LOCAL HISTORY ARTICLES |
The Teplice spa is situated not even full 100 km to the northwest from Prague. Its belongs to the oldest spa in Czech Republic and in Centre Europe. Historical beginnings of Teplice go back to 1158 - 1164 when a monastery of Benedictine order was set up at "aquas calidas" - hot springs the monastery was making use of termal waters for charitative and religious purposes; a place of pilgrimage had been established called At St. John the Baptist, who became the patron saint of Teplice. The settlement got its name after warm mineral water - "teplice" stood in Old Czech for hot spring. First great expansion of Teplice spa occured in the 16th century. Educated Czech nobleman and politician Volf from Vresovice built the first spa buildings and first physician arrived in company of aristocratic visitors, studying composition of water and prescribing treatment methods. By the end of the 16th century first stoned - built edifice rose in Teplice. Its fundaments have been preseved till now in the present - day sanatorium called "Pravrídlo". This sanatorial ranges among the oldest in Czech Republic and possibly also in Europe. The thirty - years war (1618 - 1648) damaged heavily the spa. Biggest part of the Teplice settlement including watering buildings was destructed, many inhabitants were either killed or emigrated abroad. However, just a few years after the horrible war ended Teplice spa were attracting anew, and its fame was rapidly spreading among the local and foreign visitors. Each summer nobles from Saxonia, especially from not far - off Dresden kept arriving with full entourage and this high society was in its turn attracting nobility and well - to - do visitors from all over Europe. During the seven - years war (1756 - 1763), when military operations were taking place in the closest vicinity, Teplice spa were proclaimed a non - military town and an agreement was signed between impressed Marie Theresa and Prusian king Fridrich according to which Teplice spa could admite for treatment members of both warring sides. Teplice spa became henceforth known as "the spa of warriors", where war - inflicted injuries were treated with great success. Following the great fire in 1793, Teplice spa was at the threshold of its golden era. In a style, which was at that time marching victoriously through Europe (Classicism and Empire) most of the buildings were executed along side with hotels and many houses of burghers. Teplice spa was visited by the most distinguished personalities of European political life and those known from the field of culture and science. The place was visited two times by J. W. Goethe, who met here L. v. Beethoven. Beethoven was getting a treatment here, composed here his 7th and 8th symphony and lived through exciting period of his private life. Richard Wagner used to be a guest in Teplice spa working here on the opera Tannhauser and in the local castle F. Chopin and F. Liszt gave concerts. Discovery of lignite under Krušné hory mountains resulted in establishment of industries in the area. In the second half of the 19th century, around the spa grew up glass - works, textile and chemical plants. Teplice became an important centre of industries and commerce. At present modernizartion of sanatoria is taking place (some of them are more than a hundred years old) and construction of a new spa complex is in projection stage. Results of the treatment to be had there are highly praised by local and foreign patients. All places in the spa are fully booked already at the beginning of each year. Teplice went through a series of radical changes in post war period, and as a result of it, the face of town is considerably changed. Many old houses and whole streets were done away with obtained space was turned into parks or is being prepared for new construction, which is to cover the whole centre of the town. As a results of its advantageous geographical position the town of Teplice boasts of a very intense railway traffic and road transport, which was increased especially after a border crossing to German Democratic Republic was opened here in 1960. Tourist trade also has risen, mostly due to foreigners using the international route E 55. Social life, which has a rich tradition in Teplice lives up to the traditions also at present. Teplice is full of life all the years round. Cultural life is looked after by professional musical, theatrical and other ensembles. The most important action in the field of culture from 1964 is the L. v. Beethoven´s Musical Festival, in which various top foreign soloists and orchestras take part. by Lenka, Lucka, Ian, Pavel, Petr, Toma, Dan, Lenka The village of Vojice (or Ojice in the past) extends on the southern stope of the Chlum. Vojice is mostly an agrarian village with favourable conditions for growing fruit trees - cherry and sour cherry trees. It is well known for stone -cutting and sculpting too, which in the last few years reached its glory. Vojice once used to be sovereign´s seat with a fortress. From 1183 is the first mention of Otto Vojicky, in 1357 there was a mention of Zdenek Vojicky as a holder of the village. Then our village changed a lot of owners, one of them being duke Albrecht of Wallenstein in 1624. In 1718 Vojice became the property of the Carthusians from Valdice at Jicin. During the reign of emperor Josef II. In the latter half of the 18 th century the es-tate was divided among the poor. At that time new settlement Kabaty and twenty other farmsteads arose. Vojice was the first village in Bohemia to build up a sculpture of Jan Hus in 1895. Jan Hus was a famous medieval church reformer, who was burnt at stake in 1415. In 1889 there originated an industrial school here, which ended in 1932. Our village has no its own church. Today in our village there live 585 grownups, 101 children and 17 temporary people. You can find a nursery and primary schools here, a medical centre, two shops and two inns. There work about 60 minor businessmen, 9 lorry drivers, 5 plumbers, 3 dressmakers, 7 dealers, 2 blacksmiths and hairdressers as well as some other professions. The people from Vojice have their own song (Waltz of Vojice) when they play or watch their favourite handball. I am sure you would like our village, a typical Czech picturesque place. Today is the town of Jicin really beautiful. It is lying in the east of the Czech Republic in the heart of Europe. Before I start to tell you about it, let´s look at history in the first place. Environs of Jicin was settled in the third thousand B.C. already. It was founded in about 1297-1304. The name of Jicin arose from the name of a woman of nobility, who had estates here Jitka. The square has an rectangular, form and it is much bigger area than the tradition in the Middle ages was. So, the people took into account the greater meaning of the town in the future. In 1621 took on building of Jicin Albrecht of Wallenstein. This man wanted to make in the town of great importance in Bohemia. It was built very fast and became modern. Albrecht of Wallenstein died when the building had not been ended yet. The whole square is hemmed round with arcades. Today Jicin is called the gate into the Czech paradise. Czech paradise is a region which is protected. The people started to call Jicin the town of fairy-tales too. Every year there are fairy-tale activities defined mainly to children. The whole week in September are shows directly in the sguare and everywhere are fairy-tale figures. At the end of the festival week the fireworks is starting on the roofs of the houses in the sguare. It is the end of a fairy-tale week festival. So, this is my place of living. I would not like to leave this town in the future. Life is fine here. Olga Provaznikova, 17 years Masaryk´s business academy, Jicin, the Czech Republic. Sobotka My name is Radka Linhartová and I am 17 years old. I send it from a little town of Jicin, from our high school, Masaryk`s Business Academy. Sobotka "Sobotka is a town of poets, schoolmasters and shoemakers", once said Karel Čapek when he came here to visit the poet Fráňa Šrámek. The town has its origin in the late 13th century. At that time Sobotka was a small country town which received the large Church of St. Mary Magdalene was built and in spite of several serious outbreaks of fire the town continued to flourish. Originally, there used to be quite a few wind-mills in our region, both wooden and stone built. The one on the hill north-east of Sobotka was built of stone according to the model of Dutch windmills. The shape of the wind-mill was a cone, built of sandstone ashlars. It was built by Jan Jiroš in 1826 and served its purpose for almost a hundred years. However, in the 20`s of our century it was taken down and the ashlars were used for the building of farm-houses. Humprecht is a hunting castle. Humprecht has been looking down on Sobotka and the surrounding landscape from a small hill for over 300 years now, ecollecting its complicated history. Carlo Luragho was commissioned in 1666 to build this piece of architecture for Humprecht Jan Černín of Chudenice but just before it was finished the building was designed as a hunting lodge for the Italian wife of Humprecht Jan Černín who had divorced him even before she had time to enjoy the lodge. The hunting lodge started to delapidate, its crescent reminds us of oriental architecture. Another interesing place of interest near Sobotka is "Kost" The first records of the Kost Castle date from 1349 when it was the seat of Beneš of Vartenberk. In th 15th century the castle was owned by the Hazemburks and the army of Jiří of Poděbrady tried in vain to besiege the castle. Later, under the ownership of the Bibrštejn and Lobkovic Families Renaissance extensions were attached. During the Thirty Years`War when it became the property of the Černín family it was damaged by fire and one part converted into a corn-loft. After 1950 the castle was completely restored by the state and at present it houses a remarkable exhibition of late Gothic and early Renaissance paintigs and sculptures from the collection of the National Gallery. |
