Page 81 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

GELLÉR T HILL AND T ABÁN  79

9 Rác Thermal Spa
Rác Gyógyfürdő
Hadnagy utca 8–10. Map 3 C2. v 18,
19. Closed until further notice.
The Rác Spa dates from 1550
and boasts an original thermal
Turkish pool, a hammam bath
and a historical dome. This
significant piece of heritage is
now privately owned, and has
been renovated with a five­star The History of Healing: permanent exhibition at Semmelweis Museum of Medical History
luxury hotel adjoining it, with
modern facilities for guests and now in the Budapest History of a 19th­century pharmacy.
visitors to indulge in the latest Museum (see p60). The nave Semmelweis’s surgery can
spa treatments. Unfortunately, and side chapels are Baroque; also be seen with its original
the opening of the hotel and the altar, pulpit and several furniture. In the courtyard
thermal spa complex has been paintings adorning the walls stands a monument called
delayed by unresolved all date from the 19th century. Motherhood by Miklós Borsos.
financial issues. The church hosts regular The museum joined the
organ concerts. Hungarian National Museum
in February 2017, thus
q Semmelweis becoming a department
Museum of Medical of the institution.
History 9 Várkert Bazár
Semmelweis Orvostörténeti
Múzeum Várbazár
Ybl Miklós tér 6. Map 4 D1.
Apród utca 1–3. Map 3 C1. Tel (1) 375 Tel (06 1) 225 05 54. @ 16, 86, 105.
35 33. v 18, 19. Open Mid­Mar–Oct: v 19. Open 10am–6pm Tue–Sun.
10:30am–6pm Tue–Sun; Sep–mid­ ∑ varkertbazar.hu/en
Mar: 10:30am–4pm Tue–Sun. & 8
^ ∑ semmelweis.museum.hu
Turkish bath area, Rác Thermal Spa Designed by Miklós Ybl,
This museum is located in the the Várkert Bazár and the
18th­century house where ornamental garden that it
0 Tabán Parish Dr Ignáz Semmelweis was born houses have been popular
Church in 1818. He is renowned for landmarks ever since they
Tabáni plébánia templom his discovery of the cause and opened in 1883. Considered
cure for puerperal fever, a fatal to be the greatest examples
Attila út 11. Map 3 C1. Tel (1) 375 54 condition frequently contracted of the Hungarian Romantic
91. v 18, 19. by women during or shortly style of architecture, the venue
after childbirth. became one of the city’s best
A temple is thought to have The history of medicine clubs during the 20th century.
stood on this site even in the from ancient Egypt onwards It was finally closed for renov­
reign of Prince Árpád. In the Mid­ is portrayed in the museum, ations in 1984, and reopened as
dle Ages a church was built here, which includes the replica a public cultural space in 2014.
which was con verted to a
mosque by the Turks and Raoul Wallenberg
subsequently destroyed. In
1728–36, after the Habsburgs The celebrated Swedish diplomat
had taken control of the city, Raoul Wallenberg saved more than 7,000
a new church was erected to a Hungarian Jews from deportation. Born in
design by Keresztély Ober gruber. Sweden in 1912, Wallen berg was assigned
Mátyás Nepauer added the to the Swedish Embassy in Budapest
tower in 1750–53. In 1881 the in 1944 and immediately began
façade was extended and certifying Jews threatened with
the tower was crowned by deportation as Swedish subjects
awaiting repatriation. Arrested (as
a fine Neo­Baroque dome. a US spy) by the Soviet Army in 1945,
Inside the church, on the Wallenberg was taken to Moscow and
right­hand side under the probably executed in 1947. He is honoured
choir gallery, is a copy of a in Budapest with a statue depicting a man Bas-relief of Raoul
12th­century carving entitled slaying a snake. Wallenberg
Christ of Tabán; the original is

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