Liberec Tourist Attractions

North of Liberec, in the Jizera Mountains (Jizerske hory), is the village of Frydlant. The town's most notable feature is the medieval castle that is easily seen as it rises above the surrounding countryside and the River Smedava. The Frydlant castle dates to the 13th Century with much of the fortifications and the round tower still in tact. Surrounding neo-Gothic and Renaissance buildings compliment the old castle.The castle, once owned by the Wallenstein (Valdstejn) family and later the Clam-Gallas family, has been open to the public as a museum since the early 1800s. On display in the interior are Gothic furnishings, baroque paintings, ceramics, toys, pipes from the 18th to early 20th Centuries, and everyday items belonging to people who would have lived in the castle.

The small town of Hukvaldy, set in a wooded area, is a very pleasant spot to stop and take a break from touring. For the children, the town features a deer park set in the ruins of a medieval castle. The name of the town comes from the word hukalky, which translates as wood nymphs.Local legend says that the famous Czech composer Leos Janacek (1854-1928) got his inspiration from the surrounding woods and even from the wood nymphs themselves. At Hukvaldy there is a museum dedicated to his life, which contains his furniture along with his harmonium and lectern upon which he composed his greatest works.Several music festivals take place in Hukvaldy each summer. Two of note are the Janácek's Hukvaldy International Music Festival and the Janácek's Lašsko Musical Festival.

Located in the Jizerske Mountains the town of Jablonec nad Nisou is the administrative center for the area. Although there have been people living in this area since the 13th Century, the town was settled in the 1500s and became prominent name in the glass making industry and later it became well known for its jewelry production. The town flourished prior to World War I and again in prior to World War II. Some of the buildings are a testament to the town's prosperity.Jablonec nad Nisou has a number of interesting buildings representing different architectural styles. Some of the places worth seeing are the New Town Hall, the baroque Church of St Anne, the Town Theatre, the Museum of Glass and Jewelry (Muzeum skla a bizuterie) located in an interesting art nouveau building, and a number of others if time permits.

The main attraction in the small town of Jablonne V Podjestedi is the white with pink trim, church of St Vavrinec. This baroque church, with rococo features, was built at the end of the 17th Century and beginning of the 18th Century and is the most striking building in Jablonne V Podjestedi. The church contains catacombs with mummified bodies which can be visited on a guided tour. Included in the crypt are the remains of St Zdislava of Lemberk.Just 3km / 2mi east of Jablonne V Podjestedi is the 13th Century Lemberk castle, once owned by the Wallenstein (Valdstejn) family. It is possible to view the interior, which is lavishly furnished, on a guided tour.

The town of Turnov is just north of the Czech Paradise Nature Reserve (Cesky raj). It is the main service center for the reserve and where travelers will find the Cesky raj Visitor Information Center. Also of interest in Turnov is the Czech Paradise Museum (Cesky raj museum) with information of the geology and history of the area, and includes mineralogical, archaeological, ethnography, and jewelry collections. The museum also contains archives and art exhibits. The main focus of the Czesky raj Museum is on gemstones; the collection and cutting process of precious stones. Temporary exhibits are also displayed at the museum.