Reichenberg: Culture, Nature and Ještěd

Reichenberg combines distinctive cultural monuments, unusual museums, waterscapes and destinations around Ještěd. The range of attractions is particularly diverse for travellers who want to combine culture and nature: Liberec Zoo was founded in 1904, is the oldest zoo in the Czech Republic and showcases more than 170 animal species from all continents.

City History, Art and Special Buildings

One of the city’s defining buildings is Liberec Town Hall. The Neo-Gothic building was constructed in 1893 based on a design by Viennese architect F. Neumann and was declared a national cultural monument in 2023. During the summer season, guided tours may include the ceremonial hall and the climb to the tower, which offers views of the surrounding area.

The Ještěd area is also known for its exceptional architecture: the Ještěd hotel and television transmitter together form a national cultural monument. The Ještěd hotel building stands at 1,012 m above sea level and was awarded the prestigious Perret Prize. MUZA – the North Bohemian Museum in Liberec was founded in 1873 as the first museum of decorative arts in the Bohemian lands. The Lázně Liberec Gallery manages a collection of more than 22,000 works of art from the Czech Republic and other European countries.

The Technical Museum offers a different perspective on the region’s past. There you can see historic automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles and car models, as well as an extensive exhibition on the history of public transport in the region. For families and curious explorers, iQlandia complements the cultural offering with ten themed exhibitions, a planetarium and more than 400 exhibits.

Botanical Garden, Water and Landscapes

Liberec Botanical Garden is the oldest botanical garden in the Czech Republic. Construction began in 1893, and it opened to the public in 1895. The aquariums feature a coral reef, as well as the fauna and flora of the great South African lakes and the Amazon Basin. The aquarium pavilions are accessible via a glass tunnel. Outside, you can explore a large alpine garden with ponds and small waterfalls.

At Vesecký rybník – Teichmühle – Tajch, there is a freely accessible beach. The Vesecké údolí educational trail around Vesecký rybník is approximately 2 km long and has seven information boards about natural features and wetlands. Another prominent body of water is the Harcov Reservoir. It is considered Europe’s first masonry dam and was built between 1902 and 1904 as a flood-protection measure.

Ještěd and Excursions into the Mountains

The Ještěd area is a summer and winter sports centre accessible by public transport. Liberec is also a starting point for day trips to the Jizera Mountains and, in winter, to popular ski resorts with downhill slopes and dozens of kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails. This means that when choosing your accommodation, you can weigh up a stay focused on the city, culture, water or mountain landscapes without limiting yourself to just one type of experience.

For further orientation, you can also find Vselibice, Svetla Pod Jestedem, Kunratice, Rynoltice, Dětřichov, Žďárek and Albrechtice U Frýdlantu.

To the higher-level travel overview: Okres Liberec.

More About the Destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Reichenberg - Czechia Network.