Landmarks

Marconi Sanatorium in Busko-Zdrój

The most representative building of Busko-Zdrój dates from 1836 and bears the name of its creator. The Marconi Sanatorium was designed by Henryk Marconi, a Warsaw architect of Italian descent, author among others of the Europejski Hotel in Warsaw. Opened on 1 June 1836 as the Spa Baths, for decades it set the rhythm of the town's resort life.

Architecture inspired by antiquity

The building was modelled on ancient Roman public structures. Its plan forms the letter T: the taller main block is accompanied by single-storey side wings, and the building is surrounded by arcades of Corinthian columns. The main entrance is adorned with huge doors crowned by an arch with stucco. Inside, the decorated hall and the splendid concert hall with rows of columns and busts stand out — today the main stage of the resort's cultural events.

From Enoch's lease to a resort

Behind this investment lies the history of the whole town. In 1833 the physician Jakub Enoch leased Busko for 25 years and committed himself to building a bathhouse — three years later the Baths were already receiving guests. The town developed around its sulphurous waters, and the spa park around the baths grew avenues and pavilions. The setting itself favours recuperation: according to climate data Busko records about 1,151 hours of sunshine a year, and in clear air the Tatra mountains, 150 kilometres away, can be visible.

What happens in the Marconi today

The building still lives a spa life: a water drinking hall, a physical therapy unit and the concert hall operate here, and the upper floors hold rooms for guests. The drinking hall serves the famous Busko sulphurous water free of charge, which draws spa guests. In summer the calendar fills with concerts that use the acoustics of the historic hall.

In practice

The address is 1 Maja street, within the Spa Park — a walk from the market square takes a quarter of an hour through the park. The drinking hall also admits visitors without spa cards, and entry to the park is free. It is best to combine the visit with a stroll around the spa park and a walk along the avenues that keep the pace of the 19th-century layout.