Do you like Turkish baths in Budapest? Now you can buy one!

After one decade of legal affairs that impeded the opening of the beautifully renovated Rác Bath and the pertaining superior hotel nearby, now the proprietor company decided to sell the properties at public auction. The starting price exceeds EUR 13.6 million.

The history of the iconic Turkish bath dates back to the 16th century, when its oldest part, the Turkish cupola was built in 1572. Later on, the imperial pools and shower corridors were constructed during the age of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Since then – thanks to periodic renovations – the spa has preserved its original authenticity and style. Few may know that Rác Thermal Bath is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; though, its inner beauty has not been admired by tourists for a long time. However, a final decision has been made on the future of Budapest’s iconic spa and the superior hotel alongside.

It makes it even more complicated that the land under the buildings is the property of the capital, and the Budapest Thermal Bath Plc holds the water rights necessary for the spa’s operation (BGYH). As a result, the spa, the state, the capital’s local government and BGYH also have the right of pre-emption. So the final race for the real estates begins.

As Népszava reports, for the renovation of the spa, the municipality of the Hungarian capital established Rác Nosztalgia Ltd. in 2002. The capital took the land under the buildings to the joint business, while the associated Rác Beruházó Ltd. undertook the renovation and the construction of the 67-room hotel. The construction of the 16,000-square-foot complex began in 2005, and the inauguration was scheduled for May 2010.