Liberec Region     Home » Regions » Liberec Region

« Back

Liberec Region – the Northernmost Region of the CR

This region lies in the North of the Czech Republic. Its territory comprises the northern Bohemian Basin, the Jizera Mountains, the western Krkonoše Mountain range and its foothills and the eastern part of the Lusatian Mountains. Its northern boundary, some 20 km in length, forms the state border with the Federal Republic of Germany, which links up with the Polish borderline of about 130 km in length. The Liberec Region is formed by the districts of Česká Lípa, Jablonec nad Nisou, Liberec and Semily.

The Liberec Region accounts for only 4% of the Czech Republic’s surface area. Except for the capital city of Prague, the region, 3,163 sq. km in size, is the smallest of all the CR’s 14 regions. The landscape of the entire Liberec Region is predominantly mountainous. The most popular peak is Mount Ještěd, the highest mountain of the Ještěd ridge, rising to a height of 1,012 metres above sea level. From the Natural Sciences point of view, the region is one of the most important, notable for a great variety of natural ecosystems and a high concentration of protected areas, with rare localities of great botanical and zoological importance.

Statistical Data

Source: Czech Statistical Office

Economic Potential

The Liberec Region is still a predominantly industrial territorial unit. In the course of the past twenty years, however, its traditional textile industry has lost its dominant position and the recent economic recession has also affected the glassmaking and fashion jewellery industries. The region’s main industries are car making and rubber and plastics production. The conditions in the region are less favourable for farming than in some other parts of the CR. An important role in this respect is played by the region’s altitude and climatic conditions. In addition, farming in the region is affected by the existence of vast protected areas (Krkonoše National Park, Bohemian Highlands Protected Landscape Area, Bohemian Paradise, Jizera Mountains, Kokořín and the Lusatian Mountains). Tourism is an important sector in the Liberec Region. The Liberec Industrial Park South is the largest industrial park in the region. Some twenty firms are based in the Park, which, taken together, employ more than 4,000 people. The largest company is Denso Manufacturing with 1,500 employees and a turnover of more than CZK 6 billion. This northernmost region of the Czech Republic is also an important base for high-tech research. In 2011, CzechInvest Agency mediated the realisation of investment projects in the region worth nearly CZK 1.8 billion in comparison with a mere CZK 702 million in 2010. Thanks to last year’s investments in the region with an above-average unemployment rate, 557 new jobs were created. Important construction projects are prepared in particular by the Technical University in Liberec, which is working on the construction of another research and instruction compound worth CZK 423 million. The city of Liberec, with its population of approximately 100,000, also has a number of modern shopping centres. In 2012, the Liberec Plaza Centre was the first in the Czech Republic to open a unique entertainment and educational roofed shopping facility, DinoPark. Businessmen are offered 18 development localities in Hrádek nad Nisou, Jilemnice and the Liberec Industrial Park. In addition, those interested in construction are offered dozens of vacant, unused brownfields. For example, the region is trying to find investors for the exploitation of the former Ralsko military compound, where, however, activities burdening the environment will not be permitted.

Tourism

Tourism, for which very good conditions exist, plays a significant part in the region’s economy. The large number of historical buildings and other sights, as well as cultural institutions, express a rich cultural and historical tradition. Institutions of regional importance include a number of museums and galleries in different parts of the Region. With respect to the glassmaking and fashion jewellery production in the area, tourists are invited to visit glassmaking museums in Nový Bor, Kamenický Šenov and Železný Brod and the glassmaking and costume jewellery museum in Jablonec nad Nisou. The Bohemian Paradise District Museum in Turnov has its own collections, covering the areas of Geology, Mineralogy and Goldsmithery and Jewellery, which are unique not only at the national, but also the pan-European level. There are two spa resorts in the Region: Libverda and Kunratice. Historically valuable sights attracting hosts of tourists are the region’s castles and chateaux (Bezděz, Zákupy, Lemberk, Frýdlant, Sychrov, Hrubý Rohozec, Valdštejn) and a number of churches and monasteries. The countryside is studded with lakes and other water surfaces, the most popular of which is Mácha Lake.

Besides cultural and historical sights, visitors can admire the natural beauties of the region – its exceptional countryside and rock formations. From the Natural Science point of view, Liberec Region is important for its great variety of natural ecosystems, a high concentration of protected areas and rare localities of great botanical and zoological importance. There is one national park in the Region (Krkonoše National Park), as well as five protected landscape areas (Bohemian Highlands, Jizera Mountains, Lusatian Mountains, Bohemian Paradise, Kokořín), seven national nature reserves, eight national natural monuments, 35 nature reserves and 56 natural monuments.

The Region’s Districts:

Česká Lípa District

The Česká Lípa District is a traditionally industrial part of the country. Today its main industry is the manufacture of car parts and accessories. Firms with this production programme are located mainly in Česká Lípa. The most visited historical sights in the district are Bezděz Castle, dominating the landscape, and the chateaux of Lemberk, Zákupy and Houska.

Jablonec nad Nisou District

There are more than 24,000 registered business entities in the Jablonec nad nisou District, 23% of which are wholesale and retail businesses, and motor vehicle repair and maintenance workshops. Manufacturing is also an important sector in the district. The Jablonec District is extremely attractive not only for domestic, but also for foreign visitors, who come there to see its beautiful landscape and historical sights and to experience its strong cultural tradition. In winter, the Jizerské Hory Mountains provide attractive terrain for both classic and downhill skiing and, in summer, excellent opportunities for mountain biking. There are important natural localities in the Jizerské Hory Mountains, including peat bogs, places with interesting flora and streams with numerous small waterfalls. Recently, the Jizera Valley has become very popular with tourists. The river flows through wild mountain passes and in summer it is often used for water tourism.

Liberec District

The Liberec District is known for its traditional industrial production. The most important sectors include metalworking, machine building, the manufacture of parts for the car industry and the textile and plastics industries. After 1990, the textile industry, a traditional manufacturing sector in the Liberec District, fell into a profound depression and its share of total output, export and employment declined dramatically in the framework of the district. Other important sectors in the Liberec District, in addition to industry, are construction, transport and communications, and naturally the tertiary sphere. Most of the larger firms are based in the regional city of Liberec.

Thanks to its geographical position, the Liberec District provides good opportunities for recreation all the year round. Situated in the valley between the Jizerské Hory Mountains and the Ještěd Ridge, Liberec offers a wide range of opportunities for tourism.

Semily District

The district’s natural assets are suitable for recreation and sport all the year round, attracting visitors from both the Czech Republic and other countries. The most popular resorts in the Krkonoše Mountains area include Harrachov, Benecko, Rokytnice nad Jizerou, Vysoké nad Jizerou and Vítkovice.

Useful Contacts: 

Liberec Region, www.kraj-lbc.cz 
Magistrát města Liberce (Liberec Regional Office), www.liberec.cz 
Krajská hospodářská komora Liberec (Liberec Regional Chamber of Commerce), www.khkliberec.cz 
Technická Universita Liberec (Liberec Technical University), www.tul.cz