The thermal lake of Hévíz

The thermal lake of Hévíz is the largest biologically active, natural thermal lake of the world which refreshes both the body and the soul.
The oldest and most well-known bath of Hungary, in accordance with records from the Roman era, has a history of 2000 years. The Hévíz treatment, in its present sense, also dates back more than 200 years.
The 4.4 ha lake is fed by its spring rushing up at a depth of 38 m, containing sulphur, radium and minerals. Due to the high water output of the spring, the water of the lake is completely changed within 85 hours. The water of the Hévíz Lake is equally rich in dissolved substances and gases, combining the favourable effects of naturally carbonated medicinal waters and those containing sulphur, calcium, magnesium, hydrogen-carbonate, as well as those with a slightly radioactive content. The medicinal mud, which covers the bed of the lake in a thick layer, deserves special attention. The Hévíz mud, which is unique of its kind, contains both organic and inorganic substances and the radium-salts and reduced sulphuric solutions in it represent special medicinal factors. The medicinal water and mud originating from the several then thousand year-old Pannonian Sea, together with the complex physiotherapeutic treatments, are suitable for treating all kinds of rheumatic and locomotory diseases.
The temperature of the water is 23-25 C in winter and 33-36 C in summer.
Relaxed floating on the water, the swinging water-lotuses and the green leaves of the trees tranquillize the nervous system and contribute to the psychic factor of recovering. In winter a 'mist cap' is formed from the vapour on the surface of the water which prevents the water from cooling down and at the same time a natural inhalatorium is created. Inhaling the sulphur-hydrogen emitted into the air and the radium-emanation produces favourable curative effects: keeps our vocal cords in a good condition.
The advantageous effects of the Hévíz Lake can also be enjoyed through a drinking-treatment which is suitable for curing stomach and digestive disorders.

The Hévíz Spa and St. Andrew Hospital of Rheumatic Diseases Public Benefit Company is the maintainer of the thermal lake offering a whole range of services to visitors.

Winter baths:
The building complex on the Schulhof Promenade houses the so-called Winter Baths. Naturally, the therapy centre located in the territory of the hospital, offering indoor bathing opportunities can be visited by the guests of the town at any time of the year. There are 9 indoor pools (medicinal pool, weight bath, adventure bath, physiotherapeutic bath, bubble bath) with a temperature of 32-37 C.

Hospital services
The predecessor of the St. Andrew Hospital was founded in 1952 and inpatients, as well as outpatients have been received since then. The effectiveness of the therapy is provided by the full diagnostic services and the 200-year-old medical competence. The hospital offers medical examinations and a complete treatment on the basis of individual therapy plans. In- and outpatients receive just the right therapy from a complete range of physiotherapeutic treatments (mud packing, weight bath, underwater jet massage, carbonic acid bath, electric bath, diadynamic current treatment, interference treatment, magnetic therapy, four-cell galvanic bath, ultrasound, physiotherapy, therapeutic massage). All the equipment (laboratory, ECG, X-ray) for specifying an exact diagnosis are all available in the hospital. In addition, numerous specialized medical consultations are offered, such as internal medicine, neurology, orthopaedics, surgery, urology and dentistry.

Kurhotel Hetes House

Right next to the thermal lake, in the middle of the park, under centenarian plane trees stands the Kurhotel Hetes House**** built in classicistic style. The hotel, which meets all requirements, paying special attention to the convenience of the guests, offers 54 nicely-furnished rooms and apartments, partly equipped with balconies and air-conditioning. Besides the separate medical centre, the spa hotel has a private medicinal pool, various water-based massages, a Jacuzzi, an aroma-therapy sauna and a resting section.

Further information:
Spa Heviz and St. Andrew Hospital for Reumatic Nonprofit Corporation
8380 Hévíz, Dr. Schulhof Vilmos sétány 1.
Phone: +36 83 501-700
Fax: +36 83 540 144
e-mail: info@spaheviz.hu
www.spaheviz.hu