Teplice facts for kids

Teplice (pronounced TEP-lit-seh) is a city in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 51,000 people living there. Teplice is famous for its hot springs and is the most popular spa town in the Czech Republic. The old part of the city is very well preserved and is a protected area.

Quick facts for kids Teplice
Statutory city
Castle square with the Church of Saint John the Baptist
Flag Coat of arms
Teplice Location in Czech Republic
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Ústí nad Labem
District	Teplice
First mentioned	1158
Area
• Total	23.78 km2 (9.18 sq mi)
Elevation	228 m (748 ft)
Population  (2024-01-01)
• Total	50,959
• Density	2,142.9/km2 (5,550.2/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	415 01

City Parts

Teplice is made up of several smaller areas. These include Teplice, Hudcov, Nová Ves, Prosetice, Řetenice, Sobědruhy, and Trnovany.

Fountain and the city hall

What's in a Name?

The name Teplice comes from an old Czech word. It means "hot spring," which makes sense because of the city's famous thermal springs!

Where is Teplice?

Teplice is located about 14 kilometers (9 miles) west of Ústí nad Labem. It is also about 72 kilometers (45 miles) northwest of Prague, the capital city. The northern part of Teplice is in a flat area called the Most Basin. The southern part is in the Central Bohemian Uplands, which has hills. The highest point in the city is Doubravská hora hill, which is 393 meters (1,289 feet) high. There are also a few small fish ponds in the area.

A Look Back in Time

Early Discoveries and Foundations

People say that the hot springs in Teplice were found as early as the year 762. However, the first real mention of the baths was in the 1500s. A nearby settlement called Trnovany was first written about in 1057. Teplice itself was first mentioned in 1154. That year, Queen Judith of Thuringia started a Benedictine convent near the hot springs. This was the second convent of its kind in Bohemia. A strong town grew around the monastery.

Wars and Changes

Sadly, the town was destroyed during the Hussite Wars after a battle in 1426. Later, in the late 1400s, Queen Joanna of Rožmitál built a castle on the ruins.

City seal from around 1750, showing the head of John the Baptist

Teplice also played a part in the Thirty Years' War. After this war, many German settlers moved to the town to help rebuild it. In 1793, a big fire destroyed many parts of Teplice. The town was then rebuilt in a new, fancy style called Neoclassical.

Famous Visitors and Important Meetings

The health resort became a popular place for rich people and famous artists. The poet Johann Gottfried Seume visited and passed away there in 1810. The famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven met the writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in Teplice in 1812. Many European kings and queens also visited.

Teplice Castle

In 1813, during the Napoleonic Wars, the leaders of Austria, Russia, and Prussia met in Teplice. They signed an agreement to work together against Napoleon I of France. This led to a big victory for them in a nearby battle.

Modern History

In 1895, Teplice joined with a nearby spa town called Lázně Šanov. After World War I, Teplice became part of the new country of Czechoslovakia. Many people living in Teplice at that time spoke German. After World War II, many German-speaking people moved away from Teplice.

Memorial to fallen pilots of the US Air Force

Since 1994, Jaroslav Kubera was the mayor of Teplice for a long time, until 2018.

How Many People Live Here?

Economy and Jobs

Svobody Square

Some of the biggest companies in Teplice are AGC Flat Glass Czech, which makes glass for buildings and cars, and Severočeská servisní, which works on pipelines. Both of these companies employ over 1,000 people.

The Famous Spa

The spa is one of the most important employers in Teplice. The hot mineral springs were first mentioned in 1154. This makes the Teplice spa the oldest in the Czech Republic and in Central Europe. The main spring, called Pravřídlo, is 41°C (106°F) hot! The spa helps people with problems related to their bones, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels.

Culture and Fun

Before World War II, Teplice was sometimes called "Little Paris" or "Salon of Europe." This was because of its beautiful spa buildings and lively cultural scene. Every year, the city celebrates the opening of the spa season with a three-day festival. The Krušnohorské Theatre is the main place to see operas and plays in the city.

Sports in Teplice

Teplice has a professional football club called FK Teplice. They play in the top Czech league. Their stadium, Na Stínadlech, is one of the biggest in the country. It has even hosted international football games!

Places to See

Doubravka Castle

Teplice Castle

The most important landmark in Teplice is the Teplice Castle. It has a regional museum inside with old castle rooms and a library. In the castle's courtyard, you can see parts of an old Romanesque church and a special crypt. Next to the castle is a large garden.

Churches

The Church of Saint John the Baptist is a beautiful old building from 1594. It was rebuilt in 1703. You can go up its tower for a great view of the city.

The neo-Gothic Church of Saint Bartholomew was built in 1884. Today, it is a cultural monument. It has exhibits about the history of the Jewish community in Teplice.

Doubravka Castle

Doubravka Castle is a castle ruin located in the Trnovany part of Teplice. It was built in 1483. In the 1800s, a restaurant and a new part were added. Today, it still has a restaurant and a private lookout tower.

Ancient Discoveries

Near Teplice, at the end of the 1800s, scientists found fossils of a large meat-eating marine reptile called an elasmosaurid plesiosaur. This creature lived during the Cretaceous period. In the village of Hudcov, which is part of Teplice, a plesiosaur named Cimoliasaurus teplicensis was described in 1906 by a Czech scientist named Antonín Frič.

Famous People Connected to Teplice

See also

In Spanish: Teplice para niños