Liběchov Explained

Liběchov
Settlement Type:Town
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Central Bohemian
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Mělník
Pushpin Map:Czech Republic
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates:50.4081°N 14.4467°W
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Vladimíra Zralíková
Established Title:First mentioned
Established Date:1311
Area Total Km2:11.78
Elevation M:171
Population As Of:2024-01-01
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:1077
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:CET
Utc Offset1:+1
Timezone1 Dst:CEST
Utc Offset1 Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:277 21

Liběchov (in Czech pronounced as /ˈlɪbjɛxof/; German: Liboch) is a town in Mělník District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,100 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

The village of Ješovice is an administrative part of Liběchov.

Etymology

The name is derived from the personal name Luběch or Liběch, meaning "Luběch's/Liběch's (court)".[2]

Geography

Liběchov is located about 3km (02miles) north of Mělník and 32km (20miles) north of Prague. It lies on the border between the Ralsko Uplands and Jizera Table. The municipality is situtated on the right bank of the Elbe River, at its confluence with the Liběchovka Stream.

History

The first written mention of Liběchov is from 1311. In the early 15th century, it was owned by a branch of the lords of Dubá. From 1440, it was property of a family that called itself the lords of Liběchov. In the second half of the 16th century, Liběchov was acquired by Knight Kašpar Belvic of Nostvice. He har rebuilt the local fortress into a Renaissance residence. The settlement was depopulated as a result of the Thirty Years' War and then Germanized. Among the most notable owners of Liběchov were the noble families of Pachta (18th century) and Veith (19th century).[2]

Before World War II, half of the population were ethnic Germans and half were Czechs. As a result of the Munich Agreement, the municipality was annexed by Nazi Germany and was administered as part of the Reichsgau Sudetenland. After the war, Germans were expelled and Liběchov was resettled by Czechs.[2]

Transport

Liběchov is located on the railway line Ústí nad LabemLysá nad Labem.[3]

Sights

The main landmark is the Liběchov Castle. It was originally a water fortress from the 14th century, rebuilt into a Renaissance castle in the 16th century. In 1720–1730, the castle was baroque rebuilt by the architect František Maxmilián Kaňka and extended. After the fire in 1811, Neoclassical modifications were made. The castle was damaged during the 2002 European floods and has been inaccessible since then, but is surrounded by a freely accessible castle park.[2] [4]

The Church of Saint Gall was built in the Baroque style in 1738–1741.[5]

North of the town is Klácelka, an artificial cave featuring large sculptures by Václav Levý.

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024. Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. Web site: Z historie Liběchova. Město Liběchov. cs. 2023-02-02.
  3. Web site: Detail stanice Liběchov. České dráhy. cs. 2024-06-26.
  4. Web site: Zámek Liběchov. CzechTourism. cs. 2023-02-02.
  5. Web site: Kostel sv. Havla. National Heritage Institute. cs. 2023-02-02.