CZ: Liběchov: Wealth Hidden In Ruins - VIDEO

Don´t look for square or car parks in Liběchov, you would just lose your time. Rather be careful when you will cross the busy road leads directly to the city centre to Mělnik. Do not look nor fountains, statues of famous plague or columns that usually adorns the centre of most cities. In Liběchov everything is upside down, and if you are looking for history wrapped in silk laid out on a golden platter, scented with fresh coffee and good beer flush in class pub - just commerce, rather forget to visit Liběchov. Liběchov belongs to adventure nature.

Liběchov in cross word

If a man avoids the unsightly appearance of most buildings will easily explore the charm of old farm buildings, mill or brewery. When, in addition to wade through lurking bush except piles of garbage and various nooks and abbreviations Liběchov must admire and perhaps a little regret.

The answer to the question, why does it look like that - the floods of 2002. Then the water in Liběchov reached above the height of three meters and the city that their status was given only five years ago, since then apparently didn’t come to life. Some of the dilapidated buildings are now trying to sell, which could be compared to the last flare fired from a sinking ship. We don’t know anything about the city budget, therefore it is difficult to evaluate. But it seems inconceivable that a place that has incredible historical value, important for the whole country, so visibly deteriorating.

Liběchov castle - abandoned wealth

Another such example is the neglect Liběchov castle, but to which no arrow leads you. So you can get there by the several ways. The main gate with rusted signs and lots of long bans invalid, we missed the survey, but we found a shortcut from the mill, how else than the overgrown bushes. As in a fairy tale before us is then opened another world - a beautiful building of Liběchov castle and a spacious castle garden.

Ages ago, was on the same place a wooden fort. Also from here, Jan Hus fought against human stupidity and religious regulation. In Libechov, he wrote a number of his works - The Church Books of simony, daughter, Interpretation. In the second half of the 16th century fortress by the then receives the owner, enterprising knights of Belciv of Nostvic, stone Renaissance style with an unusual rounded footprint, surrounded by a moat. Moreover, he had to build there the extensive farm buildings - mill, sheep-fold, and finally brewery vineyard. In the 18th century Liběchov “dressed” in Baroque. Castle got a new wing with a salla terrena, banqueting hall and classicist castle garden.  

Today is all the in the style Liběchov - dilapidated and sad. Inhabit the castle garden moles who dig it perfectly, and horses, whose hooves tracks sunk into the mud, even where, there is no their space anymore. Through the broken windows you can see inside and at least peeling paintings on the walls absorb the atmosphere of some bygone glory.

In Liběchov it is hard to miss the church, standing directly over the city, has a red white and is dedicated to St. Havel. There leads the ruined stairs, the other side of town, then about half a meter high gates. In Liběchov but is still one church, not so great, but that's up - St. Spirit on the hill above the village and vineyard.

Text/photo/video: Klára Svobodová