The fragility of the Teplice thermal springs, once highlighted by a natural disaster, was again demonstrated several decades later by an event caused by human activity. In 1879, the spa faced one of the most serious crises in its history.
On 10 February 1879, mining operations at the Döllinger mine on the north-western edge of Duchcov led to an unexpected breakthrough of hot water. The complex geological conditions of the area had already manifested shortly before, when the so-called Giant Spring in Lahošť disappeared. The real turning point came on 12 February, when Pravřídlo – the main Teplice spa spring – vanished completely.
The loss of thermal water was a catastrophe for Teplice. The spa was left without its essential resource, and the entire spa season was endangered. Leading geology experts from Vienna were involved in the rescue efforts and coordinated extensive interventions. Through deep drilling, they managed to rediscover the spring while also organising mine drainage and continuous pumping of water. These technical measures are still necessary today to ensure the continued existence of the Teplice spring.
Thanks to these efforts, the spa itself was saved. Nevertheless, the events of 1879 left a lasting mark – not only on the technical safeguarding of the springs but also on the reputation and former prestige of the Teplice spa, which suffered significantly from this crisis.
