Iconic Budapest Baths Close for €51M Art Nouveau Renovation
The iconic Gellért Baths in Budapest, a symbol of the city's thermal bathing culture, are set to close for a major project management renovation. The baths, along with the adjacent Gellért Hotel, will undergo a €51 million transformation that aims to preserve their historical Art Nouveau features while enhancing energy efficiency.
The Gellért Baths, designed by Hungarian architects Ármin Hegedűs, Artúr Sebestyén, and Izidor Sterk, are a masterpiece of early 20th-century architecture. They have hosted numerous high-profile guests over the years, including US President Richard Nixon, Iran's Shah Reza Pahlavi, and actress Jane Fonda. The baths will close for three years, coinciding with the renovation of the Gellért Hotel, which will reopen as the 'Mandarin Oriental Gellért' in 2027.
The project budgeted at €51 million will see the baths gain a new wellness area and panoramic sauna. The interiors will be completely refreshed, and the structure's deterioration from continuous exposure to thermal water, steam, and cleaning chemicals will be addressed. The city is investing 20 billion Hungarian forints (approximately €51 million) in the 1 million project, which aims to protect and renew the site's historical features.
The Gellért Baths are expected to reopen in 2028, following the completion of the project management. The project promises to restore the baths to their former glory, ensuring that this historic site continues to offer its unique thermal bathing experience for generations to come.
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