Last updated: 17 July 2023
If you’re currently planning a short break in Europe and looking for a destination which is a little less well-known (and less-busy) than Prague then you’ve come to the right place. Here you’ll discover some surprising reasons why you MUST include a visit to the region of Liberec Czech Republic to your travel plans!
A Quick Overview of Liberec Czech Republic
Liberec might be the second smallest region in the Czech Republic (Karlovy Vary is the smallest) with a population of just over 100,000 people, but there is much to experience and explore during a short break.
The main languages spoken throughout the Liberec region are Czech, German, and English which makes it a little easier and less stressful for native-English speakers when visiting attractions, museums, and restaurants in the Liberec region.
Located 112 km (70 mi) from Prague and easily accessible by car in just over 1 hour, and 1.5 hours by public transport (Flixbus is an easy option).
The Liberec region offers visitors the opportunity to explore hundreds of years of history, the chance to experience profoundly stunning nature, and admire some of the best views in all of Europe.
Reason 1: Liberec Town Hall
One of the best decisions you can make when visiting Liberec is to visit the Town Hall (also referred to as Liberec City Hall) which dominates the market square with its spectacular facade and towering spires.
Book tickets to explore the historic interior and learn about its fascinating history before climbing the 187 steps to the viewing platform and enjoy views across Liberec and the town square below.
There is little wonder why the Town Hall is a source of pride for the people of Liberec, it’s truly magnificent.
Before entering Liberec Town Hall, take a moment and stand outside to admire the detailed facade where you’ll notice that just above the main entrance is a relief which contains figures of the main people involved in the construction of the Town Hall.
Above the relief is a balcony which was used by public speeches and declarations throughout history, including speeches by former President Václav Havel, and German dictator, Adolf Hitler.
A Brief History
The Town Hall which stands in Liberec today replaced an earlier City Hall from the 17th century which was deemed to be no longer fit for purpose to meet the needs of a growing and rapidly developing city. It was Viennese architect Franz Neumann who designed the new building in the Renaissance Revival-style (or Neo-Renaissance) which was then constructed between 1888 and 1893.
Did you know that there was a time when BOTH Town Halls stood side by side? The new Town Hall completed construction in 1893 and the old Town Hall was torn down six months afterwards in 1894.
The below photograph, on display in the Liberec Town Hall, reveals a time when both Town Halls stood side by side.
If you’re interested in seeing what the original Liberec Town Hall tower looked like then make sure to include a visit to the Severočeské museum where a replica of the original tower sits atop the museum and which can be climbed for fantastic views.
Are the Liberec and Vienna Town Hall Designs the Same?
We learned during our visit that the Liberec Town Hall is often compared, and cited to be a copy of the Vienna Town Hall, given their striking similarities. However, the truth is that Franz Neumann worked as part of the staff of Friedrich von Schmidt, the architect of the Vienna Town Hall, so it’s more likely that he was inspired by the work of von Schmidt magnificent design.
The main difference between the two buildings is that the Liberec Town Hall was designed in the Neo-Renaissance style whilst the Vienna Town Hall was designed in the Gothic style.
Here’s the two buildings side by side, what do you think?
Climbing the Tower
When visiting the Liberec Town Hall, be sure to climb the 187 steps to the top of the tower for sweeping 360 degree views across Liberec.
The tower itself stands 66m tall, although the viewing platform is located at the 40m mark. Cost to climb: 100 CZK (£3.50 | $4.25 USD)
Ceremonial room
In addition to climbing the tower, we recommend taking some time to explore some of the other rooms in the Town Hall to discover its vast and fascinating history. One such room is the Ceremonial Room which dates back to the 19th century.
Considered to be the most beautiful and grandest of all rooms in the City Hall, the space was originally used by politicians but since 1983 it has served a more ceremonial purpose, such as weddings, graduations, and the traditional Slovak custom of welcoming new babies.
Throughout the ceremonial room you will see wood panelling which was made in Vienna and images of Lady Liberec (or Mrs Liberec).
Located in the centre of the room is the chandelier, which was made 150 years ago in Berlin and weighs 450 kg. It was designed at a time when it would have been powered by gas instead of electricity and you can actually still see the original switches which were used to control the gas flow. The last time the chandelier was removed from the ceiling of the ceremonial room was during the filming of the National Geographic series, Genius (about the life and times of Albert Einstein)
The Organ
When standing in the Ceremonial room you should look up to see the original organ which is still used today during various ceremonies and is placed in the higher section of the Ceremonial room to benefit from better acoustics.
Stained Glass
The stained-glass windows in the ceremonial room and throughout the entire Town Hall are really lovely and you should really take a moment to appreciate the colours and detail contained within them.
Inside the Ceremonial Room, there is a series of stained glass windows which all represent an industry and field of study important to Liberec:
- Science
- Art
- Mercantile Estate
- Industry
- Trade
- Municipal Administration
Filming Locations
The Liberec Film Office was founded in 2015 and since then the Liberec region has featured in several films including the global blockbuster, Spider-Man: Far from Home where the Liberec Town Hall featured in the scene where Spider-Man fought Hellfire in Prague.
Liberec Town Hall also featured in the National Geographic series, Genius, about Albert Einstein and featuring Australia’s own Geoffrey Rush. The clip below really showcases the grandeur of the Ceremonial room and the stained-glass windows.
The Warsaw Pact Invasion Memorial
Located to the right of the Liberec Town Hall entrance is a small memorial commemorating the victims of the Occupation of Liberec, one of the bloodiest events of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia.
On 21 August 1968, Soviet troops fired on Czech protesters killing a number of people instantly and injuring dozens of others. In the hours that followed, a Soviet tank rammed through the crowds killing more innocent people.
Foodie Tip
After a visit to Liberec Town Hall, you may be interested in some food and a Czech beer.
We recommend Radniční sklípek Liberec, which not only has an extensive beer menu but one of the best servings of Svíčková, a traditional Czech meal, that I’ve ever had! Best of all, it’s located just around the corner from the Town Hall. Highly recommended.
If you’re after a beer recommendation then I can recommend the Svijanský Fanda 11° Unfiltered which is 4.8% ABV because it has a refreshing taste which doesn’t overwhelm your palette during your meal.
The Essentials
- Address: Liberec Town Hall, nám. Dr. E. Beneše 1, 460 59 Liberec, Czech Republic
- Getting There:
- From Liberec train station: 15 min walk
- From Prague Černý Most: Approx 1 hour 20 min including 1 hour FlixBus
- From Prague via car: 75 min
- Price:
- Tower, Corridors, and Ceremonial Hall tickets
- Adult: 100 CZK
- Child (15 and below)/ Student/ Senior (over 65): 70 CZK
- Family (2 adults, 3 children): 200 CZK
- Ceremonial Hall Only tickets
- Adult: 50 CZK
- Family (2 adults, 3 children): 200 CZK
- Foreign commentary: 50 CZK
- Tower, Corridors, and Ceremonial Hall tickets
- More info: Website
Reason 2: Visit Panská skála and be WOWED
One of the biggest surprises during our time in Liberec was when we visited Panská skála (translation: Mansion/Manor Rock), sometimes referred to Panska Rock or Kamenné varhany (translation: Stone organ) an incredible rock formation comprised of many basalt columns, which seemed to rise from man-made pond below it.
Panská skála, is one of Europe’s oldest nature reserves, and one of the most visited natural attractions in the entire region.
The last time we saw a series of basalt columns this was impressive was when we visited the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. Panská skála, comprised of dark grey basalt columns which reach up to 20 metres tall from behind the man-made pond, which was a former quarry, created during the time the basalt was mined and exported to the Netherlands for use on their dam-building projects.
A Brief History
Over 30 million years ago, violent volcanic activity changed the landscape of this area of the Czech Republic with scorching lava streams. The subsequent cooling process resulted in the formation of hexagonal basalt columns which combined to create the Panská skála.
The View from atop Panská skála
Did you know that you can walk to the top of the Panská skála? There’s a walking path which will lead you most of the way before you reach a point where you’ll need to step on to the basalt columns and then continue the climb to the top.
If you’re wearing boots then you’ll find the climb a little easier, but even still, we recommend taking your time because the rocks can be slippery and very uneven. On the day we visited it was raining for most of the day, so even though we had Panská skála to ourselves, we still took our time to ensure a safe ascent to the top.
The view was really something special.
The Essentials
- Address: 471 14 Kamenický Šenov, Czech Republic
- Getting There:
- From Liberec via car: 40 min
- Price:
- It’s our favourite price, FREE
Reason 3: Visit the Views from atop Ještěd Tower
There’s no missing Ještěd Tower in Liberec, standing 93m tall like a giant silent sentry atop Ještěd mountain, this iconic landmark is part of the beautiful landscape of the region. It’s also home to some of the best and most amazing views in Liberec where you can actually see Germany and Poland in the distance. Liberec is located just 20km from the German and Polish borders.
Ještěd Tower is the home to a mountain hotel, restaurant, and television transmitter, and is not only a symbol of the city of Liberec but of the entire Liberec region. Standing at an altitude of 1012m, there’s no missing the Ještěd Tower on the Liberec skyline.
A Brief History
The history of Ještěd Tower is an interesting one.
The Ještěd mountain range has been attracting visitors since the mid-19th century, a time which saw the development of tourist accommodation from a single cottage to an octagonal lookout tower to a mountain hotel in 1906.
The 23 room hotel was destroyed by fire in January 1963, and subsequently led to an architectural competition for the design of a new hotel and television tower to be constructed atop Ještěd mountain.
It was the design submitted by Karel Hubáček, who was the only architect to propose a single tower to house both the hotel and radio equipment, that won the competition. All other design submissions favoured two separate buildings. The design of Ještěd Tower was so impressive and beyond its time that Karel Hubáček was awarded the Auguste Perret Prize in 1969 for its architecture.
The Ještěd Tower foundation stone was first laid on 30 July 1966 and construction was completed on 21 September 1973, and once completed was considered to be a futuristic work of art. Boasting a hotel offering various room types, a restaurant open to both guests and the general public, and housing a television transmitter.
Today, a visit to Ještěd Tower allows visitors to experience the original retro furniture, which was all designed specifically for the tower and was using the best designs and technology available in 1970’s Czechoslovakia.
The Hotel
The hotel first opened on 9 July 1973 offers guests a variety of rooms to choose from which all provide a different experience in a unique location high above Liberec.
- 1 apartment with views across Liberec
- 10 comfort rooms
- 2 retro rooms
- 8 economy rooms
- 1 family suite (which has 3 rooms)
Throughout the hotel you will see various works of art which have been proudly preserved to showcase the talents and ingenuity of Czech artists who contributed to the grandeur of this impressive structure which was hailed as a masterpiece in its time.
The Restaurant
If you’re planning a visit to Ještěd Tower during your visit to Liberec then it makes sense to organise a meal at the hotel restaurant as there’s nothing better than a meal with an incredible view! We think the best time to dine at the restaurant is definitely at sunset for photos like these.
The restaurant wraps around the interior of the tower and is comprised of four sections – the restaurant itself, the cafe, the salon, and Avion bar. We dined in the main restaurant with westward-facing views, ideal for sunset.
Based on the views we experienced, especially during sunset, I think it’s fair to say that Ještěd Tower is one of the best spots to appreciate a sunset in Liberec.
The Essentials
- Address: Horní Hanychov 153, 460 08 Liberec, Czech Republic
- Getting There:
- From Liberec via car: 20 min
- Cable car: Closed until further notice
- Price:
- Hotel – from £88 per night
- Restaurant – vary depending on menu – Menu
- More info: Website
Reason 4: Severočeské Museum (The North Bohemian Museum)
If you enjoy learning about the multi-faceted history of a city and region you’re visiting then spending a few hours at the Severočeské Museum, or The North Bohemian Museum, is a must! It’s one of the largest museums in the entire Czech Republic!
A Brief History
The Severočeské Museum was founded in 1873 to showcase the various industries of Liberec, including textiles and art. An international competition was held in 1895 to select the design of the museum building, and it was the submission by Austrian Friedrich Ohmann, which won.
Since completing construction in 1898, the museum has expanded to include new departments focusing on natural science, art history, and history. Home to over half a million items, you could easily spend the whole day (and longer) exploring everything the museum has to offer.
The Old Town Hall Tower
To describe the exterior of the Severočeské Museum as grand would be an understatement, it’s almost regal with its arched doorways, covered balconies, and tall tower. It reminded us of the Natural History Museum in London.
As mentioned earlier in this article, the Old Liberec Town Hall was demolished in 1894 following the construction of the new Town Hall, but you can still see what the original tower would have looked like because a replica is part of the exterior of this beautiful museum.
Climbing the Tower
For some expansive views across Liberec, we recommend climbing the North Bohemia Museum Tower and its 174 steps to reach the 41m high viewing platform.
Don’t Miss
There are so many collections and exhibits in the Severočeské Museum that it can be a little overwhelming as to where to begin so here’s our suggestion;
Start with the permanent exhibition Fragments of Liberec where you can learn all about Liberec and its history, then take the stairs to the upper floor which covers the Nazi and Soviet Union occupation years. It is challenging, insightful, and above all, revealing. Do not miss.
Foodie Tip
If you’re like us then after spending a few hours in a museum means that you are in need of a good sit down, a drink, and some good food. Luckily for you, we have a restaurant recommendation which is located an 18 min walk from The North Bohemian Museum – Portrefena Husa
It’s worth visiting because there’s a good menu with plenty of choices available, including the ribs which I was very happy with! The best tip I can give you is to stick around for dessert…the cheesecake was fab!
The Essentials
- Address: Masarykova 11, 460 01 Liberec, Czech Republic
- Getting There:
- From Liberec train station: 27 min walk
- From Liberec via car: 7 min
- Entry Price:
- Our favourite price: FREE
- More info: Website
Reason 5: Sychrov Chateau and Gardens
If you’re looking to combine a love of history with some time outdoors in a large beautifully manicured garden estate then a visit to Sychrov Chateau and Gardens might be what you’re looking for.
Originally a 17th century privately owned single-story chateau before undergoing comprehensive Neoclassical and Neo-Gothic renovations, the castle now resides under State ownership.
The Sychrov Chateau is like a fairy-tale come to life which is why it’s also a popular filming location for various fairy-tale inspired films, such as Zlatovláska (translation: Princess Goldilocks) and Nesmrtelná teta (translation: The Immortal Aunt)
Sychrov Chateau Tours
Inside is home to the largest collection of French portrait paintings in Central Europe and it’s also home to some incredible wood-carved decorations by Petr Bušek.
While it wasn’t possible to see these for myself, a tour of the interior is on the list for our next visit to Liberec.
The Gardens
The walk through the gardens at Sychrov Chateau provides an opportunity to reconnect with nature and to switch off from the world around you. The gardens are popular during the summer with families on picnics making the most of the warmer weather.
The Highland Games
Sychrov Chateau is home to various events throughout the year and perhaps the most amazing of them all is the Scottish Highland Games! It’s an opportunity to not only watch feats of incredible strength and skill, such as Tug O’War, Caber Toss, and Stone Put, but to also indulge in all things wonderfully Scottish!
Prepare to immerse yourself in Scottish bagpipe performances, taste a dram of whisky, attend a Cèilidh (pronounced KAY-LEE) and learn Scottish dancing! What a fantastic reason to visit Sychrov Chateau!
Cycling from Sychrov Chateau to Malá Skála
Did you know that the Liberec region is popular with cyclists? And, to be honest, it’s little wonder considering the plethora of cycling tracks on offer, the views experienced along the journey, as well as the summer cycle-buses which take visitors and their bikes up into the mountains.
If you’re fan of cycling trips then there’s actually a 31.3 km cycling trail from Sychrov Chateau to Malá Skála and back again. This cycle path has been deemed medium difficulty and suitable for road bikes and cross bikes. While this path is not for me, if you’re into cycling in the great outdoors then combining it with a visit to Sychrov Chateau makes complete sense.
Foodie Tip
Following a visit to Sychrov Chateau you might be interested in sitting down for some lunch and an excellent option is Restaurant Na Krásné Vyhlídce, which is located a short 20 min drive away but it offers a casual and comfortable lunch with both indoor and outdoor dining options. The menu offers a wide range of dishes, but it was the schnitzel that caught my eye, which was absolutely delicious and highly recommended.
The restaurant is located right next to a walking trail which is a perfect precursor to lunch and provides the opportunity for photos, such as this one;
The Essentials
- Address: 463 44 Sychrov, Czechia, Czech Republic
- Getting There:
- From Liberec train station: 48 min
- From Liberec via car: 16 min
- Sychrov Chateau & Gardens Price:
- Prices vary. See website for details
- More info: Website
Final Thoughts
We really hope that this post has helped highlight just some of the surprising things to do in Liberec and that you consider adding a few days to your Czech Republic holiday to go and explore this hidden gem of a destination.
Disclaimer: Advertisement promotion. This post is the result of a press trip through the Liberec region of the Czech Republic. We were not financially compensated for this post however entry to the attractions, accommodation, and transport were complimentary.
