Király Baths

Király Bath or Király fürdő (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈkiraːj ˈfyrdøː]) was a thermal bath that was built in Hungary between 1566-1572, during the time of Ottoman rule.^[1] Its construction was commissioned by Sokollu Mustafa Pasha who was the longest-serving governor general (1566-1578) of the Ottoman province of Budin and who built similar baths at Rudas, Rác and Veli bej which are also operational in Budapest. The bath and its neighborhood then became part of the consolidated city of Budapest.^[2]

Király Baths building at Ganz Street

The bath receives its water from springs located near the Lukács Baths and Császár baths, which the Turks led into the city via underground pipes.^[2]

The bath was sold to the Königs family in the 18th century, who reconstructed the bath in a classicist style. Due to its new ownership, the bath became known as Königsbad, or Király (King) Bath.^[2]

It retained many of the key elements of a Turkish bath, exemplified by its Turkish dome and octagonal pool. It is located at the corner of Fő utca and Ganz utca. Its address and entrance was Fő utca 82-84 while the exterior of the bath proper is on Ganz utca (domed stone structure).^[3]

Components of thermal water included sodium, calcium, magnesium bicarbonate, sulphate-chloride and a significant amount of fluoride ion. The water temperature in the four different pools varied between 26 and 40 °C.^[4]

The Király Baths have been closed since 15 March 2020.^[5] The baths are undergoing renovation and are remaining closed until works are completed, for an indefinite period.^[6] The baths were last renovated in the 1800s.^[6]