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

ments of the stomach, the gastric tract, the bilial ducts and the respiratory system, but their soothing effect on the nerves and stimulating effect on the blood-producing system are also known.

RÁC MEDICINAL BATHS 8-10 Hadnagy utca, District I

A vaulted corridor was connected to the south-west side of the luxurious, fortified royal palace under King Matthias; the corridor led first into the royal garden and then on to the king’s baths - the Rác Baths of our day. But the octagonal vaulted hall, built by the Turks, is of later, 16th century construction. In the 17th century, Evliya Cheleby describes it as a richly ornamented, lead-topped baths building with eight pools. Its sulphurous water was used by goldsmiths for the purposes of burnishing their wares. This

Picture of the Rác Baths from a book published by Imre Aldor - Cassius - in 1866

was, at the time, the bath of the less well-to-do, where those who brought their own loin cloths and towels were admitted free of charge. From morning to noon it was open to men, from noon to midnight to women.

It was named Rác (an outdated Hungarian synonym of Serbian) after the Serbs who had settled in the neighbouring Tabán district following the Turkish occupation. After the retaking of Buda, proprietorial rights over the Rác Baths were first bestowed on the municipality later to be transferred to Károly Pergassi, captain of the emperor. In 1774 the baths were purchased by Márkus Zagler, who was the first to have them reconstructed to any significant de22