CZ: Teplice - A Contrast Of Spa Town - VIDEO

Teplice Municipal Authority, placed on Freedom Square (Náměstí svobody) welcomes us with its refined form. Fine yellow colour shade of its facade, as well as the style, in which it is constructed, wipes off strange impression from immense casino, many parked vehicles and something, which could be named as architectonical eccentricity of Communist era. The space, covered with glass, leads into inn of the fourth category, but also to the culture stand – Květen Movie (cinema) and Krušnohor Theatre.

Desert Teplice Zone

Nevertheless, spa zone is more positive, as far as the impressions are concerned. However, Vienna waltz will not be danced in Teplice today, for sure. Some pubs remained closed, a coffee, not far from Castle Square is open. but it is deserted. Except young man, who marched to St. Cross Promotion Church, several persons with their dogs, who cannot avoid their walks through city centre, Teplice is, on such February day, sad, without busy life, without any persons.

Anyway, Teplice, which is placed not far from the border with Germany, has a lot to offer. According to the information of Teplice Mayor, the town is obliged to do its best, in order to merit the good-will of their inhabitants. The essential pillars of the town are the following: trade, mining and balneology. We, the travellers and investigators, are mostly interested for the third pillar, of course.

Teplice balneological

Teplice Spa used fully its natural wealth, i.e. thermal springs, jetting from basin at the border of Iron Ore Mountains and Bohemian Highlands, just from 12th century. Even St. John Baptist Monastery comes from this time period. Just since that time, the spa guests arrived there, and spa history begun to be written since that period. The diseases of moving apparatus, sick veins, nerves but also sick spirits were healed there. Without such phenomenon, Teplice remained a point in a map only, without its special importance. 

Today, Teplice could be proud on a fact, not to name the guests as patients. So, the guests let to be looked after in several medical institutions, praising their kind staff, heated basin and, last but not least, excellent portions of meal.

It was always so: Teplice undergone building boom during prosperous time periods. However, bad times came too, when everything was cracked and destroyed. The essential tragedy arrived, when close to Teplice, brown coal mines were open and even the production of stockings was started there. In 1793, great part of the town was changed into the ash. On the other hand, light moment of local history returned again, in a form of meeting of two genius persons - Ludwig van Beethoven and Johann Wolfgang Goethe. They met there once and for the last time. On the contrary, two sad land-marks arrived in a form of signature, regarding agreement of sovereigns from Austria, Prussia and Russia. In Teplice, an agreement against Napoleon was confirmed, and similar treaty was undersigned there 120 years later, when Teplice became a part of Third Reich.

A Town of Black-White Colour Shade

Outside health zone, Teplice acts in contradictory way, similarly as white and black colours. On the one part, you can find there ostentatious villas. However, most of them are in very bad conditions, in ruins or totally destroyed. Close to the church, drawinng attention with its high tower, the rubbish is lolling. Desert streets and pubs do not bring at all more positive atmosphere to the town. No doubt, Teplice has its rich history and enormous potential to be required locality, looked after not only spa guests but also those who would like to live there.

Warm Atmosphere in Teplice

The hints regarding 4% minority in connection with Teplice (taking into consideration Czech sense for humour) are of no special appearance. Nevertheless, it is difficult to say wheather some statistics figures exist, which could confirm or refute such myth. It is true that Teplice is situated in a belt with most warmest climate. So, the average temperature moves around - 2 °C in winter. On the other hand, the temperature in summer reaches in average + 18 °C.

Text/photo/video: Klára Svobodová

Translation: ing. Jan Jonáš