A HUF 1-billion-worth renovation is about to start in Rudas Bath: the southern wing is to be renewed, the guests get a new locker room and several saunas, and a bridge will be built over the hall. The construction is about to start at the end of October 2013 and be finished by at the end of August 2014.At the end of October a HUF 1-billion-worth renovation will begin in one of Budapest’s most popular thermal baths, Rudas Bath. Within the confines of the renovation the southern wing of the building is to be renewed, the guests get new saunas, a bridge will be built over the hall, and a new locker room is to be constructed in the place of the former hospital rooms. The investment is to be finished by at the end of next August.
In the 19th Century Rudas was the Center of Social Life
The base of Rudas Bath, which is located at the foot of the Erzsébet Bridge, was built in the era of the Ottoman Invasion. Its original name was Zöldoszlopos fürdő (Green-Columned Bath) according to the color of one of the columns supporting its vaultage. The building of the bath was supposedly renovated by Ottoman ruler Ali Pasha in 1556, and reconstructed by Sokollu Mustafa Pasha. The building was extended in 1794 and in 1804. In the 19th century the bath was the center of social life. In 1831-32 it was renovated again. From 1866 men and women were permitted to take baths together in the facility. In 1896 a new swimming department was opened, but it only worked during summer. During the years of the World War I the number of the guests of the bath remarkably increased.
Rudas Became a Thermal Bath in 1933
Rudas was pronounced a thermal bath in 1933. Since the steam bath department was much more popular among men than women, from 1936 it was permitted for the latter to use it. In 1944 the building was seriously ruined; it was rebuilt in 1952, with some new hospital rooms added. The swimming pool was reconstructed in 1986 and the hall renovated in 2012. The swimming pool of Rudas has the warmest water (29 Celsius) among Budapest’s baths. There are also several saunas and steam rooms in the bath.
Sources:hvg.huhu.wikipedia.org
Photo:
itthon.hu
