In the Footsteps of the Liebieg Family

The story of the Liebig family perfectly exemplifies the industrial boom and its effects on the development of the city, its new lifestyle and culture. The Liebiegs left an indelible mark on the Liberec architecture due to the fact that they were not only skilled entrepreneurs, but also enlightened engineers and generous patrons.INCITY App.

The founder of the dynasty of textile tycoons was Johann Liebieg Sr (1802-1870) who came from Broumov in Eastern Bohemia and settled in Liberec in 1818. His tenacity and hard work made it possible for him to evolve from a simple drapery worker to a small trader and eventually to one of the most successful industrialists in the monarchy. His business activities were not limited to textile production and Liberec. The Liberec factory Johann Liebieg & Co. was closely connected to the creation of settlements for employees known as Liebieg small town (Liebiegovo městečko, No. 13).  The following people were involved in its construction: the founder of the dynasty by managing the construction of the workers’ house, his descendants – daughter Marie Liebiegová (1835-1914), by initiating the construction of the social facilities for the female workers’ children and the church of St.Vincent de Paula, partly his son Johann Liebieg the younger (1836-1917) and especially his grandson Theodor Liebieg Jr (1872-1939).

For their own use, the family built three representative seats: The Villa of Johann Liebieg Jr (No. 4)., the Villa of Theodor Liebieg Jr (No. 11) and the Villa of the founder’s son Heinrich Liebieg  (1839-1904)  (No. 8) , who is known today primarily as an art collector and patron. He was also instrumental in the construction of a tourist restaurant with a lookout tower known as Liberecká výšina (No. 7). The founder’s brother Franz Liebieg (1799-1878) left the company in 1831 because of poor health. After his recovery he established his own company in Vesec. He is also connected with the construction of the tomb (No. 2) at the former civic cemetery. His descendants are known primarily as generous contributors in the construction of the new Liberec town hall (No. 1) in 1893.  In 1881 his son Ludwig Liebieg (1846–1909) bought the house No. 20/V in the present day street 8. března, which was built by the factory owner Adolf Schmidt based on the architectural design of Gustav Sachers on the site of the old post office.

The escutcheon displays the coat of arms of the family, which marked the Liebiegs’ newly acquired noble status. Johann Liebieg Sr. and Franz Liebieg Sr. were ennobled for their achievements in the industry; the first was awarded the hereditary title of Baron and the latter was knighted. The Liebiegs cooperated with a number of architects and engineers from Liberec and abroad. Nevertheless, the most fruitful cooperation the Liebiegs established was with a Nuremberg architect, Jakob Schmeissner, who deserves to be called their chief architect.

 

 

Liebieg Palace (The Villa of Johann Liebieg, Jr)

The Liebieg Palace is to be designed as a place for people to get together regardless of age and social status. It will offer visitors a wide range of leisure, educational, environmental, cultural and social services.

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Location
Address:U Tiskárny 81/1Liberec, 460 01GPS:50°46'1.4''N; 15°03'41.1''E[Map]

A family mansion inside chateau grounds

This luxurious family mansion is the result of the reconstruction of the Classicist house owned by Ferdinand Römheld between 1871-1872; it was probably designed and built by Gustav Sachers from Liberec. The mansion used to belong to Johann Liebieg Jr., one of Liberec's most influential industrial tycoons, and the location of their residence within the chateau grounds reflects this family's importance. After the death of Johann Liebieg Jr. in 1917, the palace was inherited by his children, who did not live there, but merely rented it out. After the Second World War, the palace was confiscated and from 1953 to 2014 housed the Regional Gallery, which can now be found in the former city spa.


A palace with the charm of the northern Italian Renaissance

This mansion with its garden and outbuildings - the carriage house, gatehouse, staircase ramp with the pergola and fountain, the garden gazebo, greenhouse and cold store was clearly inspired by the northern Italian Renaissance. It is one of the grandest and stylishly pure Historicist buildings in the city. Its dimensions, architectural design, decoration and floor plan rightly earned it the name Liebieg Palace.


Conversion of a palace to a community centre

The extensive reconstruction works retained the building’s original historical appearance inside and out. The most challenging part of the project was the renovation of the roofed conservatory and opening up the walled-up windows, restoring the stained-glass windows to the room and turning the previously inaccessible orangery into a future café. Various community associations and organisations that work with young people, the elderly, the disabled, etc. have since moved into the palace. There are now two exercise rooms, a hall to seat up to 60 people, an art studio, a ceramics workshop, the Johann Gallery, and much more. The site was opened up to the public on 3 June 2023.


Award

  • The reconstruction of the Liebieg Palace won the main Karel Hubáček Award in 2023. 
  • The Liebieg Palace was declared "Building of the Year in Liberec Region".
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