History
Folk legend says about the origin of spas that mineral springs were discovered a long time ago by a shepherd, who healed his „painful “feet while bathing in the strangely and unusually pungent rammish water of these springs. Hearsay and rumours about the healing effect of the spring spread very quickly and people from the wide environs started to hunt and look for it.
Origin of the name Smrdáky is interesting. Based on the historic documents the settlement was called in Slovak language at that time Nová Ves (New Village) / Villa Nova /. The village got the present name from the stinky mineral springs. When the peasants and farmers due to the occasion of anniversary of fairs forgathered in the neighbouring towns, those, who came from Nová Ves, were nicknamed „Smrdáci“. This name became common then and it substituted the preceding and previous name of the settlement.
The first written reference about the spa place in Smrdáky was stated in city plan from 1617. It was issued by the squire in that time Majtény - Novák. Slovak polyhistor Matej Bel in his well-known work Notitia Hungariae Novae Historicogeographia (Historical and geographical knowledge about the Hungary) from 1740 recalls the spa hamlet Smrdáky and for the first time he describes here the using of hydrogen sulphide water for healing therapeutic purposes. In 1763 the official physician Ján M. Gottmann prepared the analysis of Smrdáky´s waters, in which he commented and remarked that in the future in the vicinity of such waters, could have been established the spas.
Very significant is also the medical dissertation thesis of the chief physician Jozef Callas Nagy about the Spa Smrdáky (Thermarum Büdösköensium, 1840) considered and assessed at the Vienna University. Except the chemical analysis of waters, which was done by Nitra´s pharmacist and apothecary František Lang Adolf, there are also indications – list of diseases, which were here successfully treated already before the establishment of spa institution. At the first place there are mentioned various skin diseases, like eczema, herpes, sphinx moth and the like.
The first bathhouse in Smrdáky was built by the owner of lands in the vicinity of springs, Nitra´s deputy city mayor Jozef Vietoris, in years l832-3. This period is dated and known as the modern history of spas too.
Later in 1839 also by courtesy and thanks to the owner J. Vietoris, there was built the impressive grand building of manor house for his family and precious guests. After several reconstructions it has served until today. The manor house with its classical portal became the symbol of spas.
Jozef Vietoris procured and arranged also the building of pleasant and agreeable spa environment. When he drained the marshland and swamp, he gained the space for park, where he planted the rare woods. Spa Park has today the surface area 16 ha and is the favourite relaxation place for spa guests.
Years 1935 – 1938 were the most successful for the spas. In spa facilities there were in that time accommodated around 180 patients and almost the same number was accommodated in the village. Except for this there were arriving also patients from the close vicinity ambulatory, and so in those times at the peak of spa season recorded and monitored right about 400 baths daily in the spa.
In 1950 there was recorded and caught by drill the precious valuable source of mineral water and thus there was ensured the healing water of the well-known composition. Depth drill in 1953 discovered in the depth 301 metres the primary source of hydrogen sulphide mineral water, in 1957 also much more abundant and substantial wellspring. Its content of active diatomic sulphur is from all the well-known European hydrogen sulphide waters the highest one until now.
