The long-awaited Széchenyi Bath renovation could begin this autumn after the Budapest General Assembly approved the renovation programme for the more than 110-year-old thermal bath and swimming complex in City Park.

The first phase of the project, worth more than net HUF 3 billion, or around EUR 8.4 million, may now move towards public procurement. The works are expected to focus partly on the women’s thermal section and would take around 12 months to complete.

According to Magyar Építők, citing MTI, the renovation is only the first stage of a much larger programme aimed at modernising one of Budapest’s best-known tourist attractions while preserving its historic character.

Széchenyi Bath renovation to modernise water treatment

One of the most important technical elements of the first phase will be the modernisation of the bath’s water treatment system.

Ildikó Szűts, CEO of Budapest Spas and Thermal Baths Plc., said during the presentation of the plans that the pools at Széchenyi Bath currently operate with a fill-and-drain technology. Under the pilot project, some pools will be converted to a filter-and-circulation system, partly to meet legal requirements.

For foreign readers, this is a major technical change. Budapest’s historic thermal baths often operate in heritage buildings where any modernisation must be balanced with architectural protection. At Széchenyi, the challenge is to update the service and safety standards of a major visitor attraction without damaging the atmosphere that made the bath famous worldwide.

Historic sections will also be restored

The autumn works will not only involve water technology. Several architectural and restoration tasks are also included in the programme.

The main entrance staircase of the swimming pool section is expected to be renovated in a project lasting around three months. The works will also affect the plate-shaped fountains in the inner courtyard, while the restoration of the swimming pool changing rooms is also planned.

The renovated changing area is expected to allow mixed-gender use, and this part of the project is planned to take around six months. The programme also includes reconstruction of the stepped sunbathing area, including new paving and waterproofing.

These works are important because Széchenyi Bath is not simply a pool complex. It is one of Budapest’s most recognisable architectural landmarks, combining spa culture, tourism and protected historic design in the heart of City Park.

Why Széchenyi Bath matters to Budapest

Széchenyi Bath is one of the largest bath complexes in Europe and one of the symbols of Budapest’s thermal culture. The story of the site dates back to the 19th century, when mining engineer Vilmos Zsigmondy proposed drilling an artesian well in City Park.

After drilling was completed in 1878, thermal water rose from a depth of 970 metres at 74.5 degrees Celsius. Construction of the bath began in 1909 based on plans by Győző Czigler, and the institution opened on 13 June 1913 under the name Széchenyi Thermal Bath.

The bath became so popular that it was significantly expanded in the 1920s, when Pest’s first swimming pool opened there. A second well was completed in 1936, bringing thermal water from a depth of 1,240 metres. After the Second World War, the building required repairs, but the thermal well remained intact. From 1963, the bath became a four-season attraction.

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First phase only

The current investment, worth more than net HUF 3 billion, is only the first phase of the wider Széchenyi Bath renovation. Szűts said larger interventions will be needed in the coming years if the complex is to match its international importance both in terms of heritage protection and service quality.

Today, Széchenyi Bath operates with 18 pools. Last year, it received around 1.3 million visitors, with an average daily attendance of about 3,500 people.

For Budapest, the renovation is more than a maintenance project. The city’s historic baths are central to its international image, and Széchenyi is among the most visited of them. If the public procurement proceeds as planned, the autumn start could mark the beginning of a multi-year effort to bring one of Europe’s most famous spa complexes into line with modern expectations while keeping its historic character intact.

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