The Hungarian legend says that if you stick a stick in the ground on the territory of the country, then a mineral spring will certainly hit from there. And this is probably a true opinion, since Hungary is the only country in the world in which sources are 80% of the area, there are more than 60 thousand.
The healing properties of water are an excellent tool in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, vascular diseases, diseases of the nervous system. Enterprising Hungarians turned their natural wealth into a brand and built a huge number of medical sanatoriums and bathing complexes for residents and numerous guests of the country.
About the Rudash bath, located in the heart of Budapest, and will be discussed in the article. We will tell about its history, architectural features, and healing properties of water. We will also familiarize you with the reviews of our tourists about their stay in this balneotherapy center. Most often, travel agencies offer tourists the opportunity to visit the cave springs of Miskolc-Tapolca or the Szechenyi baths in the capital park Varoshliget on the way to Budapest. But the Hungarians themselves rarely go to these places because of the large influx of tourists, preferring to them a hospital on the left bank of the Danube, on Gellert Mountain, with the same name and located at the foot of the mountain, the Rudas bath, about which we will go further.
Location
The Rudas bathhouse was built at the address: Döbrentei tér 9, 1013. The entrance to the balneotherapy room is located on the side of the road along the banks of the Danube. The building can be seen from the side of the building of the Hungarian Parliament and the Central Market of the city.
If you walk along the promenade, then just go to the other side along the Erzhebet bridge, whose length is only 290 meters. This is the bottleneck throughout the river in the city. After crossing the bridge, you need to turn left, the first building along the road will be the destination. On the right side you will see the Buda Castle with a magnificent Royal Palace.
You can get to the Rudash baths from six in the morning, and relax there until ten in the evening, but there is one caveat. Hungarians go to terms completely naked, therefore all days of the week in the work schedule are divided into men's (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) and women's (Tuesday) days. At the weekend, when it is allowed to swim only in bathing suits, you can visit the baths together: for both men and women.
How to get there
You can get to the Rudas bath by tram number 19, which follows the BĂ©csi Ășt / VörösvĂĄri Ășt route. A stop is almost at the entrance to the complex. Also suitable for travel is tram number 17, 41, 56 and 56A.
From the tram stop number 56A, which goes along the route MĂłricz Zs. körtĂ©r M, youâll have to go a little along the promenade, as he doesnât drive directly to the Rudas baths. But the tram number 56 stops very close. Buses No. 5, 7, 8E, 86, 108E, 110, 112, 907 and 973 are also suitable.
If itâs more convenient to get from your hotel by metro, the nearest stations are Astoria and FĆvĂĄm tĂ©r. Although both are located on the opposite bank of the Danube, itâs only a few minutes walk to one of the bridges (Erzhebet) closer to Astoria, and SzabadsĂĄg hĂd (the next bridge) is next to the FĆvĂĄm tĂ©r station. This is not difficult at all, as you will enjoy the best sights of Budapest along the way.
Historical information
Since ancient times, hot springs have been beating out of the ground at this place, which attracted the ancient tribes. Here the king of the Huns Attila stayed and camped, then found refuge the leader of the Hungarians Arpad, who is the founder of the country. In the ancient writings of the XIV-XV centuries, the first mention of the baths was found. According to the description of the location, most likely, these were the sources at the foot of Mount Gellert. Then ruled King Gigmond.
The building of the hospital was built by the Turks during the Ottoman Empire, in 1550. Since then, a huge dome with columns over the Ottoman basin, an octagonal basin and the interior decoration of many halls have been preserved.
Bath Features
If in the baths of Sechenia you can be everyone, then only men were allowed into the one in question until 2005. Even now, only Tuesday is allocated to women separately. They were allowed to visit only after the last reconstruction.
Another interesting fact is that on weekends from 10 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Saturday and also the next day, the pool is open for romantic meetings. By the way, morning visits will cost a significant discount. Also these days, the medical bathhouse and the Rudash pool can be visited by both the male and female population, but only in swimsuits.
In the premises of the complex, free types of services have been preserved, which is not available in other baths. For example, steam cabins located in the thermal and steam parts of the building, as well as Finnish saunas near the swimming pool.
In 2014, a new type of entertainment in the pool was opened - an adventure pool.
Complex structure
The Rudash baths in Budapest have several thermal sections with different water temperatures. The largest indoor pool (20 meters in length) has a depth difference of 80 to 180 cm. It has a constant temperature of +29 ° C. Next to it there is a sauna with a small cold pool, in which the water temperature is only +11 ° C.
Two baths have a similar temperature - +36 ° , and one of them is on the roof of the building, from where a wonderful view of the Danube River, bridges and the opposite bank opens.
There is also a bowl with a slightly lower water temperature - +32 ° C. The hottest spring is Juventus. The water temperature in it reaches +42 ° C.
There is no bright lighting in the building. This is done for better relaxation, vacationers are in a relaxed state of drowsiness. For convenience, drinking pump rooms are located next to the pools, there is also a relaxation room and several massage rooms.
Therapeutic effect
The thermal waters of the spring in the medical bathhouse and the Rudash basin have a low level of radioactivity. Most of its composition is sulfates, calcium, bicarbonate, magnesium and fluoride ions. It is recommended to undergo a course of therapeutic water procedures for people suffering from the following diseases:
- joint diseases with degeneration;
- chronic and subacute inflammatory processes of the joints;
- spinal problems;
- arthritis;
- rheumatism;
- lack of calcium in the bones of the skeleton;
- diseases of the nervous system, including neuralgia.
After reading the reviews about the Rudash baths, you can understand that balneotherapy helps and if the respiratory tract is disturbed, normalizes blood pressure and even restores the microflora of the stomach. Water from the hottest spring has a beneficial effect on the female body. According to the stories of visitors, the skin becomes soft, silky, fine wrinkles are smoothed out even after one session, this procedure will also help women during menopause. It has long been believed that mineral springs prolong human life and slow down aging.
If you decide to go to Hungary and visit the baths, then before you travel, be sure to go to the therapist and consult if you can be there. Although the source has a certificate of water quality, there are some chronic diseases in which visits to such procedures are not recommended.
Medical services
In addition to just swimming in the healing waters of the pools, in the bathhouse. Rudasha can get a professional therapeutic massage. Visitors can independently massage the body with underwater jets. There is an aromatic and refreshing massage procedure.
If necessary, you can take a drinking course without even going to the bathhouse. Near the Erzsébet bridge there is a mineral bar, where you can choose from water for each individual case. In total, three types of water are served. It helps to get rid of high blood pressure, diseases of the respiratory system, rheumatism. But to get the effect, you need to drink water in courses, and not one-time.
What will have to pay extra separately
When going to the baths, be prepared for the fact that you will have to pay extra for some services. These include:
- all types of massage;
- peeling;
- procedures with rubbing lavender oil into the body;
- visiting the restaurant or bar of the complex.
Before buying a ticket, you must visit a bathing doctor or show him the recommendations of your doctor.
Cost of visiting
At the Rudash bath in Budapest, entry prices are different. It all depends on the time of stay and the number of pools visited. In the morning you will be charged 2600 forints (until 12:00), in the afternoon - 3300, at night on the weekend - 4800, and a complex ticket will cost 4800 on weekdays and 5900 on weekends.
If you want to visit only the large pool, then the ticket will be much cheaper: from 1500 forints. The cost of massage is from 4400 to 4900.
In the reviews, tourists warn that you need to carefully look at the ticket where you can go, because there are turnstiles between all the halls and only those who have access are allowed. It is especially annoying, according to travelers, not to get into the rooftop pool, which offers a magnificent view of the city.