Despite its relatively small size, Liberec punches well above its weight when it comes to sights to see and things to do. The surrounding countryside heaves with glorious mountains and natural wonders, while the city itself boasts some fascinating cultural attractions and picturesque historic buildings. These are six of the best things to do while you are here.
Liberec’s Boskov Caves is the largest known cave system in northeastern Bohemia, and includes the largest underground lake in the Czech Republic. These dolomite caves are an exciting sight, and a trip down into the dark, where drops of water echo all around, is an atmospheric and delightfully spine-chilling experience. The caves are full of huge stalactites and stalactites, as well as glorious blue-green limpid pools. Open Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.
A glorious and imposing vision of neo-Renaissance beauty, the Liberec Town Hall is one of the most beautiful and impressive buildings in town, and an absolute must-see. While it might seem far older, it was actually constructed towards the end of the 19th century by Viennese architects, although the trans-Alpine Renaissance style harks back to a time of former Mittel-Europa glories. Open Monday and Wednesday 8am to 5pm, Tuesday and Thursday 8am to 4pm, Friday 8am to 2pm, and Saturday 8am to 12pm.
Conceptually, an amusement park and a cutting edge scientific research centre might have much in common, but in iQLANDIA they combine to form an exciting and intriguing day out. This is a world of fascinating experiments and smart entertainment, of dynamic robots and an astronaut training sessions, and of bottled lightning and safe firestorms. iQLANDIA aims to provide answers to grand questions, while offering a whole load of fun at the same time! Open Tuesday to Friday 8am to 4pm, Saturday 9am to 7pm and Sunday 9am to 5pm.
The home of exiled French aristocrats fleeing the French Revolution for over a century, the neo-Gothic Sychrov Castle brings a touch of French elegance and style to the Liberec countryside. Its turrets, spires and exquisite gardens certainly wouldn’t look out of place on the banks of the Loire and inside Sychrov houses a fantastic collection of French paintings and a marvellous Baroque interior. All in all, a beautiful place to visit. Open daily 9am to 330pm.
Český Ráj translates directly as ‘Bohemian Paradise’, and the name really says it all. This is a protected area of natural beauty, covered in lush forests and volcanic pillars of stone, and dotted with exquisite hilltop castles. The stunning forest landscape punctuated by vast white pillars of volcanic stone is a remarkable site, and hiking, cycling or just driving through this dramatic and unusual little slice of paradise is a hugely rewarding excursion. Open daily.
The oldest zoological garden in the Czech Republic, Liberec’s zoo is a wonderful family experience. Extensively and sympathetically landscaped with wooded areas and a stream running through it, Liberec Zoo provides the perfect atmosphere to discover a huge variety of wild animals. The zoo is also a centre for rare species conservation, and the only place in central Europe actively breeding white tigers! Open daily 9am to 7pm.