Dĕčín

Dĕčín dyĕˈchēn [key], Ger. Tetschen, city, Czech Republic, in Bohemia, on the Elbe. It includes (since 1950) the city of Podmokly (Ger. Bodenbach), which is on the left bank of the Elbe. It is a railroad junction, a river port, and an industrial center. Manufactures include machinery, fabricated-metal products, food, textiles, printing, and publishing. Founded in 1128, it was incorporated into Czechoslovakia in 1918. Until World War II, the population was largely German-speaking. The city has a 17th-century castle with a fine library.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Czech Political Geography