The Děčín Valley has been inhabited since the late Bronze Age,
and over the centuries many different peoples have passed through the area. The
first recorded mention of Děčín dates from 993, when a wooden Přemyslid
fort stood here. In the mid 13th century this was replaced by a stone
castle beneath which a royal town soon grew. The arrival of the railway
linking Prague, Podmokly and Dresden in 1851 had a huge affect on the economic
development of the town in the 19th century.
A number of factories appeared on the left bank of the Elbe in the 19th century,
which until that time had been occupied by a number of separate village, the
biggest being Podmokly. Estate owners, especially František Antonín Thun, scholar
and economist, played an important role in the expansion of the town. Around
the year 1880 Podmokly overtook Děčín in economic importance and population.
The local council kept strict control over the building boom of the period,
thus creating one of the largest and most complete Art Nouveau town
centres in the country.
In October 1942 Děčín, Podmokly and Staré Město were merged to form a single
entity. At present Děčín, with its 53,000 inhabitants, is
a transport hub and a business and administrative centre. It is also one of
the most important tourist destinations in North Bohemia thanks to its picturesque
surroundings.
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