CC BY
1459 QTaCh and Practice
\J£- Journal Bulletin of Stavropol Heglon
UDK 338.48
Nagy H.
REVIEW ON THE HISTORY OF HUNGARIAN BATH/SPA CULTURE
Abstract: Hungary is a widely well-known and popular touristic destination for not only European tourists but tourists from all over the world. The supply in tourism is quite broad, since Hungary is rich in natural resources, cultural traditions, and it has very favourable geopolitical conditions, being in the center of Europe. However, most of the touristic attractions and activities are based on and
related to thermal water and spas. In my study I wanted to give a brief overview on the history of spas in Hungary to highlight their significance in the tourism sector of Hungary.
Key words: baths, spas, thermal water, health tourism.
Nagy H. -
Ph. D., associate professor Szent Istvan University 2100 Godollo, 1 Pater K. str. Tel.: +36 28 522 000/1099 E-mail: [email protected]
Discussion
The key to Hungary's thermal culture is its location on the Carpathian Basin. The earth's crust is very thin here, allowing water to rise easily to the surface. Thus it is a land of more than 1,000 hot springs. Since ancient times, and all though the History of Hungary, the hot water bubbling up all across this region has been put to good use for its beneficial effects. The ancient Romans prized the healing effects of Hungarian thermal waters and developed bathing culture in Hungary more than 2000 years ago. During the Turkish occupation in the 16th century, the Turks added their own beautiful Turkish Baths, some of which are still in use today. Spas are located in big cities and smaller towns throughout the whole country. Some are simple thermal baths serving the local community, others are larger commercial baths. All the major spas and baths in the country offer thermal pools, leisure pools and some kind of family fun areas (kids' pools or slides of all lengths and shapes) and some count themselves as Aquaparks, though they all feature thermal water pools[3].
Hungary can be considered as a thermal-water empire on which spa culture of thousands of years are built. In addition to our unique natural endowments, the architecture of our baths and spas are also among our national heritage and treasure. We are lucky because we can enjoy bathing in thermal water both in summer and winter, even in snow. The healing effect of thermal springs has been used over the years. In the antique age, on the territory of Pannonia (which is on the Western part of today's Hungary), Roman settlers built baths which were the centers of social and cultural life at that time. The history of Hungary cannot be separated from that of the Roman Empire since Transdanubia, Pannonia were the province of Romans for 400 years, thus the signs of Roman bath culture can be witnessed in Hungary. The most important ruins of bath are located in the Northern part of Budapest, in Aquincum. In Roman times spectacular private and public baths could be found there.
The first Hungarian settlers also preferred to create their settlements near thermal springs. According to notes and memories, they knew the positive ef-
Figure 1 - Ruins of the Roman bath in Aquincum, Budapest
Source: http://budapestcity.org/03-muemlekek/03/Romai-tabor-nagyfurdoje/index-hu.htm
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Figure 2 - The ancient Rudas Spa, Budapest
Source: http://magyarfurdokultura.hu/
Figure 3 - Kirâly/Kônig Bath in Budapest
Source: http://www.kiralyfurdo.hu/
fects of spring water but they did not use them for bathing. It was used only for washing their horses. King Istvan ordered 8 bath slaves in his letter dated in 1015 to Pecsvarad Benedictine Monastery. In Buda, next to the hot water springs, knights settled down in 12th century who took care of ill people and who built hospitals and baths. Near the Gellert hill in Buda, where the hospital of Princess Erzsebet was located, the pains of leprous people were alleviated. Apart from these, there were several other baths in the country serving as centers of cultural life.
Baths got really famous under the reign of Zsigmond of Luxemburg and Corvin Matthias. It was partly because at that time Buda was the headquarters of German-Roman-Empire, thus several foreign travelers visited the emperor Zsigmond. At the time of Matthias, the bath culture flourished again. Numerous memories from that period are about huge spa castles and small baths. They also mention that the temperature of the Buda spring water is so hot that people cannot put their hands in. According to historical records, a roofed corridor linked the Racz spa and the royal castle of Matthias. Miklos Olah, the bishop of Esztergom, in the early 1500s, already wrote detailed information about the recommended use of hot springs. Unfortunately, there are only a few records from the same period about the baths in the countryside.
Baths developed further in the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish built many baths in different part of the country, like in Buda, Pecs, Szeged, Esztergom, Szolnok and Eger. Due to the 150 years of Ottoman occupation, we have beautiful baths nationwide. In Pecs, there are only the ruins remained, but in Eger and Buda we can admire them in their beauties. The Kiraly, the Rudas and the Veli Bej Baths offer a journey in time and exotic adventures. The construction of the Kiraly (King) Bath was started in 1565. It is special because it does not have direct hot water basis/resource. The Turkish built it far away from the springs so that they could bath even during attacks within the walls of the castle. The water has always come from the area of Lukacs Bath. After reoccupy-ing Buda (in 1796), the owner of the bath was the König family. They rebuilt and renovated the bath, which was named after the family. In the World War II, the bath got damaged and it was fully renovated in 1950. Later, Christians also used the water of the springs and they built hospitals in their surroundings.
After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the bath culture of Hungary flourished further both in the capital and in the countryside. Balatonfüred and Heviz have become popular baths, while in Parad, in the late 1800s, the first healing bath was built. Baths have become the centers of social life all over
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Figure 4 - Széchenyi Bath, Budapest
Source: http://budapest.varosom.hu/latnivalok/furdok/Szechenyi-Gyogyfurdo.html
Figure 5 - Gellert Spa, Budapest
Source: http://www.gellertfurdo.hu/
the country. Moreover, due to the development of medicine, they offered healing for many illnesses. Tourists, at that time, spent 6-10 weeks in baths. Men and women were bathing separately, usually specific time was dedicated to each gender.
The Szechenyi Bath, which is like a diamond of the capital, was opened in 1913.
In addition, spas in secession style were also built in the capital, for example the Gellert Hotel and Spa.
By the 18th and 19th century, scientific researches on baths have reached Hungary, too. In 1839, Lajos Tognio professor started to make a survey on the healing water reserves of Hungary as well as on their chemical ingredients. At the beginning of the 19th century, baths were the scenes of even nationalistic events and the meeting points of artists. It is proven by the fact that the third stone-theatre of the country was built in Balatonfured [4].
After the conciliation between Austria and Hungary, the development of baths continued. It was when the experiments on the effects of hot water treatments started to spread along with physiotherapy. It was also the first time for analyzing the chemical content of mineral water and for using it in gastronomy. Later, as the medical science was developing, the range of possible treatments was broadening. Some of the baths built after the conciliation are now on the territory of neighboring countries.
It was also the same period when beach life started to become fashion among people, especially near the Lake Balaton. Guests usually spent 4-6 or even 8-10 weeks at baths. Doctors usually prescribed cures of 20-40 days, but it could be expanded to even 60 days. Men and women still had bath in different times.
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Figure 6 - Hajdúszoboszló Bath
Source: http://hajduszoboszlo.hu/gyogyfurdo
The World War I caused significant depression in the life of flourishing baths in the countryside. In addition to thermal water coming up naturally, more and more baths are built on water coming up due to oil searching activities. For example, the bath of Bukfurdo, Zalakaros and Hajduszoboszlo was created in that way.
Since the middle of the last century, not only those visited baths who needed the treatments but also those who wanted to relax. Thus both the habits and the society of bath visitors also changed. By the second half of the 20th century, visiting baths has become a mess activity, though the time spent in baths shortened [4].
By the beginning of the 21st century, bath/spa culture was given a swing in Hungary; it is one of the top priorities in the tourism development strategy. Several baths have been expanded, some of the national monument baths have been renovated and some new have been built recently because the prevention and the regaining of health in natural ways are getting more and more popular and baths have key role in this regard.
Conclusions
Due to the rich thermal water reserves, Hungary
has a long history in spas and baths. Baths and spas have always played important role in tourism, especially in health tourism. It is getting even more significant nowadays because high quality treatments, better conditions of rehabilitation are required by the ageing population. Health-consciousness is becoming more and more popular approach in the Hungarian society, thus the target group of health touristic services expands and more emphasis is put on prevention. As the rate of employees in the business sphere is increasing, the demand for short recreation and wellness holidays is increasing.
According to the National Tourism Development Concept [2], Hungary should be the most popular destination of Europe in some field of health tourism by 2024. The concept also defines the top priorities in tourism development, including the innovative and complex development of health tourism. One concrete objective is to create touristic products based on complex medical services at bath destinations. In order to encourage the domestic tourists to visit the world famous spas, the government introduced several incentives in the past few years. Moreover, due to efficient marketing activities, increasing number of foreign tourists visit the spas of Hungary, making the country more popular.
REFERENCES:
1. Efficiency of Hungarian regions in using the development funds for touristic purposes / Kaposzta J., Nagy A., Nagy H. Regional Economy. South of Russia. 2014. № 4:(6). P. 33-39.
2. Nemzeti Turizmusfejlesztesi Koncepcio, Erot ado Magyarorszag 2014-2024. Budapest, 2014.
3. URL:http://spa.gotohungary.com/about-spa-culture-of-hungary
4. URL:http://zalakarosi.5mp.eu/web. php?a=zalakarosi&o=WROV6VTqQU
5. URL:http://hajduszoboszlo.hu/gyogyfurdo
6. URL:http://www.gellertfurdo.hu/
7. URL:http://budapest. varosom.hu/latnivalok/ furdok/Szechenyi-Gyogyfurdo.html
8. URL:http://magyarfurdokultura.hu/
9. URL:http://budapestcity.org/03-muemlekek/03/Romai-tabor-nagyfurdoje/in-dex-hu.htm
