VIDEO, PHOTOS: Budapest’s legendary Rácz Thermal Bath will reopen soon

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The building of the unique Hungarian thermal bath and the 67-room hotel attached to it was ready to open in 2010, Népszava says. However, the plans went unmet. Since then, its state has been deteriorating. Here is how the municipal leadership of Budapest would like to reopen it for the public and create a popular tourist spot in the capital famed for its spas and baths.

Long-term operator needed

According to Népszava, the Rácz Thermal Bath has to be completely renewed before it can reopen. However, Budapest does not have the necessary budget to cover the costs of the renovation. But the capital’s leadership came up with another idea to manage the undertaking without having to take a loan.

The Budapest Gyógyfürdői és Hévizei (Budapest Spas) ordered an analysis of the different available options for managing the Rácz Hotel. Initially they even considered selling it. However, the leadership of Budapest aims to sign a long-term contract regarding the bath’s operation. The relevant call for applications will start in end-January or early February. Finally, the Municipal Council will decide about the long-term operator of the hotel.

However, Népszava writes that several investors expressed interest in not only purchasing but also operating the hotel last year. So the Municipal Council will probably have some options to choose from.

Read also: PHOTOS: Hungary’s most popular cave bath reopens

The is when the Rácz Thermal Bath may reopen

Ildikó Szűcs, the CEO of the Budapest Spas, hopes that the bath and the hotel will cooperate to create and utilise synergies. She added Budapest would like to sign a contract with the future operator for 20 years. The document will include a deadline for the hotel’s reopening. Among ideal conditions, the hotel and the thermal bath will be able to welcome guests as a joint venture.

Here is a photo of the interior of the bath. In the article of Népszava you can check out some additional photos of its current state.

The octogonal hall of the Rácz Thermal Bath. The photo was taken around 1950-1960:

Népszava says that the hotel and the bath were on the edge of the opening in 2010. However, it became a victim of the leadership change in Budapest (Fidesz won the local elections in the autumn of 2010). Afterwards, the municipal council had to buy the buildings of the hotel and the bath in May 2021 for HUF 5 billion (EUR 12.7 million). However, after they made a thorough analysis of the facility, it became painfully obvious that they could not reopen. That is because the bath was full of mold and fungus.

Here is a video of the bath uploaded on Youtube 8 months ago:

Budapest’s leadership hopes that they will be able to tender the bath’s renovation this summer. Based on their estimates, the costs will be around HUF 2.5 billion (EUR 6.34 million). According to the plans, the bath’s renewal will follow the revenues from the long-term operation contract. If they have the financial resources, a segment of the Rácz Thermal Bath will be renovated. If the budget will cover all the expenses, the work could be finished by next spring. If only the step-by-step plan proves to be feasible, it may occur that only a number of pools will be accessible to visitors.