A wooden church with a Baroque interior, historic works of art and the ruins of Rychmberk Castle give Liberk a distinctive cultural and historical character. There is also a blue-marked hiking trail leading down into the valley of the Liberský potok. Those planning a stay can choose between exploring the village’s architecture and art and discovering the surrounding countryside.

St Peter and Paul: Wooden Architecture and Interior

The Church of St Peter and Paul is considered a unique example of folk art. The ensemble includes a tiered wooden bell tower and a rectory built from horizontally laid logs. Inside, a Baroque interior with coffered ceilings and paintings on wood shape the overall impression. The entire ensemble has been protected as a national cultural monument since 2014.

Planning is important if you want to visit the church interior: guided tours with commentary are available by prior arrangement, and there are no regular opening hours. Public events are also held in the church on a regular basis. If you would like a tour, arrange it in advance; it is also worth checking the latest schedule if you have a particular event in mind.

The preserved wooden statues of St Wenceslas and St John of Nepomuk are also part of the furnishings of St Peter and Paul. They were created by local sculptor Filip Jakub Prokop, who was born in Liberk in 1740. A plaque commemorating him can be found at the local kindergarten. The works of art in the church thus connect with another trace of his ties to the village.

Sacred Art and Local Traditions

Other buildings and works of art add their own distinctive touches. The small rural Church of St John of Nepomuk, with its wooden bell tower, was built between 1734 and 1736. A column with a statue of the Immaculate Virgin Mary dates from 1751 and was erected at the community’s expense. The Ecce Homo statue, dated 1777, was probably created in Vienna; it is an early regional example of Neoclassical art of Viennese origin. Also dated 1777, the statue of Our Lady of Wambierzyce reflects the veneration of this Marian pilgrimage site in Kłodzko.

Fragments survive of another statue of St John of Nepomuk, acquired in 1777 at the community’s expense. The front of its pedestal features a remarkable view of the village. A sandstone crucifix dating from 1834 stands at the entrance to the church grounds. Rural architectural heritage also includes the brick-built Chapel of the Coronation of Mary, dating from around the mid-18th century, and a preserved farmstead complex characteristic of the Rychnov region.

Local legends are also part of Liberk’s cultural identity. Two local legends explain the village’s skeletal figure. One tells of a cruel castellan who was supposedly buried in an old crypt in front of the church altar. This is a legend, not a confirmed historical event.

Rychmberk and the Trail into the Valley

The Rychmberk castle site, also known as Hrad Liberk, is an important archaeological site on the western edge of the municipality. Its remains lie on a spur above the Liberský potok. The castle’s core was separated from the surrounding terrain by a neck ditch about 25 metres wide and around 6.5 metres deep. A well cut into the rock survives in the former outer bailey.

A clearly visible path still runs along the southern slope of the hill to the castle. For a walk down into the countryside, there is also a blue-marked trail from Liberk into the valley of the Liberský potok. It passes through quiet stretches of forest, accompanied by the sound of a babbling stream. Check the trail markings and conditions locally before setting out.

These two themes offer different starting points for planning your day: at the church, the focus is on art, architecture and a tour by prior arrangement; on the trail into the valley, the main attractions are the hike and the local trail markings. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Liberk, you can consider which of these focuses you would like your stay to centre on.

Discover more destinations: Deštné, Sediviny, Hřibiny-Ledská, Králova Lhota, Bolehošť, Svídnice U Kostelce Nad Orlicí, Osečnice, Rohenice

View the overview of the wider travel area: Rychnov nad Kněžnou District.