Europe > Czech Republic > Liberec
Liberec lies in northern Bohemia, close to the Polish and German borders, with Jested Mountain rising above the city like a local emblem. It has the solid civic architecture of a former textile city, but the mountains keep it from feeling heavy.
The centre is compact and easy to walk. The neo-Renaissance City Hall dominates the main square, while Masarykova street leads past museums, galleries, the zoo, and the botanical garden. Liberec also has small surprises: David Cerny's odd Feast of Giants bus stop, Art Nouveau workers' housing, and old industrial buildings turned to new uses.
Come for a full day if you are already in North Bohemia. Spend the morning in the centre, then go up Jested or use Liberec as a practical base for the Jizera Mountains.