Horní Libchava (German: Oberliebich) is a municipality and village in Česká Lípa District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 800 inhabitants.

Horní Libchava
Horní Libchava Castle
Horní Libchava Castle
Flag of Horní Libchava
Coat of arms of Horní Libchava
Horní Libchava is located in Czech Republic
Horní Libchava
Horní Libchava
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°42′46″N 14°29′36″E / 50.71278°N 14.49333°E / 50.71278; 14.49333
Country Czech Republic
RegionLiberec
DistrictČeská Lípa
First mentioned1352
Area
 • Total10.38 km2 (4.01 sq mi)
Elevation
258 m (846 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total842
 • Density81/km2 (210/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
471 11
Websitewww.obechornilibchava.cz

Geography edit

Horní Libchava is located about 4 km (2 mi) northwest of Česká Lípa and 38 km (24 mi) west of Liberec. It lies mostly in the Ralsko Uplands, but the municipal territory also extends into the Central Bohemian Uplands in the northwest. The highest point is at 412 m (1,352 ft) above sea level. The Šporka Stream flows through the municipality. The village is surrounded by several small ponds. Half of the municipal territory lies within the České středohoří Protected Landscape Area.

History edit

The first written mention of Horní Libchava is in the register of the Papal tithes from 1352.[2] The village was founded in the castle grounds of the Klištejn Castle, which was founded after 1300 and was first documented in 1339. The castle gave the name to the Lords of Klinštejn. In 1426, the village and the church were burned down by the Hussites.[3] From 1653 to 1925, Horní Libchava was the centre of an estate owned by the Knights Hospitaller.[4]

Demographics edit

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18691,028—    
18801,041+1.3%
1890938−9.9%
1900960+2.3%
1910971+1.1%
YearPop.±%
1921975+0.4%
19301,047+7.4%
1950639−39.0%
1961505−21.0%
1970458−9.3%
YearPop.±%
1980392−14.4%
1991320−18.4%
2001332+3.8%
2011682+105.4%
2021808+18.5%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Sights edit

The main landmark of Horní Libchava is the Church of Saint James the Great. The original church was as old as the village, but it has to be completely rebuilt after the Hussite Wars. The sacristy was added in 1499. The current appearance of the church is the result of the baroque reconstruction from 1736.[3]

The Horní Libchava Castle was originally a small manor house from the 16th century, which was rebuilt into a Renaissance residence in 1574.[7]

Nothing survived from the above-ground parts of Klinštejn Castle, and the location is now just an archaeological site.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. ^ "O obci" (in Czech). Obec Horní Libchava. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  3. ^ a b "Horní Libchava, kostel sv. Jakuba Většího" (in Czech). Noc kostelů. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  4. ^ "Historie fary". Ubytování – Fara maltézských rytířů (in Czech). Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  5. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Česká Lípa" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 5–6.
  6. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  7. ^ "Zámek" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  8. ^ "Zřícenina hradu Klinštejn" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-06-19.

External links edit