Once the industrial powerhouse of northern Bohemia, the charming city of Liberec sits nestled beneath the low, smooth ridges of the pine-clad Jizera Mountains. Architecturally it’s a curious mix of Slavic and Germanic townhouses, all peppered with open squares and the occasional gothic church spire, like the majestic towers of its City Hall. This is matched with a character that is laid-back and relaxed, a place where travellers can sip frothy pilsner beers in the company of locals, and conquer huge servings of hearty Czech dumplings to the sounds of Bohemian folkbeats.
There’s aplenty to do, with museums, a zoo and botanical garden worth a visit, but as any Liberec tour guide will tell you the city’s overarching attractions are the rolling hills and forests of the Czech north that cling to the slopes of the Lusatian and Jizera Ranges all around the town. Long hailed for their wealth of cross-country ski tracks, magnificent hiking trails and enchanting mountain homes, they are an adventure traveller’s dream just waiting to be explored.