Meziluží

Meziluží is a small village belonging to the municipality of Libošovice in the Jičín District, Hradec Králové Region, tucked into the heart of the Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj) protected landscape area. It lies in the Podkost district, right next to the famous Kost Castle, within the gently rolling Jičín Hills, roughly 2.5 km northwest of the center of Libošovice, in the cadastral territory of Dobšice, which covers just under 3 square kilometers.

Where does the name come from?

The village's name derives from the Old Czech word "luh," meaning a wet meadow or riverside woodland. Meziluží literally translates to "between the meadows" — an apt description of the surrounding landscape, where open fields and shallow valleys alternate with the forests typical of the wider Bohemian Paradise region.

What is the village's history?

The earliest written record of Meziluží dates back to 1406, giving the settlement more than six centuries of documented history. A defining moment came in 1438, when the village was purchased by the powerful nobleman Mikuláš Zajíc of Hazmburk and incorporated into the extensive estate of Kost Castle. From that point on, the fate of Meziluží was closely tied to the lords of Kost, one of the most influential noble families in central Bohemia at the time. Notably, just a year earlier, in 1437, the same family had also acquired neighboring estates in Lhotka, Dobšice, and Bystřice, illustrating the scale of the Zajíc family's territorial expansion in this part of the country.

How has the population changed over time?

Population records reveal a long, steady decline typical of many small Czech rural settlements. In 1869, Meziluží had 124 inhabitants — a relatively lively farming community for its era. By 2021, that number had dropped to just 23 residents, living across 19 houses. This decline of more than 80 percent over roughly a century and a half mirrors the broader rural-to-urban migration that reshaped the Czech countryside throughout the 20th century.

What is worth seeing nearby?

Right next to the village lies the Meziluží Nature Monument, established in 1997. It's a small but ecologically valuable site, known for hosting rare species of orchids. The protected area sits directly adjacent to the village's houses and can be reached via the blue-marked hiking trail running from Vyskeř to Podkost, though visitors need to leave the main trail for an unmarked forest path heading toward Skokovy. The wider area also includes the Podtrosecká údolí Nature Reserve, known for the sandstone rock formations and valleys characteristic of the Bohemian Paradise.

The Podkost region, where Meziluží is located, takes its name directly from Kost Castle — a Gothic fortress built in the mid-14th century that for generations served as the seat of the Zajíc family of Hazmburk. The proximity of such a significant landmark means that Meziluží, though quiet and modest in size itself, makes for a convenient base for exploring one of the most scenic corners of the Bohemian Paradise.

Frequently asked questions

Which municipality does Meziluží belong to? The village is administratively part of the Libošovice municipality in the Jičín District.

How many people live in Meziluží? According to 2021 data, the village has 23 residents living in 19 houses.

What can be found near the village? Right next to Meziluží is a nature monument protecting rare orchid species, while the wider area includes the Gothic Kost Castle and the Podtrosecká údolí Nature Reserve.

Where does the village's name come from? The name comes from the Old Czech word "luh," meaning a wet meadow or woodland, referring to the settlement's location amid such terrain.