"Szigetvár" was laid down at the Pola Arsenal on 25 May 1899 under the contract name (Replacement) , the last member of her class to begin construction. She was launched on 29 October 1900 under the direction of (Rear Admiral) Johann von Hinke without a ceremony, though she was christened after the 16th-century Siege of Szigetvár. Fitting-out work was completed by September 1901 and she was commissioned on the last day of the month at a cost of 4.5 million krone. The naval command immediately ordered "Szigetvár" to embark on an overseas training cruise to North American and northern Europe.