46 Teplice Colonnades

A colonnade is a symbol of a spa: we see it as a place for quiet walks, conversation, nibbling round spa wafers and sipping healing water. The word colonnade itself comes from the Italian columna, meaning a column. So we can call any covered walkway with a row of columns and a straight entablature a colonnade. Naturally, Teplice, in its day a famous European spa, could not do without a colonnade either.

Wooden colonnades were once attached to several spa buildings, for example to the Lords’ House on Spa Square or to the Imperial Spa. The first stone colonnade was built in the area behind today’s theatre in 1835, on the initiative of the Clary-Aldringen family. It served for almost a hundred years; in 1930 it was bought by the town, and a year later it was pulled down because of its poor condition.

In the 1970s, large-scale demolition in the town centre created an open space intended for a completely new spa promenade. The urban design was by the architects Martin Rajniš and Michal Brix. Their concept was never fully carried out; at least the glass colonnade by the Civic Centre was completed in 1986. It was designed by Otakar Binar and Lidmila Švarcová of the SIAL studio in Liberec. In 1990 two wire colonnades were built to their further designs. The one behind the theatre copies the ground plan of the original stone building. Although it is a different structure, a condition from the 1930 contract with Alfons Clary-Aldringen is still observed: no cultural events are held here, and this is respected even during the festive openings of the spa season.

Unlike Karlovy Vary or other resorts, the spa cure here does not involve drinking water from a healing spring. Many attempts have been made in this direction, but they have always failed. That is why the purpose of the Teplice colonnades is not to offer a promenade combined with sipping, but quiet relaxation. Whether it is worthwhile relaxation, you can find out for yourself in the park behind the theatre and the Civic Centre.