Františkovy Lázně (IPA: [ˈfrancɪʃkovɪ ˈla:zɲɛ]; German Franzensbad) is a town in Cheb District of Karlovy Vary Region in the western Czech Republic, near the town of Cheb with about 5,200 inhabitants. Františkovy Lázně is world renowned as a spa. The salutary effects of the springs were known from the 15th century on. First, the water was used locally for salutary purposes, later sold all over Germany. In 1700, it reportedly sold more water than all other German spas combined. In the year 1793, the town was officially founded under the name Kaiser Franzensdorf (Emperor Francis II's village) and later renamed to Franzensbad, under which name it became a famous spa. It was the first mud bath in the world and operated 24 mineral springs, 12 of which are still in operation. Until their expulsion in 1945 the majority of the population of the city was German (see Sudetenland).