Evolution of bathing culture

The story of bath Hévíz

As historical remembrance proves it, Hévíz was already known in the Roman era. The water was used for everyday activities, namely for the processing of animal skin (softening it with a piece of rod). The healing and miraculous effects of Lake Hévíz were chanted in a legend at that time.

The bathing culture of Hévíz and the evolution of the unique medicinal therapies are linked with the name of Count György Festetics, who started bathing constructions on the lake from the year 1795. He established a bathing site beside the lake, which were most popular especially with the local peasantry. The bath and the thermal water later became famous, and people from more distant places visited Hévíz wishing to be cured. More than 200 years later (at the turn of the century), the leasehold rights were seized by the brewery owner Vencel Reischl of Keszthely, who continued the developments. As a result, Hévíz has become a well-known thermal bath throughout Hungary by today.

The development of Hévíz was continuous throughout the centuries and it is still going on even today. However, Hévíz was not only known for the healing power of its thermal water, but notable medical doctors of the town further enhanced its fame too. Dr Károly Moll, inventor of the weight bath became famous all around the world. Recent improvements of the bath aimed to increase the quality of the services offered to the patients. During the reconstruction of the thermal lake, the main buildings were renovated, and the function of the buildings was also modified. The changing rooms were removed from the winterized building in the middle of the lake to the entrance in the southern and western part of the complex, thus rendering the construction of a 2,500 square metre bath house in the middle of the lake possible.

The most significant attraction of Hévíz is the unique medicinal lake and its healing power. Today however, modernization and the extension of the available services to attract the age group 35-50 cannot be neglected either. During the latest reconstruction of the thermal lake new buildings were constructed on the lakeside, housing pleasure pools, a sauna block, massage clinic, various examination rooms, changing rooms, catering units and even a conference room. Later, the new building was also renovated, which now provides services equivalent to those of a 4-star hotel: in the 3-floor departure building there is a wellness department (sauna, steam bath, ice bath, salt cave, pools), modern guest rooms and a therapy department (hydrotherapy, massage, beauty salons, mud treatment rooms, body culture therapy) waiting for the visitors. A sauna and modern massage rooms were built as part of the reconstruction, and the capacity of the changing rooms and that of the resting area were also extended.

Besides the constructions, the park around the thermal lake developed as well where 30 special ornamental trees were planted thanks to a successful tender procedure.
Owing to the recent developments, Hévíz can not only preserve but also strengthen its position as one of the most popular centres of national and international thermal water tourism.
Thanks to the realized development projects, Hévíz grows more modern, and becomes able to satisfy the divers needs of its frequent visitors and those of the growing number of younger guests with children as well.

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Did you know that

  • people lived around the town even in the Neolithic period, 7500 years ago?
  • "Da Bibere" the Latin inscription on a cup from the first century before Christ found among the archaeological finds means ‘Give me a drink!’?
  • also two Roman altar-stone dedicated to Jupiter were unearthed north of the Lake?
  • castle servants lived around the Lake of Hévíz in the Árpád-age, from the 11th to the 14th century?
  • the name of Hévíz first appeared in a charter dated 28th March 1328?

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