Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

Gellért Hotel and Baths Complex

Gellért Szálló és Fürdo

Located at the foot of Gellért Hill,
this hotel and spa was built between
1912 and 1918 in the Mod ern ist Art
Nouveau style by archi tects Ármin
Hegedűs, Artúr Sebestyén and Izidor
Sterk. The ear liest reference to the
exis tence of healing waters at this
spot dates from the 13th century.
During the reign of King András II
in the Middle Ages, a hospital stood
on the site. Baths built here by
the Ottomans were mentioned by
the renowned 17th-century Turkish travel writer,
Evliya Çelebi. Destroyed during World War II, the
hotel was later rebuilt and mod ernized. Today
it also houses several restaurants and cafés. The
baths complex includes an institute of water
therapy, set within Art-Nouveau-era interiors, but
with modern facilities.

346 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE

. Entrance Hall
Like the baths, the interior of the hotel has kept its
original Art Nouveau decor, with elaborate
mosaics, stained-glass windows and statues.

Balconies
The balconies fronting the hotel rooms have
fanciful Art Nouveau balustrades decorated
with lyre and bird motifs.

. Baths
Two separate baths, one for
men and another for women,
are identically arranged. In
each there are three plunge
pools – with water at
different temperatures – a
sauna and a steam bath.

Outdoor Wave Pool

Built in 1927, this swimming

pool with a wave mechanism

is situated at the back of the

complex, providing a view

of Gellért Hill.

Stained-glass

window by

Bózó Stanisits

For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp390–93 and pp394–7