Libějovice brings together several historic landmarks and Libějovická alej (Libějovice Avenue); Lomec adds its own spiritual focus with its pilgrimage church. When planning, the main distinction is between the châteaux, which are not open to the public, and the church interior, which is open daily. This lets you plan your trip around the sights that are actually accessible and the activities you want to enjoy.
Châteaux with Different Architectural Histories
Starý zámek is a Renaissance building dating from the mid-16th century. One of its distinctive features is a triple entrance gate with a preserved Gothic-vaulted passageway. Nový zámek is markedly different: this imposing, elongated building is in the late Empire style and surrounded by lush parkland. Both buildings are among the area’s defining historic landmarks, but neither is open to the public for visits.
According to information updated on 10 June 2022, Starý zámek is privately owned and not open to the public; Nový zámek is also not open to the public. Check this access information locally before visiting. If you would like to plan an interior visit, the church in Lomec offers another option: it is open daily, and its interior can be visited. Check visitor information before you travel.
Discover the Avenue and Its Paths
Libějovická alej consists mainly of lime trees and lines an old path. The path connects the pilgrimage chapel of svatá Máří, Nový zámek in Libějovice and the pilgrimage centre at Lomec in the Strakonice District. A blue-marked hiking route and the Julia Zeyer Trail also run through the avenue. The avenue was awarded the title “Strom hrdina” in 2008.
It is also worth distinguishing between the routes when choosing an activity: the two routes mentioned above run through the avenue, whereas the Historická krajina Netolicko cycling loop is a separate, approximately 50-kilometre educational route with 16 stops and information boards in three languages. Its northern section passes through the Libějovicko-Lomecko landscape area. The municipality of Libějovice, with its two châteaux, is located there. However, the description of the northern section does not explicitly identify Libějovice as a designated stop.
A Designed Cultural Landscape
The regional area of Libějovicko-Lomecko includes a Baroque designed cultural landscape. Its design incorporates, among other things, Nový zámek, Starý zámek and Nový Dvůr. This classification brings the buildings together without equating their different periods of origin. Starý zámek dates from the mid-16th century; Nový Dvůr was built under the Rosenbergs between 1587 and 1590.
Construction of Nový zámek began in 1696, and it was completed in a comparatively short period, between 1747 and 1754. The area’s history thus brings together several different time periods: the Renaissance, the construction of Nový Dvůr under the Rosenbergs and the later completion of the château. The landscape itself also plays a part, with the avenue, the old path and the routes mentioned above providing their own points of orientation for hikers.
Pilgrimage and Accommodation in Lomec
The pilgrimage church of Jména Panny Marie in Lomec was built between 1699 and 1704 by Count Buquoy to house a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child. It is considered an important work of High Baroque architecture in Central Europe. Its history, religious significance and daily opening hours make Lomec a destination in its own right during a stay, alongside the historic buildings and paths of Libějovicko-Lomecko.
For accommodation, Poutní dům Lomec offers single and double rooms to individuals and groups. Check availability for your preferred dates.
Discover more destinations: Škvořetice, Číčenice, Strakonice, Strašice, Budyně, Přechovice, Kladruby, Radčice.
For the overview of the wider region: Strakonice District.
