Tapolca bath spa resort

You may refresh your self in a nice town surrounded by a land rich in natural beauties if you visit Tapolca. The complex has three outdoor pools. Near the spa you can visit the famous hospital cave. This cave is a sanatorium for those who have some kind of respiratory sickness or asthma.

History

According to the finds that archeologists found here this land was inhabited since the Neolithic Ages. You may also see some ruins from the Roman Ages in the town. There was an important road running through this land during Roman Ages.

The name of the town is a Slav world and it means “hot water”. The first source which mentioned the name of Tapolca dates back to the 12C. During the 14-16C the town flourished. It was an important administrative, market and cultural center of this land. In the 15C it became the property and the domain center of the Charthouse Order. In the 16C the Turks captured Tapolca. In the 18-19C, after the expulsion of the Turkish troops it became an important center of wine selling. During the 20C, especially during the communist era, Tapolca’s industrial life developed very quickly. New block-houses were built for the families who migrated to Tapolca in hope to work in the factories. Nowadays tourism and the reconstruction of the old center are getting more and more important.

Place of interest

If you reach Tapolca from the east, you will first see the block-houses with a special Y shape. But the old center of the town – which was reconstructed in recent years – has a totally different atmosphere, so don’t let your self bee frighten by these new buildings!

First take a walk to Lake Tapolca to see the old mill. This old mill and the lake are situated in the center of the town. This is the place where all the springs of Tapolca originate from. You can see some great old buildings around the lake. During summertime there is even a water-stage where you can see some kinds of performances and concerts. Around the lake you can see some statues like the statues of the famous Hungarian who lived or were born here, the Pantheon of Tapolca. If you have already seen the Little Princess on the Promenade by the side of River Danube in Budapest (Duna-korzó), you’ll probably recognize its little sister near the lake in Tapolca. It is a wok of László Márton one of the most famous contemporary sculptors in Hungary. If you like to see more of his works, don’t miss to visit the Marton Gallery in Tapolca.

If you like to visit the old center of the town, you should take a walk to the Temple Hill (Templom domb). The parish church here had been founded in the 13C and was rebuilt in baroque style in the 18C. Opposite the church you can see some remains of the former fortress’ walls.

If you like to know more about the history of the town you should visit the Town Museum.

The surrounding land is rich in natural beauties. For example you shouldn’t miss to visit the cave of Tapolca. This is a cave filled with water, so you can go around the cave in a boat. If you have the time and possibility you should explore the villages and the hollows around Tapolca. This land is famous for wine cultivating, so don’t miss to enter to one of the wine cellars and taste the wine!