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| photo: Prof. Ryan james |
Hotel Gellért has always been a pioneer... Long time a back, a monk living in the cave advised virgins on sexual and moral questions... Later it became a benchmark for Hungarian hotel business with its services,,, And would you have thought it had pioneering antiracist ideas? A 'black' noble man entered the spa and the 'white' guests were shocked and wanted him to leave. The spa's response was this: 'everyone can enjoy Gellért Spa's curing effects, regardless to skin colour!'
As the reliefs symbolizing healing above the main Hotel entrance suggest, the building serves a dual purpose. St Gellért Hotel and Spa was built in 1918 after the plans of Artúr Sebestyén, Izidor Sterk and Ármin Hegedűs, in Art Nouveau style. Showcasing splendid elements still recognizable in traces, the galleried entrance hall featured a coffered ceiling held up by 8 stucco columns. One entered into elegant communal rooms, which, according to contemporary accounts, worked as veritable artecraft showrooms. Reading rooms, a charming lilac hued ladies’salon, an empire music room, and a walnut-panelled main hall provided the glorious setting for social life.
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When the 176-room Hotel opened its rooms to the public, thermal and sparkling water flowed from the taps. No wonder Gellért soon became the hub of high society between the two world wars, as the pomp of its interiors, patios and pools lured in guests. Zsolnay tiles adorn the baths, ornate pillars surround the jet pools, colourful majolica statuettes complete the effect. Hungarian history strode the building’s corridors, the crème of society seeked pleasure between its walls, world famous artists, politicians and statesmen resided in its suites.
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In 1927 the hotel was extended, and the wave pool was installed using technology at the time unparallelled with the sole exception of the Csillaghegyi Spa. As yet another luxurious adage, a jet pool was built on the site of the former winter garden and mini-golf course. The renowned Károly Gundel, to the great satisfaction of high-class guests, commanded the kitchen. Gundel’s famed courses: Fogas Rothermere, Bakony Mushroom and Pittsburg Veal Spare Ribs were dreamed up in this period.
Heavy bombardment during the Second World War meant that the hotel had to be almost completely refurbished in the 50s. In the course of the following decade, Gellért regained its popularity as a location for social events. The hotel and the spa again provided an elegant backdrop for 5 o’clock tea parties, grand balls, and weddings.
As a pioneer in Hungarian hotel business, Gellért offered the possibility to pay in foreign currency, provided airport transfer, and made minibars available for its guests.
Till the end of the 70s Gellért saw prestigious state events; heads of states, kings, world-famous performers, renowned writers and poets stayed in its suites.
Ps: can you find the phone number of the engineer-architect in the marble?
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