidewall of the
spa plates of gratitude hang showing how many people from different
countries of the world have visited the baths and recovered here. The
comprehensive physiotherapy unit (day hospital) deserves special
emphasis from among all the services of the spa.
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