Liberec is a cozy Czech city located 91 km northeast of Prague. The city is located in a very picturesque area surrounded by Jizerské hory And Ještěd ridge close to the border with Poland.
Since the end of the 19th century the city has been united with the suburb of Vratislavice and the neighboring city Jablonec nad Nisou. The population of the city together with its suburbs is thus 170,000 people, making Liberec the third largest city in western Bohemia after the cities of Prague and Pilsen.
Until 1918, the city was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire ( German name of the city Reichenberg). That is why German influence is so clearly visible in the appearance of the city. The 19th century marked the rapid development of the city and the appearance of the buildings of the city hall, the opera, and the Museum of Northern Bohemia.
City Hall (Liberecká radnice), located on Liberec Square Dr. Edwarda Benese, is the main attraction of the city. The building was built in the New Renaissance style according to the design of the Viennese architect Franz Neumann. Construction was completed in 1893.
This town hall reminded me very much of the town hall in Munich. Judge for yourself in the photo below.
Town Hall in Liberec.
New Town Hall in Munich.
Schedule of excursions at the town hall: on weekdays from June to September from 9:00 to 15:00, on Saturdays from 9:00 to 11:00; from October to May on Thursdays from 9:00 to 15:00. Tours run every hour and you can choose one of three routes. 1st route: passage through the corridors, the ritual hall, exit to the balcony and to the tower. Cost – 70 Czech crowns. 2nd route: hall for ceremonies. Cost – 30 Czech crowns. 3rd route: tower climb only. Cost – 30 Czech crowns. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that in case of bad weather the tower is closed to visitors.
This is what the main square in Liberec looks like: area Dr. Edwarda Benese.
Not far from the town hall building there are such funny cats.
Another building, made in the New Renaissance style and dating back to 1882-1883, is Opera House (Divadlo F. X. Šaldy). The design of the main curtain in the building of the Liberec Opera was made by Gustav Klimt- famous Austrian artist.
Opposite the opera building is vintage weather station, by which passers-by learned the weather. This weather station is located right at the bus stop, and a few years ago the bus simply demolished it. Restoring the weather station cost the city 170,000 crowns. In 1987, the weather station was included in the list cultural monuments cities.
Museum of Northern Bohemia (Severočeské muzeum)- Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts, built in 1897-1898. The museum building houses a large library, as well as three extensive departments with the following collections: natural history, archaeological, and art history. In front of the museum building stands a bronze bust of the first president of Czechoslovakia, Tomas Garik Masaryk, cast for the 160th anniversary of the president’s birthday in 2010.
The museum is open to the public every day except Monday. Cost of visit: 50 CZK.
Another symbol of the city is on it.
The city is good transport connection: There are buses and trams. The city is very clean.
If you love animals, don't forget to visit Liberec Zoo (Liberecká ZOO) is the oldest zoo in the former Czechoslovakia, celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2009. The zoo covers an area of 13 hectares and is home to 1,517 animals of 172 species. Approximately 300,000 people visit the zoo annually.
- Zoo address: Liberec 1, Masarykova 1347/31
- Working hours: from 08:00 to 19:00 in the summer months, from 09:00 to 16:00 – 18:00 in winter
- Cost of visit: for adults - 100 CZK, for children - 80 CZK
The zoo can be reached by public transport: trams No. 2 and No. 3 depart from the bus and railway stations, direction Lidové sady, stop Botanická – ZOO. The city is also home to a region-famous water park (Centrum Babylon Liberec), which in addition to water slides has saunas and a wellness center.
- Water park address: Liberec, Nitranská 1
- Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
- Cost of visit: for adults – 350 CZK for the whole day, for children – 240 CZK. It is also possible to purchase an entrance ticket for a family (2 adults + 2 children) for the whole day at a price of CZK 1,050.
During your stay in Liberec, you can also visit, located just 20 km from the city.
You can get from Prague to Liberec by train from the main station (Hlavní nádraží) and by train, departing from the terminus of the yellow metro line Černý Most. Bus tickets can be purchased on the website. The advantage of the site is that it compares the cost of tickets from different companies for the same destinations. The site is in Russian, payment can be made by card in any currency: Euro, Czech crowns, rubles and hryvnia.
The distance from Prague to the city of Liberec is 115 km, which can also be covered by car in 1 hour 18 minutes. In the article “” we tell you how to rent a car inexpensively and without a deposit in the Czech Republic and Prague. When you rent a car, you will have time to visit a couple more cities and castles in 1 day.
Edge: Liberecki
Historical region: Czech
Territory: 106.1 km²
Population: 105.1 thousand people
Official website of the city: www.liberec.cz
Liberec is a large regional center located in the northern part of the Czech Republic, 91 km from Prague.
The origin of the city's name still remains an open question, a definite answer to which has not yet been found. Some of the oldest mentions of this area are Reychinberch and Raichmberg, dating back to the mid-14th century. It is also believed that the original name was brought by German settlers, and then gradually changed under the influence of the Czech language and became Liberec.
The modern name of the city dates back to the mid-19th century and has been attached to this place since then.
Liberec is located in the Liberec Basin of the same name, which in turn occupies part of the Zhitava basin. The highest point of the city is the peak of Jested, located at 1012 meters above sea level. The Lusatian Nisa River and its tributaries also flow through the city.
City `s history
The first mention of settlements in the area where Liberec is located today dates back to the end of the 13th century. During this period, in the area of the ford through one of the tributaries of the Lizhutskaya Nisa - the Hartsovsky Stream, a settlement of merchants was founded, crossing the path from the Czech Republic to Lusatia. Here they rested and gathered strength for the further journey.
According to historical documents, the first owners of Liberec and surrounding territories were representatives of the Bibirstein family. The Redern dynasty made a great contribution to the development of the city and surrounding areas, under which the Liberec castle and many other stone structures were built. It was during their reign - in 1577 - that the emperor granted Liberec the status of a city. That is why today the sign of the Redern family, the silver circle, solemnly flutters on the coat of arms of Liberec.
As a result of the Battle of White Mountain, the Rederns lost control of the city, and the power of Albrecht of Wallenstein came here. The new owner appreciated the convenient location of the city and founded a cloth factory here, which supplied his army with the necessary uniforms. During his reign, a large number of stone buildings were erected, some of which survive to this day.
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The 18th century can be considered the city's heyday, when the textile industry received powerful development, at the forefront of which Liberec stood. From a city with a small number of cloth factories, it turned into the largest manufacturing center, becoming the second most important in the Czech Republic, second only to Prague. The development of production attracted more and more new residents, which meant the construction of new buildings that began to grow in different parts of Liberec. Gradually, manufactories were replaced by factories, which meant even larger-scale production. In 1850, Liberec acquired the status of a statutory city, which meant a certain autonomy from the central government, the presence of its own municipal legislation and a number of other concessions. At the end of the 19th century, a railway line was connected to Liberec, which was part of the route from Pardubice to Zittau. The number of textile factories during this period exceeded 50, and metalworking enterprises also operated, including the famous RAF automobile plant. Around this time, a town hall and a theater building were erected in the city.
It is also worth noting that at that time the Czech population of Liberec was less than 10%, while the vast majority of residents were Germans.
The development of the city was interrupted by the First World War, during which a concentration camp for prisoners of war was founded on the territory of the city.
The founding of Czechoslovakia in 1918 brought new problems to the life of the city, this time of a national nature. In order to prevent infringement of the rights of the German population on the territory of the new state, it was decided to grant the Germans autonomy, allowing them to establish their own province with German currency, the capital of which was Liberec. Attempts by the German population to annex this territory to Germany were prevented by the Czech army, which meant casualties among the civilian population and could not have a favorable effect on the city. In 1938, as a result of the Munich Agreement, Liberec and the surrounding areas ceded to the Third Reich and the city became the capital of the new Sudeten region. The Czech and Jewish population living here was evicted deep into the Czech Republic, and the synagogue, unique in its architecture, was ordered to be burned.
In 1939, the city included 11 adjacent villages, resulting in the formation of the so-called Greater Liberec. During World War II, the city was one of the centers of the military industry, working for the needs of Nazi Germany. At the end of the war, according to Benes' decrees, the German population was expelled from Czechoslovakia and deprived of property, and the Czechs returned to these territories. Nevertheless, today the city is home to a significant German community, consisting of descendants of Germans - anti-fascists who fought against Hitler's regime during the war, as well as children from mixed Czech-German marriages.
In 1949, Liberec lost the privileges of a statutory city and became the center of the Liberec region, which lasted only until 1960, when the Liberec region was abolished.
The Prague Spring of 1968 brought new victims to the city. Warsaw Pact troops entered the city and dispersed a peaceful crowd of demonstrators protesting against the Soviet occupation. 6 people were killed and another 40 were wounded. During further resistance, 3 more people were killed. A monument to the victims of these events can be found today in the city hall.
In 1989, the Velvet Revolution returned Liberec to the status of a statutory city and marked a new milestone in its history. To this day, the city is being reconstructed and renovated, the authorities are taking measures designed to revive the industrial power of Liberec and diversify production.
Liberec as an industrial center
As mentioned earlier, the textile industry has been the basis of the city's economy since ancient times. The first cloth workshops began to appear in the 16th and 17th centuries. Already at the end of the 16th century, the clothiers' society organized its own dyeing plants using special machines. This gave impetus to the development of cloth production and improvement of the quality of the final product. The Liberec cloth workshop, founded in 1599, also contributed to the improvement of production technologies, and the cloth masters were respected residents of the city.
An important phase in the development of Liberec manufactories was the reign of Alurecht of Wallenstein, mentioned earlier. A sharp increase in the volume of orders, overwhelmingly coming from the military, made it possible to take production to a new level.
The orderly development of Liberec's economy was temporarily disrupted by the Thirty Years' War, during which production volumes fell sharply. However, even despite the unfavorable economic situation, Liberec retained its role as a major industrial center.
Along with improvements in production, trading activities also developed. Selling manufactured products was no less profitable and contributed to the emergence of large cloth merchants. It was under their influence that small manufactories gradually transformed into factories, which grew over time, allowing them to increase the volume and quality of production.
One of the largest representatives of this industry can be considered Johann Liebieg, the founder of an entire textile empire - the company Johann Liebieg & Comp., which employed about 8,000 people. After a short crisis of 1873-1879, production began to pick up again, but almost all small manufactories and enterprises were absorbed by larger ones.
However, after the formation of the Czechoslovak Republic and the weakening of German enterprises, the Liberec cloth industry began to lose its position, unable to compete with suppliers from other countries. With the outbreak of World War II, the demand for cloth increased sharply, which made it possible for Liberec enterprises to return to their previous positions, however, this period did not last long. With the end of the war, all German enterprises were confiscated and nationalized. For Liberec, this resulted in the unification of all enterprises into one state giant - Tekstilan, consisting of 39 factories employing about 9,000 people.
As for the current state of the textile industry in Liberec, it is safe to say that it is experiencing better times. The state-owned enterprise Tekstilan ceased to exist, and its workers were partially transferred to other industries and partially laid off. In the early 2000s, the territory of the plant was cleared, and 2005 marked a point in the history of this production when a factory chimney was blown up.
In addition to the textile industry, mechanical engineering is quite well developed in Liberec, especially automobile and instrument making.
Transport
The first railway line was opened in the city in 1859, becoming part of the route between Pardubice and Zittau. Today this type of transport is quite well developed. Along with the railway connection, a cable car to the top of Jested, more than a kilometer long, is in operation. In total, there are four cable tracks in Liberec, one of which operates only in the summer, and the rest are used in the cold season to lift skiers to the peaks.
As for highways, there are several highways in the Liberec area, including to Prague, Jablonec, Zittau and other cities.
City transport is represented by a network of buses and tram routes, and some tram lines also connect Liberec with neighboring settlements.
Sport
Speaking about the development of sports in Liberec, it is safe to say that the city is focused both on the training of professional athletes and on expanded opportunities for amateur sports. The surrounding mountains provide an excellent base for skiing, cycling and hiking. Athletes from Liberec take part in numerous national and international competitions. Their performances are most successful in football, hockey, and basketball.
Liberec has a large number of sports facilities - multifunctional sports arenas, stadiums, skiing and cycling trails, swimming pools.
Sights of Liberec
- City Hall - was built in 1888-1893 according to the design of the famous Viennese architect Franz Neumann, so it is not surprising that the town hall in Liberec strongly resembles the Viennese one. The building is distinguished by an abundance of decorations on the facade, amazing stained glass windows and an elegant hall for ceremonies. The height of the spire is 65 meters. Despite its age, the Town Hall remains one of the city's main attractions. Currently, municipal authorities are located here
- Mount Jested and TV tower. The main attraction of the city is undoubtedly the peak of Jested, which is 1012 meters high. The silhouette of the mountain became even more remarkable after a television tower was built there, awarded the title of “building of the century.” The designer of the project was Karel Hubacek, who was later awarded the prestigious prize of the International Union of Architects, and the television tower building itself received the highest marks from critics - it was recognized as a building of the 20th century, and was recently included in the list of UNESCO buildings. Needless to say, the TV tower offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding area. You can get here on foot or by using the cable car. In addition, on the lower floors of the TV tower there is a cafe and a hotel, always open to visitors. The slopes of Mount Jested itself are equipped with comfortable ski slopes, so loved by skiers from all over the world.
- The Liberec Zoo is the oldest zoo in the Czech Republic, housing about 200 species of animals. The zoo was built in 1919, and since then has been loved by both the Czechs themselves and tourists from all over the world. Currently, the zoo has a program for the protection and conservation of rare animals and species that are in danger of extinction. One of these animals, as well as the symbol of the zoo, is the white tiger.There are special entertainment and programs for children - they can feed fur seals, ride a children's train and even touch some animals.
Needless to say, a trip here will be a wonderful entertainment and relaxation for children and their parents.The Botanical Garden was opened to the public in 1895 and has since undergone a number of renovations and is now the most modern and diverse plant gallery in all of Bohemia. Here you will find huge glass greenhouses in which truly heavenly plants grow. One need only mention the orchidarium, the world of bonsai trees and the collection of carnivorous plants. Here, viewers are offered an amazing underwater world, in which you will find sharks, stingrays, and many other species of marine animals. - The Museum of Northern Bohemia is an unusual building in the neo-Renaissance style, within the walls of which the history of the region and its rich culture are presented. Visitors can expect to see exhibitions of archaeological finds from the region, displays on the development of the textile industry, including an extensive collection of carpets from around the world, and much more.
- The art gallery is a collection of works of art created by European artists. The gallery is located in a building that once belonged to the owner of a weaving factory. The exhibitions feature works by Dutch artists of the 16th-18th centuries, landscapes of France dating from the 19th century, works by Czech artists of the 20th century, as well as their German and Austrian colleagues.
- The center of Babylon is a unique place, an entire town inside Liberec, where limitless opportunities for leisure and business are gathered under one roof. Babylon represents huge complex, which has everything: a water park with numerous slides and attractions, an amusement park - a favorite vacation spot for children and their parents. Separately, it is worth mentioning the shopping center, represented by more than 60 stores with goods for every taste and income. In addition to entertainment, the center provides business opportunities - holding meetings, presentations, employee training and much more. The center of Babylon also has its own hotel.
- Liberec Castle is an amazing building, the Redern family estate, built in 1582-1587 according to the design of the brothers Christopher and Melichar Redern. During its existence, the castle underwent several reconstructions, the largest of which was carried out after the fire of 1615. In the 20th century, a unique collection of glassware was collected in the halls of the castle.
Liberec is the capital of Northern Bohemia. The city was founded in the 13th century on the site of a fortress built in the area of the ford of the Garkovitsky Stream, and then grew into a city. It is Liberec that is the center of the textile industry of the Czech Republic, for which it was dubbed the “Manchester of Bohemia”. The population is more than 106 thousand inhabitants. Liberec is located just 100 km from Prague, which makes it a very attractive place to live for both Czech citizens and foreign students.
What is Liberec famous for?
Among the attractions in the city are the City Hall, whose 65-meter tower is visible from all points of the city; Church of the Holy Crucifixion, Church of St. Anthony and many other buildings.
Liberec is famous for its zoo, which celebrated its centenary in 2006, and the botanical garden, rich in various species of flora, was founded in the 19th century.
For those who like to go shopping, have fun and relax, Liberec has a shopping paradise - the Babylon shopping center, which occupies an area of about 5.5 football fields. “Babylon” is famous for its abundance of shops, restaurants, wine cellars; it also has a disco, game rooms, bowling alley, business center and even a water and amusement park.
A popular tourist spot is the top of Jested Hill, where the television tower is located. Like many other large TV towers in the world, it offers tourists a lot of interesting entertainment. Within its walls there is a small hotel, a restaurant with panoramic views of the city and the highest in the city Observation deck. Vacationers can get to the top of the hill by cable car, which in itself will be an unforgettable adventure.
Jested is not only an interesting landmark in the form of a TV tower, but also an incredible view of the Jested-Kozak mountain range. This is a favorite place for tourists and locals for photo shoots and a relaxing holiday in the company of loved ones.
The city has an original scientific and entertainment center iQLANDIA, a visit to which will delight children and adults. This visitor center has many thematic rooms dedicated to the natural world, scientific achievements and robotics, various fields of science and space topics. In each hall, visitors will find unusual interactive attractions and exhibitions; during a visit to the center, everyone will be able to learn a lot of new and interesting things about the world around them.
Transport
In Liberec 4 tram routes, and one of them (No. 11) is intercity, reaching the neighboring town of Jablonec nad Nisou. During the day, trams run every 10 minutes, becoming an important aid in moving around the rather large and rather hilly city. Please note that the tram tracks in the city center have three rails, since the city routes operate on a wide gauge (1435 mm), and the route to Jablonec operates on a narrower 1000 mm. There are also about 30 bus routes in Liberec. Schedule convenient to watch through IDOS.
Single ticket for 40 minutes (with transfers) can be purchased for 24 Kč. At some stops there are stationary ticket machines that sell the same tickets for 20 Kč.
The science
The city is home to one of the best technical universities Technická univerzita v Liberci, which is known for its programs for training specialists in the textile and automotive industries, as well as in the field of nanotechnology. Every year the university admits about 10,000 students, a third of whom are foreign applicants. Training is conducted at 7 faculties in more than 200 different disciplines. "Technická univerzita v Liberci" pays special attention to scientific research, which is carried out in close cooperation with the largest industrial enterprises in the Czech Republic, which is why graduates of this university never experience problems with employment.
Our programs in Liberec
| Program | Smart | Standard |
| Duration | 600 ak. hours | 910 ac. hours |
| In-depth study of the Czech language | ✔ | ✔ |
| Comprehensive student support throughout the academic year | ✔ | ✔ |
| Help with paperwork | ✔ | ✔ |
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Program for student adaptation in the country |
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Studying specialized terminology The main advantages of preparatory courses in Liberec:
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Friends, greetings! Sequence "Czech Republic Liberec - ski resort“is natural and familiar to residents of Central Europe, and perhaps somewhat unexpected for us. We have heard a lot about other European regions that have a reputation as ski centers, while the Czech city of Liberec provides its slopes not only for amateurs, but also as a site for the European Alpine Ski Championships.
Nature took care of the creation of the long Jested ridge, which is located in the north of the Czech Republic in the Liberec region. And in the basin between this ridge and the Jizera Mountains, the city of Liberec is conveniently located with a rich past and active modern activity.
The symbol of the regional center has long been a modern television tower installed at the highest point of the Jested ridge:
Why Liberec is interesting to a traveler who comes to Prague and wants to get to know the regional Czech Republic in more detail, we will now find out:
- The historical center of Liberec
- Jested Mountain and TV Tower
- How to climb to the tower and the center of the ski resort
Liberec historical center
The history of Liberec began in the 14th century, but the city’s brightest prosperity occurred in the 19th century. It was at that time that the type of historical center that the city attracts today was formed. From main square, located at the highest point of the city territory, colorful streets wind in different directions:
The names of the streets are no less attractive. I remember we went up to the square along Prazhskaya Street, and went down along Moskovskaya Street.
The dominant feature of the square, which is named after the second president of Czechoslovakia, Edvard Benes, is the city hall:
A tall building with magnificent towers actually produces an impression that is incomparable to that which one gets from looking at its image in a photo. And if you go up to the observation deck, which is located on a 65-meter tower, you will be even more impressed))
Be sure to visit St. Anthony's Cathedral, which suffered several lightning strikes and was painstakingly restored each time by the townspeople in the Roman Catholic Gothic style:
If your visit coincides with the time of the service, you can visit the cathedral and hear the mesmerizing sound of the organ:
In general, it’s simply interesting to wander around the historical quarters of Liberec. See its Wallenstein houses, churches, castle... The center of Liberec in . If you wish, you can go outside the city to a real fortress - a castle.
Mount Jested and TV tower
A separate attraction of Liberec is the television tower, installed at the highest point of Mount Jested:
Jested is remote from the city, but the local population has always shown increased interest in it.
The height of the Jested peak slightly exceeds 1000 m above sea level. Back in 1737, a cross was installed on the top, giving the high place the status of special strength and energy. Tourist interest in the designated point above the city appeared in the middle of the 19th century.
The first house to appear on the mountain was the prototype of the current cafe, where drinks and snacks were sold. In 1876, the first wooden observation tower, 5 meters high, was built on Jested, and in 1889. replaced with a new, 8-meter one.
Probably, hiking to the top of Jested was gaining popularity, because in 1906-07 they took the matter seriously and built a complex on the top of the mountain: the tower grew to 23 m, a hotel with 23 rooms and a restaurant. Two years later, a 3 km toboggan run was also built. And can you imagine?!. In 1914, Jested hosted the European Luge Championship!
I will not describe the entire development path of the Jested complex - it is exclusively progressive. Let's turn to that beautiful television tower that decorates the mountain peak now and so harmoniously raises it to the sky:
The tower boldly surpassed all its predecessors. Even if you add the sizes of all the previous towers together, they will not be able to equal the height that the modern structure has - 94 meters. The tower rests on a circle with a diameter of 33 m and a meter thickness.
The project of the hyperbolic television tower was created by architect Karel Hubacek in collaboration with engineer Zdenek Patrman. The tower was built on the top of the mountain in 1966-73. Even before construction was completed, architects from other countries praised the project, noting the elegance of the design.
How to get to the top of Jested
Near the Jested TV tower in the nature park there is a ski center. They climb the mountain not only for the purpose of skiing, but also for an interesting journey through beautiful terrain, and to look at the television tower up close. And, of course, for the sake of the beautiful views from the top:
Excursion routes from Liberec are open in this direction every day all year round. Are you interested in how to organize an independent climb to the top for an active traveler?
If you looked carefully at the previous photo, you noticed the cable car. The height difference from the foot of Jested to its top is 450 meters, which is quite a lot. Therefore, it can be comfortably covered in a cabin in 4 minutes, paying 99 CZK:
Two-way travel will cost more: 149 CZK for an adult passenger. But such a hasty climb will deprive you of a pleasant walk observing the charming surrounding landscapes:
The walking route is laid out in a spiral and is 4.5 km long. Part of it consists of forest paths well compacted by the feet of numerous tourists:
The higher tourists rise, the greater the view around them. From some points the most visible high peak Czech Republic - mountain. As you approach the top, there are objects along the way that will further sharpen your perception. Look through this arch:
Admittedly, climbing on foot takes longer and is physically more difficult, but it is much more exciting than jumping into a cabin and four minutes later standing on the top of the mountain in front of the TV tower.
Whichever climbing method you choose, you first need to get from the center of Liberec to the foot of the mountain. It's quite simple: tram number 3 will take you from transport terminal to the final station, and then follow, following absolutely clear signs. Either you walk 300 meters to the lower cable car station, or go along walking route conquer the Jested heights. In any case, you will find yourself at the goal:
It won't hurt to take water with you, but there's no need to stock up on food. The television tower complex has a restaurant where you can have a fairly satisfying lunch at an affordable price. 100-200 CZK, depending on your appetite, will provide a complete lunch.
After examining the TV tower from the outside and inside, taking a walk on the areas around the tower, enjoying the feeling of spaciousness and picturesque panoramas, you can go down and take a lanovka - that’s what the Czechs call the cable car. Moreover, after the pedestrian ascent, fatigue will make itself felt. As you move, either sledding or skiing (please tell me, experts) trails open up to your eyes:
Friends, as you understand, Liberec is perfect for an active tourist who likes to combine viewing beautiful architecture with visiting natural attractions. You can go from Prague to Liberec for one day and implement a rather rich program. In any case, it’s quite possible to walk around the historical center and go up to the Jested TV Tower.
If you are a supporter of ski slopes, then in winter a trip to Liberec will especially interest you. But in this case you will have to stay at a hotel. It would be nice in the attractive Green Guy. Or you can be closer to the highway and more comfortable - here. Are you wondering how to conveniently get to Liberec? Read the next article.
Your euro guide Tatyana
| ___________________________________
Designation of the locality: |
_______________________________ |
| Name of the area and its designation: | Liberec (CZ051) |
| Name of the area and its designation: | Liberec (CZ0513) |
| Historical country: | Czech |
| Territory according to the cadastre: | 106.10 km² |
| Population size: | 105,071 people (as of February 6, 2009) |
| Geographical latitude: | 50°43` north latitude |
| Geographical longitude: | 15°04` East longitude |
| Height above sea level: | 374 meters |
| Postcode: | 460 01 |
| Address of the city magistrate: | Magistrate of the City of Liberec, Dr. E. Benes Square 1, 460 59 |
| Mayor of the city: | Eng. Jiri Kittner |
| Official website: | www.liberec.cz |
| Email: | [email protected] |
Liberec(in Czech Liberec, in German Reichenberg) is a city in the north of the Czech Republic in the region of the same name in the Liberec region. It is a regional center with a population of more than 105 thousand inhabitants (as of February 6, 2009), one of the founders of the Nisa Euroregion.
Position
Liberec is located approximately 91 km north of Prague. The city of Liberec lies in the Liberec Basin, on part of the territory of the Zhitava basin between the Jested-Kozak ridge and the Jizera Mountains. The base of the town hall is located at an altitude of 374 meters above sea level, the highest point of the cadastral territory of the city is the peak of Jested (1012 meters above sea level), the lowest point is in the urban part of Machnin (325 meters above sea level). The Lusatian Nisa River and its tributaries, such as the Black Nisa and the Hartsovka Stream, which is blocked by the Hartsovska Dam, flow through the city. Natural water areas within the city are fish ponds, in particular: Vesecki (the so-called Teich), Kacak (Žabak) in Krasna Studanec and Seba.
Until 1939, the city was located on an area of 6.2 km², which currently constitutes the historical center of the city. After the annexation of 11 settlements in 1939, 23 more settlements were added to the city in 1954, 1963, 1976, 1980 and 1986. After 1989, on the contrary, four settlements separated from the city. Currently, the total territory of the city of Liberec is 106.1 km². Of this territory, 37.5% is agricultural land, almost half is meadows and pastures. Two thirds are forested lands.
Climate
Taking into account the data on temperature and precipitation in the city, we can conclude that the weather in the city is determined by its position in the temperate climate zone, as well as its location in the basin between two mountain ranges. Due to the fact that they mountain ranges serve as a kind of battery for humid Atlantic air penetrating here; precipitation falls quite heavily in the city. Their approximate amount is 803.4 mm per year - the wettest month is August (with 88.4 mm of precipitation), and the driest month is February (with 46.2 mm). The average air temperature is 7.2°C, the warmest month is July (with 16.2°C), the coldest is January, when average temperature is −2.5°C.
Name
The origin of the city's name has not yet been determined, which has more than once been the subject of many discussions, often with national overtones. Perhaps the oldest mentioned names are Reychinberch from 1352 and Raichmberg from 1369. If the suffix -berg in German means “mountain”, then the word reich translates as “rich”. Since, however, the settlement at that time did not have any wealth, it can be assumed that this name either reflected the desire of the settlers, or was brought from Germany.
Apparently, at the end of the 13th century, on the trade route from the Czech Republic to Lusatia, a settlement arose at the ford across the Hartsov Stream, in which merchants had the opportunity to rest after the difficult journey of the Jested ridge. First mention of this locality dates back to 1352. At that time, Liberec was much less famous compared to neighboring Hradok na Nisa or Frydlant.
The first famous owners of the surrounding territories were the Biebersteins. An important contribution to the development of the city was made by representatives of the Redern family, who built the Liberec castle with a beautiful chapel, a hospital and other buildings here: during their reign, Emperor Rudolf II granted Liberec city status in 1577. Since then, the coat of arms of the new city has been emblazoned with the sign of the Redern family - a silver circle. Katerzyna of Redern initiated the construction of the town hall in 1599-1603. During the same period, impetus was given to the construction of the first stone buildings in the city.
When the Rederns left Frydlant, Liberec and their surroundings after the Battle of White Mountain, these areas fell to Albrecht of Waldstein. The new owner turned the city into a factory for the production of cloth, in which he dressed his army. He also founded New town(Nové Město) in the area of today's Sokolov Square, built up with half-timbered houses. The last three houses, called “Valdshteinsky huts,” remain in Vetryannaya Street. After the death of the governor, Liberec passed into the hands of Matthias of Gallas.
The golden period for the city of Liberec began in the 18th century, when the textile industry began to develop. Initially, the original workshop production was transformed into a more progressive manufacturing: 800 cloth masters, 480 apprentices and more than 1000 of their assistants worked in the city. Liberec became the largest manufacturing city in the Kingdom of Bohemia; in 1850 it became a statutory city, and in its importance it was second only to Prague. The city's importance increased even more when the manufactories turned into textile factories.
At the beginning of the 19th century, a number of very representative buildings arose in the city, corresponding to its importance as the second largest city in the Czech Republic. This age was the golden age of the city, many magnificent villas and modern schools were built, and in 1859 the railway from Pardubice and Zittau was connected to the city. During this period, industrialist Johann Liebieg founded the Johann Liebieg & Comp factory. (later - the Tekstilana factory). The city had 3 consulates, 50 textile factories and 60 metalworking factories, including RAF automobile factories. At the end of the 19th century, the town hall and theater were also built. Liberec was at that time a predominantly German city with a 7% Czech minority. The era of prosperity ended with the outbreak of the First World War. On the site of the current Ostashov quarter, a concentration camp for more than 40 thousand Russian and Italian prisoners of war then arose.
After the emergence of the Czechoslovak state in 1918, the ethnic composition of the population became a problem. To ensure that the Sudeten Germans did not become isolated in a country ruled by the Czechs, they founded German Bohemia in the northern border province with its own government, its own currency and the city of Liberec as its capital. Their desire to join Germany or Austria was put an end to the Czechoslovak army, which captured the territory almost without a fight.
In 1935, the Sudetendeutsche Partei won the elections in the city of Liberec. Its leader was local from the village of Vratislavice on Nysa Konrad Henlein. After the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland ceded to the German Third Reich and almost the entire Czech population was expelled to the interior of the country in 1938. Liberec has become main city new Sudeten administrative district and to the governor's residence. In 1939, as a result of the annexation of 11 suburban villages to the city, the so-called Greater Liberets was formed. The Second World War did not significantly affect the city, but led to a change in the structure of its industry. After the end of the war, the Germans were evicted from the city within two years.
In 1949, Liberec ceased to be a statutory city and became the center of the Liberec region. However, in 1960 this region was liquidated and Liberec again became a district city in the North Bohemian region, governed from Usti na Labe.
In August 1968, the occupying forces of the Warsaw Pact passed through Liberec. The result of this was the death of 9 innocent victims (a monument to them is now located on the town hall) and the destruction of the facades of houses on the current Edward Benes Square. The invasion caught Václav Havel in the city of Liberec.
After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, Liberec again became a statutory city in 1990. Currently, many transformations are ongoing in this city. A large-scale reconstruction of the formerly dilapidated city center is being carried out. After the collapse of textile enterprises, the issue of industrial restructuring is on the agenda, and new industrial and trade zones are emerging.
Division of the city
Liberec consists of 25 cadastral territories with 32 local parts administered directly by the Liberec magistrate, as well as one self-governing urban district formed by a single cadastral territory.
Economy
Textile industry
The traditional industry in the city has always been the textile industry - especially the production of cloth and linen. The first clothiers, Urban Hoffmann from Zavidovo and Christopher Krause, who studied in Frydlant, came to Liberec in 1579. They processed wool from the sheep of Redernov and the surrounding estates. In 1579–80 The society of cloth makers created its own dyehouse, and the feudal lords ordered the installation of a cloth-making machine. Thanks to this, the quality of cloth improved, which began to be sold at markets and fairs.
Due to the growing importance of the cloth trade, on February 21, 1599, the city received corresponding privileges, according to which the Liberec Cloth Workshop was formally established. At the time of its founding, it had 10 masters, but thanks to the rapid progress and expansion of production over the next 20 years, 23 new clothiers appeared, who became the richest and most respected residents of the city.
Significant progress in clothmaking was achieved under Albrecht of Wallenstein due to his position at the head of the army. The volume of military orders for new uniforms was significant, and although payments were made irregularly, delivery times were short. Therefore, the best source of income for clothmakers was fulfilling orders from officers and officials. Thanks to the growing volume of production, the workshop accepted an additional 75 craftsmen into its ranks and had 103 apprentices at that time. In 1632 a new fulling machine was installed, and in 1633 a new dyehouse.
After the Thirty Years' War, due to numerous emigration due to the anti-reformation, there was a rapid decline in production. But even despite the unfavorable economic situation and large payments to the Gallas family, Liberec remained the largest cloth manufacturer in the Czech Republic in the 18th century. In 1728, the Clothmakers' Workshop had 419 members, followed by the Linen Manufacturers' Workshop. Members of these guilds worked mainly in suburban areas; in the city itself there were 60 craftsmen - about a tenth of the total number of linen weavers in the Liberec region.
If in Linz the first manufactory for the production of fine cloth appeared back in 1672, then the Liberec workshops strenuously defended themselves against this “innovation” and even demanded the destruction of the manufactory, founded in 1710 in the village of Planice near Klatovo. The quality of the workshop cloth, however, was becoming worse compared to the factory cloth, so the government sought to modernize the production of cloth in the monarchy by consistently limiting the privileges of the workshops and, thereby, stimulating the exit of specialists from them.
The first cloth merchants also emerged from among the guild masters. One of the first among them was Gottfried Möller from 1780. It was he and the workers who depended on him who created the first extensive manufactory. The next such manufacturer was Johann Georg Berger, who at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries became one of the largest textile manufacturers in the Czech Republic. Berger was also the first to test the new machine technology for spinning wool in the village of Straž on Nisa in 1808.
At the beginning of the 19th century, 4 manufactories and 8 large cloth merchants operated in the Liberec region. Mechanization of production took place. The first spinning machines were used by the Anton Thum company in Katerinki; in 1800 there were 200 mechanical spindles in operation, and in 1841 there were already 50,000 thousand. Most of the production mechanisms were driven by water wheels: more than 100 of them were installed in the vicinity of the city.
These first entrepreneurs - Möller, Berger and Franz Ulbricht - although they created concentrated manufactories, were unable to transform them into large factories and all their companies, under pressure from stronger trading houses, fell into decay. The textile factory empire in Liberec was founded by Johann Liebieg and his company Johann Liebieg & Comp. employed almost 8,000 people and had an annual turnover of 2,490,000 gold. The old workshops have already lost their influence and have been replaced by so-called subcontracting companies.
Wool production reached its peak in 1867–72, then, however, a crisis occurred: first due to the opening of the market to English textiles, and then after the collapse of the Vienna Stock Exchange on May 9, 1873. The crisis ended only in 1879, during the crisis the majority disappeared small businesses, on the contrary, emerged from it stronger.
After the emergence of the Czechoslovak Republic, there was a weakening of German enterprises, whose owners sold their products mainly in Austria and Germany. Other factors were inflation of the German mark, distance from sources of raw materials, lack of energy and location off major transport routes.
The Liberec textile industry had to rely on cheap labor and began to lag behind the rest of the world. The global economic crisis had a hard impact on the textile industry of the Liberec region; firms were forced to reduce the number of employees to a minimum and limit production. A total of 26 enterprises with more than two thousand workers stopped working altogether. The situation began to improve in 1935; during the Second World War, a shortage of raw materials arose again, and a number of enterprises were transferred to the production of military products.
In 1945, all German textile companies were confiscated, and a year later they were nationalized. In the city of Liberec, this affected the companies Johann Liebig, Germinghaus and Comp., Hoffmann and Getwer, S. Neumann and Sons, United Dyers and Comp. and "Textilana". Since these enterprises in state hands were supposed to be sectoral, departmental, they became part of some non-Liberian national enterprises. Liberec, on the contrary, became the location of the Czech wool mills on March 7, 1946. After all the confiscations, this enterprise, which took the name “Textilana” on September 18, 1948, consisted of 39 factories with 9,000 workers.
Currently, the textile industry in the city is going through hard times. Currently, the companies Interlana and Elmarko – production of nanofibers operate in this industry.
Tekstilana workers gradually moved to other enterprises or were fired. In 2003-2004 the entire territory of Tekstilana was cleared. Lastly, on March 5, 2005, a factory chimney was blown up.
Liquidation of the Tekstilana factory pipe
Phase 1
Phase 2
Mechanical engineering
This industry is dominated by the automotive industry and especially the production of plastic processing equipment. In the past, the production of textile machines was famous.
Textile engineering companies
- "Elitex".
Automotive companies
- "Reichenberger Automobile Factory" (Liberec Automobile Plant in 1907–1916);
- Cadence Innovation;
- "Denso."
Food industry
- The Lipo company has now ceased production of confectionery products, including bombons of the same name.
Construction
- Syner company.
Transport
Liberec received a railway connection in 1859, when a route was opened to Pardubice and Zittau in Germany. Today, five single-track and non-electrified railways leave the city and are included in the national railway system, with the exception of the route to Tanvald, which is a regional road.
Czech Railways operates a cable car to Jested with a duration of 1188 meters with a height difference of 402 meters, whose lower station is located in the Liberec district of Gornji Ganychov near the final stop of the city public transport. Another cable car (there are four in total) in the vicinity of the city of Liberec is used by a private company. Only one of the cable cars is operated in the summer season (Liberec – Skalka cable car), the rest serve only skiers in the region.
Automobile transport It is primarily represented by the R35 highway (E442), with which the R10 highway to Prague connects in Turnov. Other highways go, for example, to the cities of Jablonec (and from there to Harrachov and Poland), Frydlant, Decin, Novy Bor, as well as to the German Zittau.
Liberec has a small airport with a hard runway now used by the local flying club and as a base for the Air Rescue Service.
City public transport
Liberec City Public Transport (LTP) is formed from a system of bus and tram routes operated by the Liberec City Transport Enterprise. Its central location was the GOT terminal on Fyugnerovaya Street.
Liberec started using its own tram transport in 1897 on the site from railway station to the current zoo. Today Liberec has two tram lines: the route between Gornji Ganychov and Lidove Sady, called city tram line, built with the original 1000 mm gauge and reconstructed in 2005 to the standard 1435 mm gauge, as well as intercity tram line between the cities of Liberec and Jablonec on Nisa. The once existing line to Roglice and Ruzodol was dismantled in 1960.
The intercity tram line will have its own track only on the Liberec – Vratislavice section, then it will run along a parallel railway. The option of hybridizing the rolling stock of the so-called light railway is being considered, which in the future, according to the project "Region of Nisa" will connect other cities of the Nisa Euroregion: Zittau, Jeleni Guru, Tanwald, Harrachov and Železný Brod.
Ticket prices have been the dark side of Liberec city transport in the past. Namely, the tariffs were the most expensive in the republic. In 2004, these fares were reduced: a ticket for an adult to travel for 20 minutes began to cost 10 kroons, for 45 minutes - 16 kroons. On January 1, 2008, new ticket prices began to apply in the city; a ticket for an adult for travel for 40 minutes began to cost 16 crowns, for a child - half that. Since 2007, the city of Liberec, as well as Prague, has been using travel tickets wide format.
Culture
Theaters and theater events
- Maly Theater;
- Naive theater - puppet theater;
- Brief shock theater;
- Theater without a curtain;
- Theater festival "Materzhinka".
Cinemas
- "Warsaw";
- "Linden";
- "Movie Star"
Educational institutions
- Regional science Library– the so-called “Reconciliation Building” – a new library and synagogue that opened in 2000.
- Zoological park.
- Botanical Garden.
- North Bohemian Museum.
- Regional gallery.
Other institutions
- House of Culture;
- “Babylon” center – casino, water park, entertainment, public and hotel complex;
- The People's Gardens is a cultural and community center built in 1900–1901. on the last tram line;
- The Nisa Liberec shopping center is the largest shopping, cultural and social center in the Czech Republic north of Prague.
Famous objects
- The Town Hall is a New Renaissance building from 1893, one of the symbols of the city and the region;
- Liberec Castle;
- hotel and radio transmitter on Jested, one of the symbols of the city and region;
- the Jested trading house (now the Tesco trading house) does not meet the requirements of the day by modern standards, so it will be demolished and replaced with a modern building;
- city resort - a neo-Renaissance building built in 1901–1902;
- The Valdshtein huts are the oldest (from 1678–1681) surviving buildings in the city (on Vetryannaya Street);
- Hamrštejn – ruins of a fortress on Castle Hill (375 meters above sea level);
- “Liberec Vys” – a restaurant and observation deck, built in 1900–1901;
- “House of Scholz” is a log house with one floor on the banks of the Nisa, built in 1771. Nowadays, this building houses the office of one of the institutions;
- the small castle of Liebig (Villa Liebig) is the former residence of the Liebig family since 1897 in the valley of the Harz Stream.
Catholic churches
- Church of St. Antonin the Great - originally a single-bay structure, it was rebuilt in 1579 into a brick three-bay church;
- Church of the Holy Cross – built in 1695–98. and later - in 1753–56 - rebuilt;
- Church of the Holy Virgin Heart and former monastery and school;
- Church of St. Antonin of Padua;
- Church of the Mother of God at the Picture;
- Church of St. John the Baptist;
- Church of St. Boniface in Gorny Ganychovo.
Education
- Kindergartens (36).
- Secondary vocational schools (6).
- Gymnasiums (4): Euroregional Gymnasium and Secondary Vocational Pedagogical School, Gymnasium and Secondary Vocational Pedagogical School of Liberec, F. Schalda Gymnasium, Podested Gymnasium.
- Secondary specialized schools, including medical schools (15); among them are secondary industrial schools (3): construction, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, textile.
- Higher special schools (4).
- Higher education institutions (1+1): , branch of the Karl English Higher School in Brno.
Science and research
- Textile Machinery Research Institute.
Sport
The surroundings of the city and the city of Liberec itself are fraught with great opportunities for the development of sports at both amateur and professional levels. For recreational sports use, residents actively use the surrounding mountains, which create ideal conditions for tourism, cycling and cross-country skiing.
Liberec athletes take part in the highest republican and international competitions. Their most successful performances are in basketball, football, ice hockey, volleyball, floorball, steeplechase, karate and skiing.
Sports objects
- Tipsport Arena– a new multifunctional arena, which is the base of the hockey club “White Tigers Liberec”;
- Stadium "At Nisa"– a football stadium, which is the base of the Slovan Liberec club;
- sports area "Jested"– designed for downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and jumping;
- area "Vesets"– area intended for cross-country skiing;
- swimming pool.
Sports clubs
- "Patriots Liberec"– baseball club;
- FC Slovan Liberec- football club;
- "White tigers"- hockey club;
- "AK Slovan Liberec"– athletic club;
- "Dukla Liberec"– army ski sports center;
- "VK Dukla Liberec"– volleyball club;
- "BC Condors Liberec"– basketball club;
- Lokomotiv Liberec– physical education society;
- "Falcon Frantishkov"– physical culture society in the Františkov region;
- "FBK Liberec"- football club.
Famous personalities born in Liberec
- Christoph Demantius (1567–1643), German composer, music theorist and poet;
- Camillo Horn (1860–1941), German composer;
- Heinrich Herkner (1863–1932), economist;
- František Xavier Shalda (1867–1937), literary critic, journalist and writer;
- Ferdinand Porsche (1875–1951), Austrian automobile designer;
- Vlasta Burian (1891–1962), stage actor known as the "King of Comedians";
- Jaroslav Rzydki (1897–1956), composer and music teacher;
- Konrad Henlein (1898–1945), Sudeten German separatist;
- Lyudmila Matseshkova (1898–1974), poet who published under the pseudonym Jan Kamenik;
- Herbert Feigl (1902–1988), Austrian-American philosopher;
- Karel Vacek (1902–1982), composer;
- Harald Kreuzberg (1902–1968), dancer and ballet theorist;
- Guido Beck (1903–1989), physicist;
- Augustin Schramm (1907–1948), communist functionary;
- Otfried Preusler (* 1923), writer;
- Gustav Ginzel (* 1931), traveler and mountaineer;
- Oldřich Kaiser (* 1955), theater and film actor;
- Peter Kellner (* 1964), manager;
- Miroslava Pleshtilova (* 1966), teacher, theater and film actress;
- Petr Nedved (* 1971), hockey player;
- Martin Damm (* 1972), tennis player;
- Tomasz Enge (* 1976), racing driver;
- Pavel Lishka (* 1971), actor;
- Zuzana Geino (* 1986), world under-16 champion and European junior champion in the 400m hurdles.
Long-term city residents
- Johann Liebig (1802–1869), major entrepreneur, founder of the Liebig family, baron;
- Max Kulm (1877–1944), American architect and educator;
- Miklós Radnóti (1909–1944), Hungarian poet, was a student at the Textile Institute in 1927–28;
- Frantisek Peterka (*1922), theater and film actor, worked for a long time at the F. Szalda Theater;
- Přemysl Sobotka (* 1944), doctor and politician, President of the Czech Senate.
City symbols
Coat of arms The city of Liberec forms a silver shield, which depicts a ruby-colored fortress wall with double towers and battlements. A gold hanging open gate hangs on silver hinges. The upper half of the gate is covered by a grille with silver forged sharpened ends. In each of the towers there is an open gate, above which there is a loophole and an elongated window divided by a cross. The towers have ruby-colored domes with a shaft on which a blue flag develops. On the wall above the gate hangs a blue-azure shield with a silver wheel, which was the Redern family sign. On the battlements of the wall, between the towers, stands a tamed golden lion with a crown on its head, a red tongue and a rearing tail.
Urban canvas flag form two parallel stripes - red at the top and white at the bottom. The canvas has a width to length ratio of 2:3. In its middle is a Spanish-style city sign.
Urban logo form stylized silhouettes of two of the most significant buildings in the city: the town hall and the Jested Hotel, where the left side of the town hall and the right side of the hotel are connected into a single whole. The logo is supplemented with the inscription: “Liberec”.
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