Juhász Gyula - Szántó András: Hotels - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1999)

water, opened in 1826 in Nyár utca, a neighbourhood regarded as a far outlying district of the city. The baths was named after its founder, the silk merchant András Gamperl, but soon enough the establishment, which already contained four guest rooms and a small garden where customers could relax, came to be known as the Hungária. At the end of the century, ownership was transferred to the Ringer family, who modernised it by adding a stone pool, steam and tub bath departments and, on the front overlooking the neighbouring Klauzál utca, a hygienic bath for public use. Eventually in 1908, a steam bath was opened in Dohány utca, which was, according to contemporary news coverage, the object of constant admiration.

High standard competitions were held in the pool of the huge, colonnaded swimming hall. There were 1500 dressing cubicles, a refreshment room reputed to serve fine food and even a fashion shop. It was in this popular swimming pool that the first Free Swimmers’ certificates were issued to those meeting appropriate requirements. “It is hereby certified that Mr/Mrs/Miss So and So has passed, before our jury, a test with excellent results in breast-stroke and back-stroke swimming and diving, and has therefore qualified as a free swimmer supplied with the present certificate. Dated: Budapest, 28 July 1911. Signed by I. Kesztler, swimming instructor and K. Imitz, head swimming instructor. ”

The ruinous Hotel Continental

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