Libice nad Cidlinou


Libice nad Cidlinou is a village in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is one of the oldest settlements in Bohemia, located 5 km southeast of Poděbrady at the confluence of the Cidlina and Elbe rivers. The population of Libice is 1,314, it is 190 m above sea level, and its total area is 9.95 km².

History

Libice emerged in the 9th century as the capital fort of the Slavnik family. They were of possible White Croat origin, and their lands were part of White Croatia. Archaeological digs begun in the nineteenth century show that the material culture was highly developed by the end of the first millennium AD. Libice began as a castle, and fortifications and the ruins of a stone church have survived to the present day. In 995 Libice was stormed by Bohemian Duke Boleslav II and the Vršovci clan, who killed most of the Slavnik family and annexed Libice to Prague. Adalbert and Radim survived by taking refuge in land of the Polans under rule of Boleslaw I.

Important buildings