Király Thermal Bath: the iconic spa may regain its pomp with Turkish help – PHOTOS
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The Király Thermal Bath in Buda boasts a rich history spanning nearly 500 years, deemed a national treasure, yet it languishes in a state of disrepair so dire that it has remained closed to visitors for years. Now, the spa may finally undergo a much-needed rejuvenation.
The Király Thermal Bath is one of the iconic buildings of the second district. Its construction began in 1565 by the Pasha of Buda, Arslan, during Hungary’s Turkish occupation. The bath was strategically built within the city walls, allowing the Turks to indulge in the luxury of thermal bathing even during times of siege.
Interestingly, the spa has never had a direct hot water source; instead, the thermal water originates from the Lukács Bath, flowing into the Turkish-era building However, the water’s high mineral content has led to severe corrosion, rendering the plumbing system a victim of rust.
In the 1700s, the spa underwent expansion, acquiring its name from its owners, the König family (König meaning “king” in German, or “király” in Hungarian). During World War II, the spa suffered extensive damage, and therefore it had to be completely renovated in 1950.
Telex reports that the building, which is currently in a deplorable state, may now get a much-needed facelift.
The Király Thermal Bath, as it stands today:
The path to renovating the Király Thermal Bath has been long
The last time the spa was fully renovated occurred nearly seventy years ago. Despite assessments indicating the need for major renovations as early as 2003, the spa continued to operate under temporary permits until 2020, all the while its condition deteriorated.
A tender was issued for the building’s renovation, initially scheduled to begin in 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted these plans entirely, resulting in the closure of the Király Thermal Bath to visitors.
Now, however, there is renewed hope that the Király Thermal Bath may regain its former splendour. Ildikó Szűts, general manager of Budapest Spas cPlc, and Gergely Őrsi, mayor of the 2nd district, announced on Tuesday that the state, in collaboration with the Turkish-Hungarian Gül Baba Foundation, would cover the costs of the renovation.
