Hear the echoes of champions within these walls. We are standing before the Császár-Komjádi uszoda. It is more than just a swimming pool. It is a testament to Budapest’s rich bathing history and sporting excellence.
The story of bathing here stretches back to Roman times. They knew a good thing when they found it. They used the area’s thermal springs. Even Attila the Hun camped nearby. Later Hungarian Grand Prince Árpád also stayed here. The Knights of Saint John even ran a hospital close by.
Fast forward to the Turkish era. The thermal springs saw significant development. One beautiful example is Veli Bej. Sokollu Mustafa Pasha built Veli Bej between 1574 and 1575. It is one of Budapest’s oldest Turkish baths.
Before the Turks King Matthias had a bath here. It was for regular use at the site of today’s Császár Baths. The Császár Baths complex grew in the 19th century around the Turkish bath. József Hild designed it.
In 1926 a competitive swimming pool was added. That year Budapest hosted the European Championships. Swimming diving and water polo athletes competed. The Komjádi Sports Pool was built in 1976. It honors Béla Komjádi. He coached Hungary’s Olympic gold medal-winning water polo team in 1932.
The Császár-Komjádi uszoda has a unique feature. Its roof opens. It is a 40-meter wide openable roofing. Seregi György and Fernezelyi Sándor designed this.
The open-roofed swimming pool is home to champions. The Vasas water polo team trains here. They have won many Hungarian championships and cups. Professional swimmers also train here. The Császár-Komjádi uszoda hosts many sporting events each year. The stands can hold over 1600 fans.
The Császár-Komjádi uszoda has five pools. Two are for children. There is an indoor 50-meter sport swimming pool. Outside there is another 50-meter pool. Also outside are a 25-meter pool and an educational pool.
The building itself covers over 11000 square meters. It can hold 1800 people during sports events. You can visit the Császár-Komjádi uszoda every day from 6 AM to 7 PM.
Recent renovations made the Császár-Komjádi uszoda more energy efficient. These upgrades included wall insulation new windows and a solar panel system. The project saves about 700000 kW of energy annually. The improved insulation keeps the pool area comfortable year-round.
The Császár-Komjádi uszoda stands as a symbol. It represents Budapest’s dedication to sports and recreation. Take a moment to appreciate the history and the energy here. The Császár-Komjádi uszoda is a place where champions are made and history is celebrated.