Bílina
Bílina | |
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UTC+2 (CEST) | |
Postal code | 418 01 |
Website | www |
Bílina (Czech pronunciation: [ˈbiːlɪna]; German: Bilin) is a town in Teplice District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 15,000 inhabitants. It is known for its spas and as a source of the strongly mineralized water, Bílinská kyselka. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.
Administrative parts
Bílina is made up of six town parts: Bílina, Chudeřice, Mostecké Předměstí, Pražské Předměstí, Teplické Předměstí and Újezdské Předměstí.
Etymology
The name of the town originates from the adjective bílý (bielý in Old Czech), meaning "white". The term Bielina ("white/bald place") is etymologically derived either from fact there was an area without any wood or from sparkling waters of the Bílina river (formerly called Bělá).[2]
Geography
Bílina is located about 10 kilometres (6 mi) south of
The town is dominated by two features. The steep hill of Bořeň is a large phonolite hill, dominating the town and its surroundings. It lies on the southern municipal border and is the highest point of the town at 539 m (1,768 ft) above sea level. It lies in the eponymous national nature reserve.[3][4] The second feature is the giant lignite mine Bílina which seriously changed and damaged surrounding landscape.
History
10th–15th centuries
In the 10th century, a
In the 1230s, Bílina ceased to be the administrative centre. In 1237, King Wenceslaus I donated Bílina to the knight Ojíř of Friedberg, who had built a new castle in the settlement, which was expanded into a medieval town with bulwarks and three gates in the second half of the 14th century.[5] Bílina was referred to as a town for the first time in 1263.[6]
In 1407, Bílina was purchased by lord Albrecht of Koldice, well known for his anti-
16th–19th centuries
In 1502, Bílina was acquired by the aristocratic Lobkowicz family who later had built a new castle on the site of the Gothic castle, designed by Swiss-Italian architect Antonio della Porta. In 1568, a large fire severely damaged the town. In 1634, during the Thirty Years' War, the town was conquered and looted by the Swedish army. Due to the violent re-Catholicization, part of the inhabitants of Bílina were murdered and others emigrated to Protestant countries. The town was then re-settled by people from Saxony and gradually became predominantly German-speaking. In the second half of the 17th century, the town recovered and began to prosper again.[5]
The rapid development of Bílina occurred in the 19th century, when industrialization began. A sugar factory, a porcelain factory and a glass factory were established. The town fortifications were gradually demolished and the town expanded. In 1871–1872 and 1874–1887, the two railways were built. Czech families started moving to the town for work.[5]
20th century
From October 1938 to May 1945, was annexed by
.Another turning point in the history of town was a changeover in 1989, after the end of the
Spa
Local springs of delicious mineral water began to be systematically exploited already in 1664. In 1702 Princess
Scientific descriptions of the medicinal properties of local water treatment have contributed to the works of significant balneologists, including Franz Ambrosius Reuss, August Emanuel von Reuss and Josef von Löschner. Father and son Reuss are depicted in the spa Bílina memorial, which dominates the spa's central park.
In 1878 a large spa complex was built in a
At the beginning of the 20th century, the biggest importers were Germany and Russia. The most distant country where water was exported was Brazil (Rio de Janeiro).[8]
Demographics
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Source: Censuses[9][10] |
Economy
The largest employer based in the town is AGC Automotive Czech, engaged in shaping and processing of flat glass. It employs more than 1,500 people. Other large companies with more than 500 employees are Prodeco (manufacturer of machinery for mining and quarrying) and Revitrans (engaged in the rental and maintenance of construction and mining machinery).[11]
Transport
Bílina lies on several important railway lines, including Prague–Cheb and Děčín–Kadaň.[12]
Sport
The town boasts a modern multipurpose stadium and a winter stadium with a capacity of 1,000 people. There is also a swimming pool.[4]
Sights
Lobkowicz Castle is a baroque castle built in the years 1676–1682 on the site of an earlier Gothic castle. A preserved Hussite bastion as a remnant of the massive town fortifications is in the eastern part of the castle complex. The castle is privately owned.[3]
The town hall is a main landmark of the Mírové Square in the historic town centre. It is an Art Nouveau building, built in 1908–1911.[3] The Marian column and the fountain on the square are from the second half of the 17th century.[4]
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is a parish church and historic monument. The original church was built already in 1061. The entire architecture blends Gothic and Renaissance elements, created during the reconstruction in 1573–1575, after the town was hit by a fire.[3]
Kyselka spa complex includes the spring house of the mineral waters, cafes and natural amphitheatre in a forest setting.[3]
Notable people
- Johann Adalbert Angermeyer(1674–1742), German-Bohemian painter
- August Emanuel von Reuss (1811–1873), Austrian geologist
- Gustav Walter (1834–1910), Austrian opera singer
- August Leopold von Reuss (1841–1924), Austrian ophthalmologist
- Heinrich Krafft (1914–1942), German flying ace
- Miloslav Stingl (1930–2020), ethnologist, traveller and author
Twin towns – sister cities
- Biłgoraj, Poland
- Dippoldiswalde, Germany
- Jaraczewo, Poland
- Kobylí, Czech Republic
- Novovolynsk, Ukraine
- Stropkov, Slovakia
References
- ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
- ^ "Historie města" (in Czech). Information Centre Bílina. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
- ^ a b c d e "Zajímavá místa a památky v Bílině" (in Czech). Město Bílina. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
- ^ a b c "Současnost města" (in Czech). Město Bílina. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
- ^ a b c d e "Z historie města" (in Czech). Město Bílina. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
- ^ "Náměstí v Bílině s dostavníkem a pohledem na zámek" (in Czech). Regio Revue. 2019-10-18. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
- ^ "Restituce šlechtického majetku: Lobkowiczové". České noviny (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 2004-01-21. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
- ^ "Bílinská kyselka: Minerálka z Čech, kterou pili i v dalekém Rio de Janeiru" (in Czech). Czech Radio. 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
- ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Teplice" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 1–2.
- ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
- ^ "Registr ekonomických subjektů". Business Register (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
- ^ "Detail stanice Bílina" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
- ^ "Partnerská města" (in Czech). Město Bílina. Retrieved 2021-07-16.