Bílina
Encyclopedia
Bílina (ˈbiːlɪna; ) is a town in the Teplice District
in the Ústí nad Labem Region
of the Czech Republic
. It is located on the river Bílina. It is known for its comforting and relaxing spas
.
. It is situated between two bigger cities, Teplice
and Most
. In the south the mountain Bořeň
, which resembles a lying lion
, is looming.
The very first written mention of the settlement (then a seat of a province) dates back to 993 and comes from Chronicle of Bohemians, where a battle
between Bretislaus I and the German
emperor
Henry III
was depicted.
Before the half of 13th century Ojíř of Friedberk built a new castle
in whose settlement round a castle a town with bulwarks and three gates was built.
During 1420 the town of Bílina was kept by Albrecht of Koldice well-known with his anti-hussite attitude. Thus, Bílina was surrounded and conquered by a Hussite
Jakoubek of Vřesovice who gave back the town of Bílina to dynasty of Koldice in 1436.
Since 1502 the town of Bílina was owned by House of Lobkowicz whom this town was returned to in 1989 during restorations.
Leonora of House of Lobkowicz got mineral spring cleaned and the very first spa guests began to come.
In the end of 19th century the spa became a pride of the town. In 1878 a big spa house in a pseudorenaissance style was built. The architect
was Franz Sablic. The next favourite place became Forest café, built from a wood pavilion in Swiss style. 2 225 000 bottles of mineral water were exported in 1889. The biggest purchaser was Germany
.
Another turning point in the history of spa was a changeover in 1989. The House of Lobkowicz got back a part of original property including Spa of Kyselka. The spa was sold to a private company which ceased of spa cure and closed the whole area including the park for public. In 1998 the town managed to buy the spa and its operation is being gradually restored.
The Lobkovic château - built in the years 1675-1682 on the site of original gothic castle
Hussite bastion - a monument of the massive town fortifications
Townhall - the art nouveau building built in the beginning of the 20th century, is the town's pride.
St. Peter and Paul's church - not only a house of God, but also a valuable monument
is one of the priorities of the Bílina people - be it results and records, or merely way of spending free time.
A modern stadium
has witnessed many good sport
feats, and has often hosted many world-known athletes.
In the new millennium an original ice-hockey hall was built in Bílina.
A local swimming pool
, built in 1931, has always been the site of very popular entertainment.
with
Sæby
in Denmark
Teplice District
The Teplice District is a district in the Czech Republic and is part of the Ústí nad Labem Region along with the districts of Most, Louny, Chomutov, Litoměřice, Děčín and Ústí nad Labem...
in the Ústí nad Labem Region
Ústí nad Labem Region
Ústí nad Labem Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western part of its historical region of Bohemia...
of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. It is located on the river Bílina. It is known for its comforting and relaxing spas
Destination spa
A destination spa is a short term residential/lodging facility with the primary purpose of providing individual services for spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically many such spas were developed at the location of natural hot springs or sources of mineral waters...
.
Location
The historical town of Bílina lies in the valley of the river Bílina, between the tops of the Central Bohemian Massif and the range of the Ore mountainsOre Mountains
The Ore Mountains in Central Europe have formed a natural border between Saxony and Bohemia for many centuries. Today, the border between Germany and the Czech Republic runs just north of the main crest of the mountain range...
. It is situated between two bigger cities, Teplice
Teplice
Teplice , Teplice-Šanov until 1948 is a town in the Czech Republic, the capital of the Teplice District in the Ústí nad Labem Region. It is the state's second largest spa town ....
and Most
Most
Most is the capital city of the Most District, situated between the Czech Central Mountains and the Ore Mountains, approximately northwest of Prague along the Bílina River and southwest of Ústí nad Labem.-Etymology:...
. In the south the mountain Bořeň
Boren
Boren , is a lake in Östergötland, east of Motala, 73 m above sea level. It covers an area of 28 km² and is at most 14 meters deep. It forms a part of the Göta Canal and has given its name to Borensberg....
, which resembles a lying lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
, is looming.
History
The name of the town originates from the adjective white (bílý; bielý). The term Bielina symbolizes 'white', without any wood or the flowing river Běla.The very first written mention of the settlement (then a seat of a province) dates back to 993 and comes from Chronicle of Bohemians, where a battle
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
between Bretislaus I and the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
Henry III
Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry III , called the Black or the Pious, was a member of the Salian Dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors...
was depicted.
Before the half of 13th century Ojíř of Friedberk built a new castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
in whose settlement round a castle a town with bulwarks and three gates was built.
During 1420 the town of Bílina was kept by Albrecht of Koldice well-known with his anti-hussite attitude. Thus, Bílina was surrounded and conquered by a Hussite
Hussite
The Hussites were a Christian movement following the teachings of Czech reformer Jan Hus , who became one of the forerunners of the Protestant Reformation...
Jakoubek of Vřesovice who gave back the town of Bílina to dynasty of Koldice in 1436.
Since 1502 the town of Bílina was owned by House of Lobkowicz whom this town was returned to in 1989 during restorations.
Kyselka Spa
In 1702 princessPrincess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
Leonora of House of Lobkowicz got mineral spring cleaned and the very first spa guests began to come.
In the end of 19th century the spa became a pride of the town. In 1878 a big spa house in a pseudorenaissance style was built. The architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
was Franz Sablic. The next favourite place became Forest café, built from a wood pavilion in Swiss style. 2 225 000 bottles of mineral water were exported in 1889. The biggest purchaser was Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Another turning point in the history of spa was a changeover in 1989. The House of Lobkowicz got back a part of original property including Spa of Kyselka. The spa was sold to a private company which ceased of spa cure and closed the whole area including the park for public. In 1998 the town managed to buy the spa and its operation is being gradually restored.
Places of interest
Hussite bastion - a monument of the massive town fortifications
Townhall - the art nouveau building built in the beginning of the 20th century, is the town's pride.
St. Peter and Paul's church - not only a house of God, but also a valuable monument
Culture and Sport
SportSport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
is one of the priorities of the Bílina people - be it results and records, or merely way of spending free time.
A modern stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
has witnessed many good sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
feats, and has often hosted many world-known athletes.
In the new millennium an original ice-hockey hall was built in Bílina.
A local swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, built in 1931, has always been the site of very popular entertainment.
Twin towns
Bílina is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with
- Biłgoraj in PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Sæby
Sæby
Sæby is a Danish town, with a population of 8,875 , in Frederikshavn municipality, Region Nordjylland on the northeast coast of Vendsyssel-Thy, a part of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark.-Attractions:* Sæby Harbour* Sæby Church...
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...