History of Miskolctapolca

Where water rules - The history of Miskolctapolca

A landscape rich in natural beauty has been shaped over the course of thousands of years by both hot and cold-water springs, and then with the arrival of humans came the two-way relationship that defined Miskolctapolca's function.

Archaeological excavations confirm that Miskolctapolca has been inhabited from the very beginning. This is the area designated by the name-giver of our city, Miskóc (Miskolc) of the Bors clan, as the centre of their family, where he also established a monastery. The Benedictine monastery was destroyed in the turbulent times after the Battle of Mohács (1526). It is likely that the documents of the Miskolc clan relating to the founding of the town were lost at this time.

After the demolition of the monastery, Tapolca became deserted and was recaptured by nature, so for a long time the former clan centre was described as a mere wasteland belonging to Görömböly part of the city (called Pusztatapolca), "whose waters never froze" and the surrounding hills "produce particularly good wine", so from the 18th century the area was repopulated. First, three swimming pools were built, with changing rooms and a six-room inn.

From the 1800s on, more and more experts began to research the springs in the area to see if their waters really did have healing properties. These studies revealed that, in addition to gout and other joint diseases, which were common among the elite of the time, the waters of Miskolcapolca were the most effective remedy for cardiovascular diseases, making it the “Mecca for patients with heart problems”.

But this was only one of the reasons why the neighbouring Miskolc had its eye on the area, which was still owned by the church. In 1908, the terms of the agreement between the bishopric and the town were fixed in 17 points, and Miskolc immediately started building the waterworks, turning the resort into a site of unprecedented development in the first decades of the 20th century. It was during this period that Miskolctapolca's present-day image was created: the thermal baths and the open-air baths, the boating lake surrounded by unique flora, and the catering facilities that served the tourism boom. The various building projects have also brought archaeological finds that provide a basis for a reconstruction of the area's prehistory.

Görömbölytapolca (which officially became part of Miskolc only in 1950) was upgraded to a resort in 1934, and spectacular investments were launched and continued in the following successive decades as well.