St. Lukacs Thermal Bath and Swimming Pools, Budapest, Hungary
In line with staying in optimal health as a practicing musician, I write this post!
I've recently returned from an amazing holiday in Budapest, Hungary, and one of the highlights of my trip was a visit to St. Lukacs Thermal Bath.
Preceding this visit, a tour of The Aquincum Museum and Ruin Garden ironically set the background for my spa day.
The Aquincum Museum includes open air archaeological findings of a Roman settlement dating from 2 A.D.
http://visitbudapest.travel/arts-entertainment/budapest-museums/museum-of-aquincum/
Among the ruins was the formation of 24 public baths, used for " being well" and " feeling good", as well as for personal hygiene.
Water (for the baths) came from the naturally occurring thermal springs of Budapest, which made the area an attractive place to settle.
The typical Roman Bath system consisted of a cold water bath, a warm room, and a highly humid hot water room. Floor heating helped heat the water and area, and exercise areas and rest areas were part of the set up and recommended wellness habit.
I found this to be fascinating information which supported my idea that the Romans were great architects and overall quite resourceful and intelligent people.
St Lukacs Spa
I headed to St. Lukacs Spa last Wednesday morning, with the intention to stay about an hour. When the gal behind me in the line up ( from New York, working in Budapest for a year), suggested as a newcomer I stay the day, I took her advice.
St. Lukacs is an authentic Hungarian Spa, with buildings arranged in a circular C fashion. There is a courtyard in the middle of the buildings with decorative grounds and ornate statues. The exterior building itself is a washed yellow shade.
http://www.lukacsbath.com/
Once I was changed with my clothes locked away, I set out for the thermal pools. St Lukacs is famed to have the most medically effective waters in Budapest ( there are numerous spas in Budapest) whose waters have multiple benefits, among these benefits aid for joint degeneration and for low calcium concentration in bones.
Chemically, the water consists of calcium, magnesium -hydrogen- carbonates, chloride, sulphates, "alcalia" ( perhaps they mean alkali), and a large amount of fluoride. When you walk in the bath area, you smell sulfur quite strongly.
The plan according to the Romans, is to alternate hot water with cold water, so I started with the lowest temperature hot water pool at 32 degrees celsius. Other pools were 23 degrees (cold water), 36 degrees, and 40 degrees. I gradually made my way to the 40 degree pool, with dips in the cold pool which apparently thickens your skin. There are fountains for drinking the thermal water, which is also supposed to be beneficial if consumed.
It was a busy spot at 9 a.m. on a weekday!
I next headed outdoors for a swim in one of two extra large swimming pools. After several laps a local worker blew his whistle repeatedly to tell me to leave the water. It seems I was not wearing a bathing cap, and it was mandatory!
After finding a cap elsewhere in the spa and swimming a little more, I then climbed up some narrow outdoor stairs to discover a roof top fitness center, and carried on to the very top to hang out on the sun deck.
I found another indoor pool where a water gymnastic session was in progress following which I wandered back indoors.
I had decided to book a 20 minute massage, therefore while waiting for my massage I visited once again the 40 degree pool.
It was hard to find my way easily in the spa (and I got strange looks from the locals when I asked for directions in English), yet after going in circles for a time I finally found my massage room. Here I received the best shoulder, neck and back massage of my life. I am unsure the type of massage, but I guess it to be a combination shiatsu, swedish, and Thai.
Sauna Wellness Center
In the second phase of my spa day, I went into the Sauna Wellness Center, where I sampled all the many saunas and extras. This area was fairly deserted ( it was past lunch time by now) which suited me fine.
After finding what I would call a freezer room, I lay for a while on a heated Roman bench, which provided soothing heat from below to my whole body. Next was a steam chamber; very hot steam surrounded my body here, which infiltrated my pores and lungs.
Following was a salt crystal sauna, which is essentially a sauna with high heat that emits salt crystals into the air. I was unaware of the salt compound while I was in there, and found it soothing and relaxing. Salt of course is useful for detox purposes. The Spa also houses a Himalayan salt wall and a salt chamber.
Upstairs I found an infra red sauna which started at 40 degrees celsius and gradually reached about 55 degrees during my 45 minute stay. Across the way was a Finnish sauna with temperatures at 80-90 celsius, and finally there was a naturalist sauna which needs no explanation.
I finished my sauna fest by soaking my feet in a cold shallow pool, kept cool partially by ice cubes which cascaded down in waterfall fashion.
After a 6 hour stay, I headed back to my hotel on the tram, a very happy, relaxed, and well detoxed individual!
Such a spa visit I would estimate to cost hundreds of dollars.
On that day my visit, to include the massage, cost about $30.00.
Next post, Budapest concert reviews., Stay tuned!
In line with staying in optimal health as a practicing musician, I write this post!
I've recently returned from an amazing holiday in Budapest, Hungary, and one of the highlights of my trip was a visit to St. Lukacs Thermal Bath.
Preceding this visit, a tour of The Aquincum Museum and Ruin Garden ironically set the background for my spa day.
The Aquincum Museum includes open air archaeological findings of a Roman settlement dating from 2 A.D.
http://visitbudapest.travel/arts-entertainment/budapest-museums/museum-of-aquincum/
Among the ruins was the formation of 24 public baths, used for " being well" and " feeling good", as well as for personal hygiene.
Water (for the baths) came from the naturally occurring thermal springs of Budapest, which made the area an attractive place to settle.
The typical Roman Bath system consisted of a cold water bath, a warm room, and a highly humid hot water room. Floor heating helped heat the water and area, and exercise areas and rest areas were part of the set up and recommended wellness habit.
I found this to be fascinating information which supported my idea that the Romans were great architects and overall quite resourceful and intelligent people.
St Lukacs Spa
I headed to St. Lukacs Spa last Wednesday morning, with the intention to stay about an hour. When the gal behind me in the line up ( from New York, working in Budapest for a year), suggested as a newcomer I stay the day, I took her advice.
St. Lukacs is an authentic Hungarian Spa, with buildings arranged in a circular C fashion. There is a courtyard in the middle of the buildings with decorative grounds and ornate statues. The exterior building itself is a washed yellow shade.
http://www.lukacsbath.com/
Once I was changed with my clothes locked away, I set out for the thermal pools. St Lukacs is famed to have the most medically effective waters in Budapest ( there are numerous spas in Budapest) whose waters have multiple benefits, among these benefits aid for joint degeneration and for low calcium concentration in bones.
Chemically, the water consists of calcium, magnesium -hydrogen- carbonates, chloride, sulphates, "alcalia" ( perhaps they mean alkali), and a large amount of fluoride. When you walk in the bath area, you smell sulfur quite strongly.
The plan according to the Romans, is to alternate hot water with cold water, so I started with the lowest temperature hot water pool at 32 degrees celsius. Other pools were 23 degrees (cold water), 36 degrees, and 40 degrees. I gradually made my way to the 40 degree pool, with dips in the cold pool which apparently thickens your skin. There are fountains for drinking the thermal water, which is also supposed to be beneficial if consumed.
It was a busy spot at 9 a.m. on a weekday!
I next headed outdoors for a swim in one of two extra large swimming pools. After several laps a local worker blew his whistle repeatedly to tell me to leave the water. It seems I was not wearing a bathing cap, and it was mandatory!
After finding a cap elsewhere in the spa and swimming a little more, I then climbed up some narrow outdoor stairs to discover a roof top fitness center, and carried on to the very top to hang out on the sun deck.
I found another indoor pool where a water gymnastic session was in progress following which I wandered back indoors.
I had decided to book a 20 minute massage, therefore while waiting for my massage I visited once again the 40 degree pool.
It was hard to find my way easily in the spa (and I got strange looks from the locals when I asked for directions in English), yet after going in circles for a time I finally found my massage room. Here I received the best shoulder, neck and back massage of my life. I am unsure the type of massage, but I guess it to be a combination shiatsu, swedish, and Thai.
Sauna Wellness Center
In the second phase of my spa day, I went into the Sauna Wellness Center, where I sampled all the many saunas and extras. This area was fairly deserted ( it was past lunch time by now) which suited me fine.
After finding what I would call a freezer room, I lay for a while on a heated Roman bench, which provided soothing heat from below to my whole body. Next was a steam chamber; very hot steam surrounded my body here, which infiltrated my pores and lungs.
Following was a salt crystal sauna, which is essentially a sauna with high heat that emits salt crystals into the air. I was unaware of the salt compound while I was in there, and found it soothing and relaxing. Salt of course is useful for detox purposes. The Spa also houses a Himalayan salt wall and a salt chamber.
Upstairs I found an infra red sauna which started at 40 degrees celsius and gradually reached about 55 degrees during my 45 minute stay. Across the way was a Finnish sauna with temperatures at 80-90 celsius, and finally there was a naturalist sauna which needs no explanation.
I finished my sauna fest by soaking my feet in a cold shallow pool, kept cool partially by ice cubes which cascaded down in waterfall fashion.
After a 6 hour stay, I headed back to my hotel on the tram, a very happy, relaxed, and well detoxed individual!
Such a spa visit I would estimate to cost hundreds of dollars.
On that day my visit, to include the massage, cost about $30.00.
Next post, Budapest concert reviews., Stay tuned!
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