Bílina

	Bílina
	Town
	256px Bílina as seen from the Bořeň
120px Flag	90px Coat of arms
	Name origin: white water/river
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Ústí nad Labem
District	Teplice
Commune	Bílina
River	Bílina
Elevation	214 m (702 ft)
Coordinates	Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Area	32.39 km2 (12.51 sq mi)
Population	15,714
Density	485 / km2 (1,256 / sq mi)
Founded	10th century
Mayor	Josef Horáček
Timezone	CET (UTC+1)
- summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	418 01
	Location in the Czech Republic
	Wikimedia Commons: Bílina
	Statistics: statnisprava.cz
	Website: www.bilina.cz

File:Bilina TP CZ.png

Location in Teplice District

Bílina (Czech pronunciation: [ˈbiːlɪna]; German: Bilin) 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 with source of strongly mineralized healing water Bílinská Kyselka (Biliner Sauerbrunn in German). From 1938 to 1945 it was one of the municipalities in Sudetenland.

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 mountains. It is situated between two bigger cities, Teplice and Most. In the south the mountain Bořeň, which resembles a lying lion, 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 first written mention of the settlement (then a seat of a province) dates back to 993 and comes from the Chronicle of Bohemians, which describes a battle between Bretislaus I and the German emperor Henry III near the town.

Before the half of 13th century Ojíř of Friedberk built a new castle in the settlement, which was expanded into a town with bulwarks and three gates.

In the High Middle Ages German settlers were called into the border area of Bohemia, introducing German city law. Germans formed the vast majority, culture and history until their expulsion in 1945.

During 1420 the town of Bílina was kept by Albrecht of Koldice, well known for his anti-Hussite attitude. Thus, Bílina was surrounded and conquered by a Hussite Jakoubek of Vřesovice who returned the town of Bílina to the Koldice dynasty in 1436.

After 1502, the town of Bílina was owned by the House of Lobkowicz, to whom this town was returned to in 1989 during restorations.

Bílinská Kyselka mineral springs and Spa

In 1702 Princess Leonora of the House of Lobkowicz had the mineral spring cleaned and the very first spa guests began to visit. By the end of 19th century the spa Biliner Sauerbrunn (meaning "Carbonated springs from Bílina" in German) had become the pride of the town. Bílina also received the nickname "Vichy of Germany". The digestive pastilles produced here also provided a worldwide common name for digestive regulators and laxatives: "Seidlitz Powders." The lozenges were made from the spring's mineral water Sedlitz bitter water, which was also used in the local spa balneology.

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 in the spa Bílina memorial, which dominates the spa's central park.

In 1878 a big spa house in a pseudorenaissance style was built by the architect Franz Sablick. The next popular place in the city became "Josephs Quelle" spring temple, Forest café, built from a wood pavilion in Swiss style.

2 225 000 bottles of Bílinská Kyselka mineral water were exported in 1889. The biggest purchaser was Germany.

File:Franz Skopalik Wien 1899.jpg

Biliner Sauerbrunn, Franz Skopalik Wien 1899

Another turning point in the history of spa was a changeover in 1989, after the end of the Communist regime. The House of Lobkowicz regained a part of their original property, including the Spa of Bílinská Kyselka. The spa was later sold to a private company.

Places of interest

Chateau and the tower of town hall

File:Bilina CZ main square from N 002.jpg

Peace Square with SS Peter and Paul church in the background

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.
Bílinská Kyselka Spa - Spa complex of buildings, mineral spring housing, cafes and natural forest amphitheater.
Bořeň - large phonolite mountain, dominating the city and its surroundings.
St. Peter and Paul's church - not only a house of God, but also a valuable monument

Culture and Sport

A modern stadium has witnessed many good sport feats. 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.