Jeseník (Czech pronunciation: [ˈjɛsɛɲiːk]; until 1947 Frývaldov; German: Freiwaldau) is a spa town in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 10,000 inhabitants. The town is located in a hilly lansdcape on the Bělá River. Jeseník was founded in the 13th century and its development was connected with iron one mining and processing. The town is known for the Priessnitz Medical Spa, founded here by Vincenz Priessnitz in 1822 as the world's first hydrotherapy institute.