Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading

Donors rush in to revive Hungarian cave bath crippled by energy bills

FILE PHOTO: Bathers relax at the Cave Bath in Miskolctapolca, Hungary, October 7, 2022. REUTERS/Krisztina Fenyo/File Photo

Hungary's famous Miskolctapolca cave baths reopened on Friday after local hotels and politicians teamed up to help it pay its surging power bill, state news agency MTI reported.

The centuries-old attraction shut down three weeks ago, saying it could not cover its heating costs as energy prices soared across Europe and beyond in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The closure cast a shadow over the tourist industry in the surrounding region in eastern Hungary, which relies on the caves to bring in visitors.

FILE PHOTO: A bather relaxes at the Cave Bath in Miskolctapolca, Hungary, October 7, 2022. REUTERS/Krisztina Fenyo/File Photo

On Friday, the cave managers posted a message on their website saying they had reopened and had a programme of Halloween activities planned for the weekend.

Pal Veres, the mayor of the nearby town of Miskolc, told MTI that the municipality, local hotels and other tourist businesses were providing financial support.

Visitors have been coming to the vast cavern since before Roman times to bathe in its naturally heated waters. In recent years, the venue has relied on gas to top up the temperatures in the pools and the caves, particularly during winter.

(Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.