Meskó Csaba: Thermal Baths - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1999)

A MORE THAN A HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD SWIMMING POOL

During the 1883 reconstruction of the steam bath the corner pools of the Turkish bath were joined to the steam bath through the demolition of the partition walls between the two sections.

1896 saw the opening of the swimming pool. It was a great event in the life of the capital. The pool’s impressive size, the gallery running around it on the first floor level and the large spread of water were admired features of the three- storey high new addition. And yet, with no more than eight or ten swimmers turning up on winter days, the swimming pool attracted sufficient customers in summer only, which is why it was closed for the winters of 1897 and 1898.

During and directly after World War 1 the baths became so popular that it was considered that they remain open for night hours.

In 1933, the Rudas was given official recognition as a medicinal baths. On 15 September 1933 the steam bath was closed to women. Previously the number of bathers had not exceeded a total of 20 to 30 on the three weekly afternoons reserved for women, while on the intervening afternoons the number of male visitors was over 120.

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