Libice Nad Doubravou

Libice nad Doubravou combines landscapes, local history and unusual evidence of regional culture. The historic Libická Trail trade route passed through Libice nad Doubravou and connected Bohemia with Moravia. In the area of the Doubrava Valley, it ran below the main ridge of the Železné hory. This historic connection gives the town a cultural context, while the nearby valley and uplands offer different impressions for trip planning.

Doubrava Valley and Spálava

In the vicinity of Libice nad Doubravou lies the 13.3679-hectare Svatomariánské údolí Nature Reserve. The Doubrava flows there in a largely natural state, and well-preserved ash-alder floodplain forests grow in the adjacent floodplain. The Svatomariánské Valley can be explored from Libice nad Doubravou via local roads and paths. The route passes former mills and a former glass-cutting workshop. Important for orientation: no marked hiking trail runs through the valley. Those wishing to include this landscape in their plans will therefore find an explicitly local route here, not a promise of a signposted long-distance or circular trail.

Another prominent landscape feature is Mount Spálava, located in the part of Libice nad Doubravou of the same name. It is the second-highest peak of the Železné hory. Near the mountain are high rock formations called Mrazové sruby. The three landscape features are therefore each independently associated with Libice nad Doubravou or Spálava and should not be understood as a single excursion destination.

Church, chateau and vanished glass production

The Church of St. Giles is considered the oldest monument in Libice nad Doubravou. A wooden predecessor probably already stood here in the 10th century. The present building has a Gothic nave and a tower built in the High Baroque style at the beginning of the 17th century. The church also contains a 14th-century baptismal font. A cultural and historical stay can therefore encompass several clearly distinguishable periods documented in one place.

Libice nad Doubravou Chateau originally dates from the 18th century. In the 19th century, the Baroque chateau was enlarged and remodelled in the Pseudo-Gothic style. The glass manufactory of Antonín Pešout is part of the local industrial history: its production ended in 1915. Only the residential building has survived, while the workshops are ruins. The machinery was powered by a 16-horsepower water turbine. Pilnův statek also contributes to the history of the town. The farmstead dates from the late 18th century, was reconstructed in 1869 and is owned by the municipality, which is attempting to preserve it as a typical farmhouse.

Accommodation and regional orientation

Pilnův statek provides accommodation for visitors who want to hike or cycle in the surrounding area. This specific accommodation recommendation suits a stay combining the landscape with local history. For dining, the town lists Hostinec U Bambuchů: in addition to the regular menu, it serves old Bohemian specialities and dishes from European cuisine.

For further regional orientation, you can also explore Rozsochatec, Sázavka, Havlíčkova Borová, Rušinov, Vez-Skala, Sloupno, Veselý Žďár and Svetlá Nad Sázavou.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Havlíčkův Brod.