Usti nad Labem

The Ústí region lies in the northwest part of the Czech Republic along the German border. The largest city, with a population of nearly 100,000 is the administrative centre, Ústí nad Labem; Most, Děčín, Teplice and Chomutov in the Ore Mountains each have populations of over 50,000. Litoměřice and Louny are the main towns in sparsely populated areas. Ústí leads among the Czech regions in terms of urbanization and the number of cities with a population of more than fifty thousand.

The Ústí region is one of the most industrialized areas in Central Europe. The economy used to be based on metallurgy and the chemical industry, though at present it is more heterogeneous. Agricultural production is focused on hops, fruits and vegetables. The main raw material is lignite, while glass sand and kaolin are also exploited. The region's traditional branches of industry are chemicals and petrochemicals, engineering and thermal energy.

In recent years the region has been experiencing an enormous influx of foreign investment in various branches, namely in the automotive, chemical, engineering, electrical engineering and food industries. The focus is shifting towards light industry and is becoming more environmentally friendly. The region offers investors a dense network of high-quality industrial zones on both greenfields and brownfields. An example of these is the Triangle industrial zone in Žatec, on the site of a former military airport. Local companies can boost their economic growth, know-how and competitiveness by founding clusters. Businesses involved in hydro-engineering have created the Aquarius cluster, and the firms in the chemical industry have established the BIOplast cluster.

Leisure time and tourism

The Ústí region is enjoying a revival of tourism. The region offers a wide range of interesting places, beautiful landscapes and industrial monuments. The volcanic České Středohoří, interesting rock formations in České Švýcarsko, the legendary Říp Hill, castles and chateaux including Lovosice and the fortified town of Terezín are often visited. The region's modern cities are resplendent with cultural opportunities. Litoměřice is famous for its exhibition grounds and historical centre, Teplice for its spas and cultural attractions, Most for horse racing, and Ústí nad Labem for its surroundings and beautiful landscape. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy skiing, hiking and golf in the Ore Mountains, swimming in water parks and various other water sports.