Page 101 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

gellér t hill and t abán  99

9 Rácz Hotel & w Semmelweis
Thermal Spa Museum of
Rácz szálloda és Gyógyfürdő Medical History
Hadnagy utca 8–10. Map 4 D2 (9 B5). Semmelweis Orvostörténeti
Tel (06 1) 487 03 13. @ 5, 178. Múzeum
v 18, 19. Open 7am–10pm daily.
Apród utca 1–3. Map 4 D1 (9 B4).
Taking their name from the Tel (06 1) 375 35 33. v 18, 19.
Open Mar–Oct: 10:30am–6pm daily;
Serbian, or Rác, people who Nov–Feb 10:30am–4pm. & 8 ^
once lived here, the baths date ∑ semmelweismuseum.hu
back to the Turkish era (see
pp28–9). This is not clear from This museum is located in the
the outside, as the baths were 18th-century house where
redeveloped in 1869 to a Dr Ignáz Semmelweis was born
design by Miklós Ybl. Inside, Tabán Parish Church, with its Neo-Baroque in 1818. He is renowned for
however, original Ottoman domed tower his discovery of an antiseptic-
features include an octagonal based prevention for puerperal
pool and cupola. The hotel 12th-century carving entitled fever, a fatal condition
complex includes 21 treatment Christ of Tabán; the original common among women
rooms, 13 pools, a relaxation is now in the collection of the who had recently given birth.
area and saunas. Budapest History Museum The history of medicine from
(see p76). The altar, pulpit and ancient Egypt onwards is por-
several paintings adorning trayed, and there is a replica
the walls of the church all date 19th-century pharmacy. Semmel-
from the 19th century. weis’s surgery can also be seen
with its original furniture. In the
courtyard is a monument called
Motherhood by Miklós Borsos.
q Miklós Ybl
Square e Golden Stag
Ybl Miklós Tér
House
Map 4 D1 (9 C4). v 19.
Szarvas Ház
It is no coincidence that the Szarvas tér 1. Map 3 C1 (9 B4).
important architect Miklós Ybl Tel (06 1) 375 64 51. v 18, 19.
Interior of the Rácz Hotel & Thermal Spa (see p123) is commemorated by ∑ aranyszarvas.hu
a statue in this square, close to
many of his buildings. Among Standing at the foot of Castle
0 Tabán Parish Ybl’s most monumen tal projects Hill is this distinctive early
Church were the State Opera House 19th-century house. It received
Tabáni Plébániatemplom (see pp122–3), St Stephen’s its name from the inn that
Basilica (see pp120–21) and also opened here called “Under
Attila út 11. Map 4 D1 (9 C5). a large-scale rebuilding of the the Golden Stag” – above the
Tel (06 1) 375 54 91. v 18, 19.
Royal Palace (see pp74–5). entrance you will see a bas-
A temple is thought to have The Várkert Kiosk, on the relief depicting a golden stag
stood on this site even in the square, was also built by Ybl. pursued by two hunting
reign of Prince Árpád. In the Initially it pumped water up to dogs. The building still accom-
Middle Ages a church was built the Royal Palace, but in 1903 modates a restaurant of that
here, which was conver ted into it was converted into a café. It is name, Aranyszarvas (see p197),
a mosque by the Turks and now used as an event venue offering international cuisine,
subsequently des troyed. In available for hire. and some game dishes.
1728–36, after the Habsburgs
had taken control of the city,
a second church was erected
to a design by Keresztély
Obergruber. Mátyás Nepauer
added the tower in the mid-
18th century. In 1881 the
façade was extended and the
tower crowned by a Neo-
Baroque dome.
Inside the church, on the
right-hand side under the choir
gallery, is a copy of a Bas-relief above the entrance to Golden Stag House

098-099_EW_Budapest.indd 99 05/09/2014 15:37