Page 107 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

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6 St Francis’s 9 Lukács Baths
Wounds Church Lukács Gyógyfürdő
Szent Ferenc sebei-templom Frankel Leo út 25–9. Map 1 C1.
Fő utca 41–43. Map 1 C3 (9 B1). Tel (06 1) 326 16 95. Open 6am–
Tel (06 1) 201 80 91. £ H5. @ 11. 10pm daily. & v 17, 19, 41.
v 19. q Batthyány tér. ∑ budapestspas.hu
Veli Bej Baths: Árpád Fejedelem útja 7.
In 1731–57 a church was built Tel (06 1) 438 8641. Open 6am–noon,
for the Franciscan order on the 3–9pm daily (admission to over 14s
ruins of a former mosque, to a only; proof by ID or passport required).
design by Hans Jakab. In 1785,
after he had dissolved the This famous spa is named after
Franciscan order, Emperor St Luke. Although the Neo-
Joseph II gave the church to Classical complex was established
St Elizabeth’s Convent. Tiles on the Tomb of Gül Baba in 1894, the baths are one of a
The Baroque interior is number still operating in the
ad orned with late 19th-century 8 Tomb of Gül Baba city (see pp52–5) that date back
frescoes, including one of St Gül Baba Türbéje to the period of Turkish rule.
Florian protecting Christians Mecset utca 14. Map 1 B1. @ 91. Set in peaceful surroundings,
from a fire in 1810. Their reso- Open Mar–Oct: 10am–6pm daily; the complex comprises two
nance is due to their skilful Nov–Feb: 10am–4pm daily. & outdoor swimming pools. Natural
restoration. The original pulpit hot springs keep these pools
and pews have remained intact. Gül Baba was a Muslim dervish, heated all year round; bathing is
In the early 19th century, a who died in 1541, just after comfortable even in winter.
hospital and hostel were built the capture of Buda. He was It is also worth entering
adjacent to the church. These one of the few Turks who was the overgrown courtyard to
were run by the Elizabeth Sisters. respected and revered by the see a statue of St Luke, dating
people of Hungary. His remains from 1760, and the plaques
now lie in a tomb built between inscribed with thanks by
7 Király Baths 1543 and 1598. bathers from around the
Király Gyógyfürdő According to legend, it was world who bene fited from
Gül Baba who introduced roses the healing waters.
Fő utca 84. Map 1 C2. Tel (06 1) 202 36 to Budapest. From this came Nearby, the Veli Bej thermal
88. q Batthyány tér. Open 9am–9pm
daily. & ∑ budapestspas.hu both the name of this area, baths, built in 1574–5, are the
Rózsadomb, meaning Rose oldest Turkish baths in Budapest
The Ottoman Király Baths are Hill, and Gül Baba’s own name, and also some of the most
one of the city’s four remain ing which means Father of Roses. beautiful. The baths have
Turkish baths (see pp52–5). Built Fittingly, his tomb is surrounded been fully renovated by the
from 1566–70, with 19th- by a lovely rose garden. Ordo Hospitalarius (Brothers
century Neo-Classical addi tions, A 400-year-old dome covers Hospitallers of St John of God)
they retain many original fea- the octagonal tomb, which is as part of their hospital, but are
tures, the most beautiful being adorned with reli gious items also open to the public. Visitors
the central cupola hall with its and rugs. It is a well-known can enjoy bathing in four pools
octagonal pool. From here place of pilgrimage for Muslims. of different temperatures.
radiate out the smaller pools
of different temperatures, the
steam rooms and saunas. The
baths are now open to men
and women.
At the end of Fő utca, in the
square that bears his name is
the monument to the Polish
general József Bem. The hero
of the 1848–9 uprisings, he is
depicted with his arm in a sling.
It was in this state, in the front
line of the Battle of Pisk, that he
inspired the Hungarian troops
to attack the bridge and achieve
victory over the Habsburg
armies. Memorable words,
which he uttered dur ing the
battle, are engraved on the
base of the monument. One of the thermal pools at Lukács Baths

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