Libáň

Libáň is a town in Jičín District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,900 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The villages of Kozodírky, Křešice, Psinice and Zliv are administrative parts of Libáň.

Etymology
The name is derived from the personal name Liban, meaning "Liban's (court)".

Geography
Libáň is located about 12 km southwest of Jičín and 59 km northeast of Prague. It lies mostly in the Central Elbe Table. The northeastern part of the municipal territory belongs to the Jičín Uplands and includes the highest point of Libáň at 323 m above sea level. The stream of Libáňský potok flows through the town. There are several fishponds around the town; the largest of them is Stejskal.

History
The first written mention of Libáň is from 1340, when it was already referred to as a town. It belonged to the Staré Hrady estate and shared its owners. Libáň later lost the town status, but in 1574, it was again promoted to a town by Emperor Maximilian II.

Economy
The largest employer in Libáň is Antolin Liban, a car parts manufacturer owned by Grupo Antolin. It employs about 750 people.

Transport
There are no major roads passing through the municipality. The railway that runs through Libáň is unused.

Sights
The main landmark of the town is the Church of the Holy Spirit. It is originally a Gothic church from the 14th century. It was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1753–1756.

The Church of Saint George is located in Psinice. Originally a Gothic building, it was rebuilt to its present form in the Historicist style. A part of the stone wall that surrounds the church is a separate wooden bell tower.