Visit the Lemberk Castle if you find yourself in the region of Liberec in northern Bohemia. Personally, I find this place to be very enjoyable, and I take my kids there quite frequently because we can combine a trip to the castle with a pleasant stroll through the surrounding area!
All the photos in this article were taken by me during my visit to Lemberk in 2022.
Where is Lemberk and how to get there
Lemberk, in German Lämberg, is an original castle from the 13th century converted into an early Baroque chateau, located near the town of Jablonné v Podještědí.
The castle is about 25 minutes by car from the city of Liberec, the region's administrative center. Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is about an hour and a half away by car.
There are two ways to get to the castle. Either by car on the E442 road or by train from Liberec in the direction to Česká Lípa.
If you're driving, park your car in the little lot beneath the castle. If you are traveling by train, you will need to get off at the Lvová train station.
Note: In the season from April to September, the car park is usually charged.
To get to the castle, you have to walk for about twenty minutes. There are two choices available to you: either follow the green and yellow hiking trails and take the shorter but steeper path through the forest. Or head up the asphalt road, which is quite comfortable but will bring you to the site a little later.
Friendly note: Our predecessors were wise, and they always built castles on top of a hill to keep an eye on what was going on in the castle below. So it's clear that the road to Lemberk goes uphill, right? 🙂
➜ At the bottom of the article, you will find a handy interactive map of the circuit, including points of interest along the trail.
What to do in the castle
Lemberk's season begins in April and finishes at the end of September. During the winter, the castle is closed. If you wish to go inside, time your visit to coincide with the opening hours.
Please note that Czech castles, chateaus, and other sights in less touristy places are usually closed on Mondays. This is also the case at Lemberk, on Mondays, its gates are closed to visitors!
Once you arrive at Lemberk, cross the stone bridge into the courtyard where the ticket office is located. The castle offers several types of guided tours, but if you're short on time or want a little independence, buy a ticket for the tower.
We did the same on our last visit, climbing the stairs up and enjoying the beautiful views of the surrounding area. Take care on the stairs because they are made of wood and are both narrow and steep. You can count them if you wish. As I descended, I kept track of 125 steps!
I bought a postcard with a photo of Lemberk at the ticket office. I'm looking forward to writing greetings on it and sending it to someone I like!
Loop trail around Lemberk
It would be a pity to return down the same path after leaving the castle area. I've got a better, different trail that will loop you back. There are several points of interest along the way.
Right in front of the entrance to the castle, you will find a signpost with tourist signs. We will take the green trail up.
After walking for a short distance, you will see some lovely wooden houses on your right. The houses form a fairy-tale backdrop that fits beautifully into the surroundings of the castle.
As soon as you pass the houses, an old brick mansion appears in front of you, with a garden behind it. This building is called Bredovský zámeček.
You continue on, taking a slight right turn and heading beneath the treetops that form a long, impressive avenue.
When the alley finishes, drop down a steeper slope with a fork at the end. Turn right, and you'll find yourself in a mystical spot-the well of St. Zdislava, which offers healing water.
St. Zdislava well
Zdislava was the wife of Havel of Lemberk, the lord of Lemberk Castle. She lived in the 13th century, and as a noblewoman, she was an outspoken supporter of the development of monasteries and hospitals where she assisted the sick.
Despite her exalted position, Zdislava personally visited the poor, and she had motherly compassion, especially for the sick and wounded, who were bedridden or afflicted by some misfortune or calamity.
According to legend, she possessed miraculous powers and utilized the water from the spring below Lemberk Castle, where she lived, to heal. In 1995, Pope John Paul II declared her a saint. Zdislava also became the patron saint of the Liberec region.
St. Zdislava's well has been preserved for generations and is still used by good people to drink from or simply rinse their hands and faces.
Every time I pass by the well, I come to a halt. And I'm not the only one. Locals, in particular, come to the well to get water, which they bottle and carry with them.
Tourists and families with children all stop in for a moment to dip their hands in. There are always several cups at the well's edge; fill them up and take a few sips of healing water!
Be sure to express gratitude to St. Zdislava for her protection. Her statue stands in a nook right over the well!
From Zdislava's well, continue along the comfortable forest path, flanked by the Virgin Brook (Panenský potok) on your left. After a quarter of an hour, you will come to a pond, on the right side of which you will cross a stone bridge.
In the winter months, when the trees have shed their leaves, you can see the majestic Lemberk Castle towering above. In summer, only the top of the castle tower is visible.
With only a few minutes left, you will return to the place from where you started up to the castle.
All the pleasant and easy journey takes less than an hour (without visiting the castle).
Then hop in the car or on the train to discover more wonderful attractions in the Liberec region!
Where to eat
Although the trip to Lemberk is not any tough, you may become hungry along the way.
If you go to the castle during its peak season, you could be lucky to discover a tiny refreshment stand directly near the castle. Drinks and modest sweets or snacks are available here.
In the summer, there is also a small refreshment kiosk open in the parking lot beneath the castle.
If, on the other hand, you're in the mood for a more formal meal, I'd be pleased to suggest the Lemberk restaurant in the area.
You may walk there in around ten minutes from the castle parking lot. Expect to cross the busy E442 road. Alternatively, drive to the restaurant; there is a modest parking space for guests.
MY TIP: The magnificent Czech castle of Frydlant will not disappoint fans of medieval architecture!
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