Dudince Spa - History
History
Although the healing effects of the mineral water of Dudince have been allegedly known since the times of Romans stay in our territory, Dudince is “the youngest spa town in Slovakia ” from the point of view of complex spa treatment development. Why is it so? A radical change in perception of Dudince and opinions about construction of the spa came as late as after the Second World War.
Within new trends, the Czechoslovak Republic decided to establish balneology in Slovakia . It was necessary to create a concept of utilization of healing waters and healing spas, which would give this field a certain sense and purpose. Therefore the healing spas and hot water springs were included in the competence of the Ministry of Health.
The first step by the Ministry of Health was to create a team of professionals lead by then lecturer of balneology in the Medical faculty of the Comenius University in Bratislava , prof. MUDr. Juraj Hensel. The team’s task was to elaborate priorities of the healing spa development according to the balneological values of healing water sources and medical needs.
Proposals elaborated by the team corresponded with recommendations set in the first balneography of Slovakia prepared in 1951 by Juraj Hensel. Prof. MUDr. Juraj Hensel was the founder and a head of Physiatric Clinic in Bratislava , Research Institute of Physical Medicine, Balneology and Climatology, later the Research Institute of Human Bioclimatology in Bratislava , and he is considered to be the founder of the Slovak balneology. He has always been interested in Dudince, the construction of which he expressly recommended with regard to certain criteria and balneological value of healing water springs.
Although the healing effects of the mineral water of Dudince have been allegedly known since the times of Romans stay in our territory, Dudince is “the youngest spa town in Slovakia ” from the point of view of complex spa treatment development. Why is it so? A radical change in perception of Dudince and opinions about construction of the spa came as late as after the Second World War.
Within new trends, the Czechoslovak Republic decided to establish balneology in Slovakia . It was necessary to create a concept of utilization of healing waters and healing spas, which would give this field a certain sense and purpose. Therefore the healing spas and hot water springs were included in the competence of the Ministry of Health.
The first step by the Ministry of Health was to create a team of professionals lead by then lecturer of balneology in the Medical faculty of the Comenius University in Bratislava , prof. MUDr. Juraj Hensel. The team’s task was to elaborate priorities of the healing spa development according to the balneological values of healing water sources and medical needs.
Proposals elaborated by the team corresponded with recommendations set in the first balneography of Slovakia prepared in 1951 by Juraj Hensel. Prof. MUDr. Juraj Hensel was the founder and a head of Physiatric Clinic in Bratislava , Research Institute of Physical Medicine, Balneology and Climatology, later the Research Institute of Human Bioclimatology in Bratislava , and he is considered to be the founder of the Slovak balneology. He has always been interested in Dudince, the construction of which he expressly recommended with regard to certain criteria and balneological value of healing water springs.
Construction of the healing spa was started in a responsible way, based on a good knowledge of possibilities and needs. The spa had to be built “on a green meadow”. In that times there was only a small 1-floor building, so-called Spa House, with capacity of 22 beds and a small balneotherapy in the territory. The accommodation part on the first floor was exclusively for the institutional patients; however, balneotherapy could be used also by other patients. Catering was provided in the restaurant under the hill of Gestenec. This building of the old Spa House, used for church services for a short time, until the Roman-Catholic church was constructed, can still be found in the area.
Medical treatment was provided by a nurse working full time and a general practitioner from the nearby Demandice, who commuted to the Spa House two times a week. In 1958, a doctor working full time came to the spa. It was doctor MUDr. Tomáš Kaiser, the coordinator of construction and operation of the spa. Later he became the director of the spa, as well as the director of then Sanatorium Sitno (today Spa House Diamant).
After gaining a very good hydrological results and results of mineral spring researches, the Spa House Rubín started to be constructed in 1960, and later, in 1966 it was put into operation. Some seniors may remember it under the name Hont. The Spa house Rubín is connected to balneotherapy Krištáľ and also to the Spa House Smaragd, which was constructed later (it is in operation since 1978).
Natural healing spa in Dudince has undergone several management structures during its existence. It was established as a part of the state enterprise Czechoslovak State Spa Sliač, which was lead by MUDr. Ján Novák, an enthusiastic supporter of construction of the spa in Dudince. In 1992, the State Enterprise Sliač was divided and an independent company with affiliated Spa in Sklenné Teplice was created. Within transformation of healing balneology in Slovakia , the spa in Dudince was privatized. Spa Houses Rubín and Smaragd were administered by the company Honttherma, a.s.
In 2002 – after purchase of a major equity share by a new investor – a radical change happened in direction of the company’s activities. Spa Houses Smaragd and Rubín became known in the domestic and foreign market as Kúpele Dudince, a.s. Significant investments, improvement of quality and assortment of services, reconstruction of the Spa House Rubín and extensive activities made the Spa appreciated by more and more demanding clients and the Spa becomes a modern oasis of relax and comfort offering suitable stays for all the Spa guests.
After gaining a very good hydrological results and results of mineral spring researches, the Spa House Rubín started to be constructed in 1960, and later, in 1966 it was put into operation. Some seniors may remember it under the name Hont. The Spa house Rubín is connected to balneotherapy Krištáľ and also to the Spa House Smaragd, which was constructed later (it is in operation since 1978).
Natural healing spa in Dudince has undergone several management structures during its existence. It was established as a part of the state enterprise Czechoslovak State Spa Sliač, which was lead by MUDr. Ján Novák, an enthusiastic supporter of construction of the spa in Dudince. In 1992, the State Enterprise Sliač was divided and an independent company with affiliated Spa in Sklenné Teplice was created. Within transformation of healing balneology in Slovakia , the spa in Dudince was privatized. Spa Houses Rubín and Smaragd were administered by the company Honttherma, a.s.
In 2002 – after purchase of a major equity share by a new investor – a radical change happened in direction of the company’s activities. Spa Houses Smaragd and Rubín became known in the domestic and foreign market as Kúpele Dudince, a.s. Significant investments, improvement of quality and assortment of services, reconstruction of the Spa House Rubín and extensive activities made the Spa appreciated by more and more demanding clients and the Spa becomes a modern oasis of relax and comfort offering suitable stays for all the Spa guests.