Miskolctapolca Cave Bath In Hungary, the “Bath of the Year competition” has been held for many years, in which nearly 200 baths can be voted for in 3 different categories. The baths run in three categories: Bath of the year, Emerging bath of the year, and the Local’s favourite bath. These categories were necessary because the over 200 baths in Hungary has very different characteristics and opportunities. In 2016, the Bath of the Year was Miskolctapolca Cave Bath, which is one of the most special locations for a bath in Hungary. This beloved bath isn’t only unique in our country, water that’s this warm in karst, can’t be found anywhere else in Europe. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Miskolc is the Miskolctapolca Cave Bath. As most part of the bath is covered and the water is warm, it can be visited all year long. The 30 °C water and the cave’s climate has a healing effect, mainly for joint diseases, but it’s salt content is lower than that of medicinal waters (it doesn’t reach the 1000mg/liter), therefore you can bathe in it as long as you want. Along the two thermal baths the Roman hall, Star hall, Old cave pool and the Bath Hall awaits those who wish to visit the bath. Exploring the adventurous hiding spots, we can discover light- and sound therapy baths, massaging waterfalls and relaxing baths. In the 16th century it became more visited and better known for bathing, healing and washing by the Turkish, the nearby imperial troops, and the greek tradesmen and women from nearby villages. In 1711, Vác’s Bishop Zsigmond Kollovich, who was also a abbot from Tapolca, brings the castle’s attention to the bath’s state in a letter, and requests Siking, the emperor’s general and his soldiers, to fix it. The abbot brought doctors and professionals from Kassa, whose job was to support the importance of the bath’s, water’s and area’s healing properties through their research, even more so, as the area was becoming marshy, and people began to leave. In 1717, in the “budgeting” of the Abbey of Tapolca is where we can first read about plans and recommendations about utilizing the bath for business, which states “there is water, but it’s missing a connecting building or some sort of cover”. Between 1720-23 the plans of the bath is drawn up, which consists of 6 rooms, welcoming hall, which after being built will make the healing water more worthy for visiting pilgrims. Following the abbot’s recommendation they guided the water to three lakes, building small chambers above them, so people, depending on their statuses and ranks, could enjoy the bath by themselves or with others, in separate baths. The 6 roomed bath house is built as well. The water of the bath comes from a rock cavity, it’s transparent in colour, smells of nitrate, pulls the skin together, decreases fever and increases the appetite. The rock’s water flow is 750l/minute. During the middle of the 18th century, the bath and the area becomes unpopulated once again, the ceiling of the building falls in, the steam ruins the wooden structure.In 1934, Miskolctapolca officially becomes a resort, which results in an increased number of visitors, and speeds up the process of modernizing the spa.