- Title: HUNGARY: Budapest shows off its curative waters as Europe's spa capital
- Date: 2nd April 2011
- Summary: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (RECENT) (REUTERS) STEAM FLOWING OVER OUTDOOR POOL IN SZECHENYI BATHS MAN IN OUTDOOR POOL WITH STEAM VARIOUS OF MEN PLAYING CHESS IN POOL WATER FLOWING FROM STATUE OVER OUTDOOR POOL CLOSE OF STATUE AND STEAM MEN PLAYING CHESS MAN SITTING IN POOL WITH STEAM RISING (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) REGULAR SZECHENYI BATH CUSTOMER LAJOS ENDLEI SAYING: "[This water] makes me young. I am over 80 years-old and I still feel totally young." MAN ENTERING OUTDOOR WHIRLPOOL WOMEN ENJOYING WHIRLPOOL (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) REGULAR SZECHENYI BATH CUSTOMER LASZLO FEKETE SAYING: "This is curative thermal water and there is a common belief that those who regularly come here and swim will live a long time." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN INDOOR THERMAL POOL OF DANUBIUS HEALTH SPA RESORT MARGARET ISLAND (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) HEAD OF MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF DANUBIUS HEALTH SPA RESORT MARGARET ISLAND, DOCTOR MARTA MOGYOROSSI, SAYING: "A very important element of the cure is that our customers who have taken the thermal water therapy should have to take less chemical substances, which means that they can get rid of most of their painkiller medicines that have several side effects. What we can offer is a natural healing without side effects." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SWIMMING IN POOL OF DANUBIUS HEALTH SPA RESORT MARGARET ISLAND GERMAN TOURISTS DRINKING TEA IN MEDICAL TREATMENTS LOBBY (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN TOURIST ELFIE METZ SAYING: "There are many spas in Germany too but I don't know any that would use such a curative water and the combination of so many services as here." EXTERIOR OF BUILDINGS OF ORDER OF HOSPITALLERS MONKS' HOSPITAL OLD TURKISH BATH 'VELI BEJ' HIDDEN BEHIND HOSPITAL BUILDINGS INTERIOR OF RENOVATED TURKISH BATH 'VELI BEJ' / MAN ENTERING POOL VARIOUS OF MAN SWIMMING IN THERMAL WATER POOL CORRIDOR OF 'VELI BEJ' WITH TURKISH MEMORIAL PLATE TURKISH MEMORIAL PLATE (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) FATHER IMRE KOZMA SAYING: "This bath was left to rot completely, it dried out, was covered with dust and crumbling. And I thought the history of this bath must not end like this, and I said to myself that whatever it takes I would collect the money to do the renovation and we would be able to show the world what we have here." EXTERIOR OF RAC HOTEL AND THERMAL SPA OPEN AIR POOL ON ROOFTOP INTERIOR OF RENOVATED OLD TURKISH BATH SHOWERS AND STATUES IN RECONSTRUCTED PART OF THERMAL BATH RECONSTRUCTED THERMAL BATH AREA FOUNTAIN FLOWING INTO POOL THERMAL WATER FLOWING UP FROM TAP STARTING TO FILL POOL POOL GETTING FILLED / DOME OF RECONSTRUCTED THERMAL POOL (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) HEALTH TOURISM EXPERT OF HUNGARIAN TOURISM BOARD ZRT, CSILLA MEZOSI, SAYING: "We have chosen the slogan, 'The Country of Hidden Waters' because Hungary is situated in the Carpathian Basin in such a geological place where the surface of the earth is thinner and we are basically sitting on top of a hot thermal sea." VIEW OF SZECHENYI BATHS WHIRLPOOL PEOPLE ENJOYING WHIRLPOOL WITH STEAM OVER
- Embargoed: 17th April 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Hungary, Hungary
- Country: Hungary
- Topics: Health,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA6V5ZK3ALN14LSRGM8STZUEG76
- Story Text: Budapest's famous outdoor thermal Szechenyi Baths fill up with eager bathers as soon as the doors open. Going to spas is not a luxury for locals but a habit. Many regulars of the Szechenyi Baths were first brought here as children and have kept coming throughout the years.
Seventy-six year-old Janos Endeli has been coming to Szechenyi three times a week every week for the past 76 years.
"[This water] makes me young. I am over 80 and I still feel totally young," regular Janos Endlei said in a break between two chess games which he plays with his friends in the water.
Hungarians firmly believe in the healing powers of local spas.
"This is curative thermal water and there is a common belief that those who regularly come here and swim will live long," said Laszlo Fekete, who visits the baths several times a week.
Thermal waters are one of the most precious treasures of Budapest and have long earned the city its proud title of the 'Spa Capital of Europe'.
Budapest, as "the capital possessing the most healing thermal water springs in the world", was awarded the title "Spa City" in 1937 by the first International Balneological Congress.
The reason why Budapest is so rich with spas is due to its unique geological position. It lies above a huge curative thermal water basin with 300,000 cubic meters of thermal waters springing up every day from more than 130 springs.
They belong to the natrium carbonate group of mineral thermal waters especially curative for rheumatic illnesses.
Most baths offer various medical treatments with thermal waters. Many spa hotels have capitalised on the medical benefits of the healing waters and built medical departments with complex treatments for rheumatic illnesses.
"A very important element of the cure is that our customers who have taken the thermal water therapy should have to take fewer chemical substances which means that they can get rid of most of their painkiller medicines that have several side effects. What we can offer is a natural healing without side effects," head of the medical department of the Danubius Health Spa Resort, Dr.Marta Mogyorossi said.
The thermal water treasures of Hungary are far from unearthed yet and the potentials are huge, experts say. If resources are given, thermal waters could be utilised in many parts of the country.
"We have chosen the slogan of 'The Country of Hidden Waters' because Hungary is situated in the Carpathian Basin in such a geological place where the surface of the earth is thinner and we are basically sitting on top of a hot thermal sea," health tourism expert of the Hungarian Tourism Board Zrt Csilla Mezosi said.
Thermal waters have been used in public baths in Hungary since Roman times. The Turks who occupied Hungary in the 16th century left behind beautiful Turkish baths - many still functioning, some awaiting renovation.
Csaszar Baths, originally named Veli Bej, after the after of the city's Turkish ruler, will opened its doors to visitors after renovation next month, after lying in ruin for decades.
When buildings around Veli Bej were returned to a monastic Order, one member, Father Imre Kozma decided to save the rotting baths from ultimate decay.
"This bath was left to rot completely, it dried out, was covered with dust and crumbling. And I thought the history of this bath must not end like this, and I said to myself that whatever it takes I would collect the money to do the renovation and we would be able to show the world what we have here," Father Kozma said.
Another addition to the Budapest Spa scene will be the Rac Hotel and Thermal Spa near the Danube, which combines renovated 16th-century Turkish baths with a modern thermal spa.
Hungary has given top priority to its spa and health tourism. Uniquely, this segment of the country's tourist market was not effected by the economic crisis. Tourists from all over Europe still travel to Budapest to enjoy its spas.
The Hungarian Tourism Board is now planning to reach out to tourists beyond European borders and the country's unique spas will play a major role in the promotion campaign. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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