Libkovice Pod Řípem – Village History and Views

Libkovice Pod Řípem lies about four kilometres east of Říp, in a hollow at an elevation of 221 metres above sea level. The village’s location connects it to the mountain while also giving it a history of its own, which can be traced through its Protestant church, cemetery and memorials. The cardinal directions also help orient visitors: Říp dominates the view to the west, while Mělník, with its distinctive castle, can be seen on the eastern horizon. Local history and landscape stand side by side here.

Protestant Church and Village History

Construction of the Protestant church began in 1852, and it was consecrated on 4 November 1855. It was the first Protestant church in Bohemia to have a tower and bells. This combination of a precisely dated origin and an architectural distinction gives the village’s history a clear religious-historical significance.

As part of the Noc kostelů programme on 23 May 2025, the church was open to visitors. The programme also included an introduction to the church, a concert by pupils and teachers from ZUŠ Štětí, and a guided tour of the church. If you would like to attend a future event, please check the relevant event programme.

Village Square, Cemetery and Remembrance

The village square brings together architectural heritage and remembrance. Among the listed buildings there is the former farmstead No. 7, built in the Neo-Renaissance style. The square is also home to a memorial to the victims of the First World War. Its inscription reads “Obětem války 1914–1918”.

Another memorial in the village centre commemorates residents of Libkovice who were executed at Prague’s Pankrác Prison on 22 March 1944. The two memorial sites have different points of reference: while the memorial in the village square names the years 1914–1918, the memorial in the village centre links remembrance to a specific date and Pankrác Prison.

The Protestant cemetery opened on 5 November 1855, one day after the church’s ceremonial opening. This sequence places the cemetery directly within the church’s early history.

Historical Traces and Regional Context

At the site called Na lukách, Krolmus found a place described as a pagan prayer site and locally known as Čertův sklep. This name, too, is part of the village’s historical heritage. In the regional context, Libkovice Pod Řípem lies in the second zone of the protected area around Říp, which is intended to protect the landscape and settlements.

Landscape and Nearby Attraction

A strip of woodland borders the northern side of Libkovice Pod Řípem. To the west, the massif of Říp fills the entire view; on the eastern horizon, the town of Mělník and its distinctive castle are visible. This contrast between mountain massif and townscape gives the landscape a clear western and eastern orientation.

Outside the village, in the Říp area, lies the Rotunda sv. Jiří a sv. Vojtěcha. This Christian church is nearly a thousand years old and open to visitors. It adds a nearby attraction to the area’s historical sites, but should be distinguished from the memorials in the village centre.

Discover more destinations: Býčkovice, Habrina, Kresin, Michalovice U Velkých Žernosek, Lkáň, Nové Dvory U Doksan, Malé Žernoseky, Slatina Pod Hazmburkem

For the overview of the wider area: Okres Litoměřice.