The history of the Turkish baths of Hungary

According to termalfurdo.hu, the 150 years of Turkish rule left deep marks in the Hungarian history. It might sound strange, but the era had positive effects as well, for instance, the spreading of baths, out of which several still function in Budapest and Eger. But how were these built and what was their role? This is the story of Turkish baths in Hungary.

Many contemporary European travelers reported on baths in the Turkish in a praising way, because they were all dazzled by their architectural style and fantastic health benefits. Since the Turks used them for social and clearing aims, they were always built in the centre, close to religious venues like mosques, turbes and minarets. The appropriate water temperature was especially important for them, so they tried to build the baths as close to thermal springs as possible.

Why were they built?

Cleaning baths play a significant role in the Islamic religion. According to the Coran, both still water and running water can be used for this aim. Prophet Muhammad emphasized the role of bathing in potence. Moreover, they believed that the purgation of the soul and body were necessary. Bathing masters and maids helped in the process. Even though the joint bathing of men and women was prohibited, the institutions were the prominent venues of social life. Following the rules, the halls were built in the following order: hot, warmish, cold, dry. All of this was completed with skin and hair care.

The architectural masterpiece

The Turks already had well-developed systems for canalage and heating in the 16^th century. The heating of the pool area and other watery halls were provided by the hot thermal water directly from the pools, and indirectly from the walls through clay pipes. When designing steam baths, they also built boiler-rooms and heating furnaces to store cold springwater. The sealing of the pools was ensured by lead plates. But the most eye-catching solution was definitely the cupola-shaped roofing.