Liberec Castle

Liberec Castle is a classicist residence standing on Palace Square (Zámecké náměstí) in the heart of Liberec, in the north of the Czech Republic. The building carries nearly five centuries of history as a noble manor, a district court, and the site of one of the world's largest glass exhibitions, and since 2024 it has belonged to the city, which plans to reopen it to visitors.

Who was behind the castle's beginnings?

A family estate already stood on this spot by the mid-16th century. In 1538, Jáchym z Bibrštejna, then owner of the Liberec estate, bought the property from local burgher Anton Plischke. The real turning point came decades later, when brothers Kryštof and Melchior z Redernů, lords of Frýdlant, replaced the older manor house with a new residence built between 1582 and 1587. That construction set the outline the castle has kept, in broad terms, ever since.

What changed after the 1615 fire?

Shortly after the new residence was completed, a fire destroyed much of the complex. Rebuilding fell to Melichar's widow, Kateřina z Redernů, who commissioned a castle chapel and had the complex enlarged with a new wing, later known as the Nostitz wing. This phase set the layout the building would keep for centuries.

Why does the castle look classicist today?

The facade visitors see on Palace Square today dates from the 18th century, when the originally baroque building underwent a thorough architectural remodeling. It is this 18th-century makeover, rather than the original Redern-era structure, that gave the castle its present classicist appearance.

How did the castle's role change in the 19th and 20th centuries?

Between 1850 and 1854 the castle was converted into a summer residence for the count's family, while rooms were also fitted out for the newly established district court. The building remained a noble seat until 1927, after which it served the castle administration. In 1933 it passed into state ownership. Over the following decades it housed a series of institutions, including a forestry administration office, a garrison command, and a school.

What connects the castle to glass?

In the 1970s, the Nostitz wing and the so-called New Castle were taken over by the state enterprise Skloexport. The company renovated this part of the complex and installed one of the world's largest exhibitions of art glass there. Despite its scale, the display was not generally open to the public. After Skloexport went bankrupt, the castle remained closed to visitors for many years.

What is happening at the castle today?

After years of negotiations, ownership of the castle passed to the city of Liberec in 2024. City authorities have announced plans to open the building to the public, including the castle tower and the chapel commissioned by Kateřina z Redernů.

Where is the castle located?

The building stands on Palace Square (Zámecké náměstí), in the historic center of Liberec, one of the largest cities in northern Bohemia, at the foot of the Jizera Mountains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Liberec Castle located? On Palace Square, in the historic center of Liberec in the north of the Czech Republic, close to other landmarks in the old town.

Why does the castle look classicist? The originally baroque building underwent a major architectural remodeling in the 18th century, which gave it the classicist facade seen today.

Who built the castle? Brothers Kryštof and Melchior z Redernů built it between 1582 and 1587 on the site of an older family estate purchased in 1538.

What is the castle's connection to glass? In the 1970s, the state enterprise Skloexport set up one of the world's largest exhibitions of art glass in the Nostitz wing and the New Castle.

Can the castle be visited today? After Skloexport's bankruptcy, the building was closed to visitors for a long time. Since 2024 it has belonged to the city of Liberec, which plans to open it to the public, including the tower and the chapel.