Liberec

About

Having made its name as a textile town, it is sometimes still referred to as the 'Manchester of Bohemia' in reference to the city in England. However Liberec should also be noted for its strong German heritage. In the 1930s it was the unofficial cultural capital for Germans living in Czechoslovakia and became a key strong-hold as the Nazi party gained power. In 1938, the city official became a part of Nazi Germany under the Munich Agreement, causing Jewish and Czech residents to flee or face expulsion. After WW2 the situation was reversed, with German citizens forced to leave the city when it once again became part of Czechoslovakia. Notable sights include Liberec Town Hall (an impressive neo-renaissance building) and the futuristic Ještěd Tower that sits grandly atop hill just outside the town.