114-year-old Hungarian swimming baths shut down with immediate effect

Esztergom’s historic Szent István Swimming Baths have been ordered to close after inspectors raised concerns over chlorine levels and the lack of an approved water-treatment policy. The mayor plans to challenge the decision as the city scrambles to find alternative swimming facilities for local athletes.

One of Esztergom’s best-known swimming facilities has been forced to close with immediate effect following a decision by the Komárom-Esztergom County Government Office over alleged breaches of public swimming pool regulations.

The Szent István Swimming Baths, which are 114 years old, were ordered to suspend operations after a public health inspection found high chlorine levels in the pool water and established that the facility did not have a valid policy governing chemical water treatment.

Esztergom Mayor Ádám Hernádi announced the decision in a video posted on Facebook on Friday, saying the official order had arrived shortly after lunch. The municipality had asked for permission to continue operating the facility’s outdoor pool under its usual inflatable winter dome, but this request was not granted.

Why has the historic swimming pool been closed?

The government office’s public health department launched proceedings against the baths in September after identifying concerns about the water’s chlorine content and the absence of an approved water-treatment policy.

According to documents reported by Telex, the authorities found that disinfectants had been added to the pool without the necessary authorisation or an approved Public Baths Health and Technical Operating Policy (KTSZ).

The closure will remain in force until the municipality obtains approval for a policy that meets the relevant technical requirements and demonstrates that the pool’s water-treatment arrangements are suitable. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to HUF 5 million (approximately EUR 12,000).

The legal background dates back to a 2023 government decree that changed the health and technical requirements for public baths. Under the rules, every facility must have a valid KTSZ by 31 December 2026.

The government office had reportedly already warned Esztergom in March that its pool’s traditional operating method posed a problem under the new regulations. However, the immediate closure followed the conclusion of the separate proceedings launched in September over the use of disinfectants.

Hernádi has disputed the authorities’ position on the water quality.

“There is no more chlorine in it, and no more chemicals than there were a hundred years ago, or even in the 1990s, when I learnt to swim here myself,” the mayor said.

His comments reflect the municipality’s position, while the closure order is based on the authorities’ findings concerning water treatment and regulatory compliance.

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Where will local swimmers go now?

The sudden closure has left the municipality searching for alternative facilities, particularly for local athletes and swimming clubs that rely on the pool for training. According to the mayor, Esztergom is negotiating with neighbouring Dorog and Štúrovo (Párkány), across the Danube in Slovakia, to arrange access to their swimming pools. A pool at Esztergom’s Aquasziget leisure complex is also expected to provide an alternative for swimmers.

The closure also threatens the usual winter swimming season at the historic baths. During the colder months, an inflatable dome is placed over the 50-metre outdoor pool, allowing it to be used in more comfortable conditions.

The city spent HUF 200 million on a replacement dome a few years ago. With the baths now closed, it is unlikely to be installed for the coming season. Hernádi said the municipality was examining its legal options to challenge the government office’s decision, arguing that Esztergom should not be left without its historic swimming facility.

A major renovation could cost HUF 6 billion

The dispute comes as the city considers a substantial overhaul of the ageing baths. The facility currently operates using a traditional fill-and-drain system rather than recirculating its pool water. Water enters the pool from a natural spring and is subsequently discharged into the Danube.

The 2023 regulations mean that a water-recirculation system would need to be installed, requiring significant investment and wider renovation work.

According to a statement issued by the mayor earlier this week, a complete renovation could cost close to HUF 6 billion (approximately EUR 16.4 million). The municipality does not currently have the necessary funding available.

The original plan was to keep the baths open throughout the winter season, remove the inflatable dome in spring and then begin a more extensive renovation in April. The latest decision means the facility has been shut several months earlier than anticipated.

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Hernádi also pointed to the city’s financial constraints. He said the withdrawal of around HUF 56 billion in state funding in 2023 had affected several local projects, including the swimming baths.

Esztergom must also pay more than HUF 2.66 billion in solidarity contributions to the state in 2026, according to the mayor. He argued that two years’ worth of these payments would be enough to cover a project on the scale of the baths’ complete renovation.

The municipality intends to include the renovation in its next annual budget. According to the mayor’s earlier statement, work could begin in spring once the necessary permits have been obtained and the public procurement process has been completed.