Teplice nad Metují

Teplice nad Metují (Czech pronunciation: [ˈtɛplɪtsɛ ˈnad mɛtujiː]; German: Weckelsdorf) is a town in Náchod District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,600 inhabitants.

Teplice nad Metují
Town
Aerial view of Teplice nad Metují
Flag Coat of arms
Teplice nad Metují Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°35′36″N 16°10′13″E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Hradec Králové
District	Náchod
First mentioned	1362
Government
• Mayor	Josef Bitnar
Area
• Total	56.06 km2 (21.64 sq mi)
Elevation	463 m (1,519 ft)
Population  (2025-01-01)[1]
• Total	1,614
• Density	29/km2 (75/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	549 57
Website	www.teplicenadmetuji.cz

Administrative division

Teplice nad Metují consists of five municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):^[2]

• Teplice nad Metují (796)
• Bohdašín (60)
• Dědov (40)
• Dolní Teplice (235)
• Horní Teplice (110)
• Javor (59)
• Lachov (89)
• Libná (5)
• Skály (10)
• Zdoňov (163)

Geography

Teplice nad Metují is located about 19 kilometres (12 mi) north of Náchod and 21 km (13 mi) southwest of the Polish city of Wałbrzych. It is located on the border with Poland. It lies in the Broumov Highlands, in the Broumovsko Protected Landscape Area. The highest point is the hill Čáp with an altitude of 786 m (2,579 ft). The river Metuje flows through the town.

Teplice nad Metují is known for the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, a set of sandstone formations protected as a national nature reserve.

History

The predecessors of Teplice nad Metují and villages in the municipality were the castles Střmen and Skály, built for protection of a trade route in the 13th century, and small settlements around them. The first written mention of Teplice located below Střmen is from 1362. The Střmen castle was demolished in 1447. From 1614 to 1848, Teplice was divided into Horní Teplice and Dolní Teplice ("Lower" and "Upper" Teplice) and had different owners.^[3]

During World War II, the German occupiers operated the E431 forced labour subcamp of the Stalag VIII-B/344 prisoner-of-war camp in Dolní Teplice.^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 6,495 —     1880 6,486 −0.1% 1890 6,292 −3.0% 1900 6,128 −2.6% 1910 6,154 +0.4%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 5,475 −11.0% 1930 5,206 −4.9% 1950 2,556 −50.9% 1961 2,447 −4.3% 1970 2,379 −2.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 2,136 −10.2% 1991 1,906 −10.8% 2001 1,840 −3.5% 2011 1,698 −7.7% 2021 1,567 −7.7%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Transport

On the Czech-Polish border are the road border crossing Zdoňov / Łączna and the pedestrian border crossing Libná / Chełmsko Śląskie.

Teplice nad Metují is located on the railway lines Broumov–Starkoč and Trutnov–Teplice nad Metují. There are four train stations and stops: Teplice nad Metují, Teplice nad Metují město, Teplice nad Metují skály and Dědov.^[7]

Sights

Church of Saint Lawrence

The Church of Saint Lawrence was built in the Baroque style in 1724. The pilgrimage Church of Our Lady Help of Christians was built in 1754–1763 and has a unique wooden hermitage.^[3]

The Horní Castle was built in the Renaissance style in 1599 and today serves as the municipal office. The early Baroque Dolní Castle from 1664 houses a retirement home.^[3]

On the Čáp hill there is an observation tower.

Notable people

• Josef Tichatschek (1807–1886), opera singer

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic

Teplice nad Metují is twinned with:^[8]

• Jaworzyna Śląska, Poland