Bohemian Switzerland
ÚSTÍ NAD LABEM REGION The Ústí nad Labem Region, one of the Czech Republic’s most industrialised areas, has been the country’s main energy supplier for years. After the phasing out of intensive coal mining in the 1990s and the revitalisation of the countryside, the Region is regaining its reputation as an area of European significance with unique natural resources. Its efforts to improve the environment still further and to revitalise vast new areas are continuing.
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The Czech Republic – Your Business Partner in the EU
ECONOMIC POTENTIAL An important role in the economy of the Region is played by brown coal mining and related power generation. The largest coal power plants in the Czech Republic (Prunéřov, Tušimice, Ledvice, and Počerady) are to be found in the vicinity of the opencast mines in the Most coal basin (formerly North Bohemia Brown Coal Basin). An equally important role is played by the chemical industry, with UNIPETROL refinery located in nearby Záluží u Mostu. Unipetrol Group is the largest refinery and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. Its focus is on oil processing and the production, distribution, and sale of fuels and petrochemical products, mainly plastics and fertilisers. In all these areas it ranks alongside important players on the Czech and Central European markets. Unipetrol Group comprises refineries and manufacturing plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo Company with its brand name Mogul in Pardubice and Kolín, Spolana in Neratovice and two research centres, in Litvínov and Brno. Unipetrol, which also has its own network of filling stations across the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Benzina with 418 filling stations, form the largest gas filling chain in the Czech Republic. Unipetrol is also
Photo: © CzechTourism archives, Author: BEDNA films, s.r.o.
The city of Ústí nad Labem, a transport junction of national and international significance, where important European roads, railway lines and waterways cross, is the centre of the Region. The Ústí nad Labem Region is divided into seven districts (Děčín, Chomutov, Litoměřice, Louny, Most, Teplice, and Ústí nad Labem). In addition, there are four areas in the Region which differ from each other significantly. One of these is the area in the foothills of the Krušné hory Mountains with strongly developed industry, comprising the Districts of Chomutov, Most, Teplice, and a part of Ústí nad Labem. The dominant industries here are power generation, coal mining, engineering, the chemical industry, and glassmaking. The Ústí nad Labem Region has a number of attractive localities for tourists. The development of tourism is one of the Region’s priorities. The best-known natural attractions of the Region include the Bohemian Switzerland National Park, covering an area of 7 900 ha, established in 2000, the Bohemian Highlands, and the Labe Sandstones protected landscape areas, a part of the Kokořín area, and the Lužické hory Mountains, the lovely pathway along the Labe River with Porta Bohemica, the Tiská Walls rock formations, and many others.
