Bílá offers several historical points of reference with clearly documented dates: a wooden house in the village square dates back to 1833; a former freehold estate in Bílá is mentioned as early as 1567. There is also the history of sacred buildings and regional cycling route No. 3049. For your planning, you can choose between focusing on cultural history and planning around cycling.
Historical Traces in Bílá
The wooden house in the village square dates back to 1833. Another historical reference is the former freehold estate in Bílá, mentioned in the land register of the Český Dub estate in 1567. The dates refer to different things: 1833 is the date assigned to the house, while 1567 is when the estate was mentioned. This distinction keeps the building’s history separate from its historical mention.
The freehold estate also has a literary connection. Karolina Světlá set the story of her novel Nemodlenec at this former estate. Alongside the written record, there is therefore a specific novel title; the connection relates to the story and its setting.
Chapels, a Church and a Living Tradition
North of Bílá stands a Baroque chapel originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was built in 1773 and restored in 1881. The two dates distinguish the construction from the later restoration. The chapel is on the road from Český Dub to Petrašovice. These details complement each other: the cardinal direction locates the chapel relative to Bílá, while the road connects it with Český Dub and Petrašovice.
The Church of St James in Letařovice is documented as early as 1363. The church retains wooden coffered ceilings, as well as traces of medieval wall paintings. The surviving wooden ceiling and the traces of painting highlight different features: one is an architectural element, while the other points to medieval wall decoration. In a coffered ceiling, the wooden surface is divided into individual panels.
For the festival Pouť mezi dvěma Jány in Letařovice, a 2025 programme mentions a re-enactment of a traditional Corpus Christi procession. If visiting during the festival is important to you, check the current programme; specific details may change.
Cycling as Another Perspective
Regional cycling route No. 3049, Trávníček–Pěnčín–M. Rohozec, connects Bílá to Proseč pod Ještědem to the north and to Vlastibořice near Sychrov to the south. If you are planning a ride from Bílá, use these directions as a starting point: decide whether the northern or southern connection better suits your plans. Check the signposting again before setting off.
When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to start by asking what you want your stay to focus on. If you want to use the cycling route, plan around the northern or southern direction; if you are more interested in architectural history and literature, you can make those themes the reason for your trip.
Discover more destinations: Hodkovice Nad Mohelkou, Doubi, Dětřichov, Fojtka, Hlavice, Jindřichovice Pod Smrkem, Horní Řasnice, Svijany.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Liberec.
