Conference Venue

The History of Linserka

From Clothier to Industrial Complex

The story of the site on Resslova Street began in 1845. In that year, the Liberec clothier Gottfried Tanner built a Neoclassical house to serve as a cloth manufactory. The building was later sold to Christian Linser, the owner of a copper and metalware workshop, who transformed it into the foundation of the "C. Linser Engineering Works."

During the Industrial Revolution, Linser expanded the enterprise, converting the original weaving mill into a foundry and a modern industrial complex. Its architectural design featured contributions from some of the leading architects of the era.

At the turn of the 20th century, the Linser foundry took a bold leap from producing machinery for textile mills and breweries toward the burgeoning field of motoring. In 1902, the factory began manufacturing Zeus motorcycles.

The company reached its pinnacle in 1906 when it developed and presented the very first four-cylinder automobile in the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the Vienna Motor Show. Aside from the magneto-electric ignition and the tires, the Linser Voituretta was manufactured entirely in Liberec—an achievement the Linser factory was rightfully proud of.

Eventually, Linser transferred the licenses and production documentation to the newly established RAF (Reichenberger Automobil Fabrik), owned by the visionary industrialist and racing driver Theodor von Liebieg. After production commenced in 1907, direct car assembly moved to a different facility. However, the Linser plant continued to produce vital components for these vehicles, as well as for the Laurin & Klement brand.

The Memory of a Place Coming Back to Life

In 1926, the city purchased the site and converted it into municipal garages. The following decades were marked by decline, dilapidation, and demolition.

Of the vast industrial complex that once shaped the face of Liberec, only a single building remains—the three-story Art Nouveau foundry, known today as Linserka.

Before the reconstruction began, the abandoned building was brought back to life by the student association Übergrund Linserka, which hosted a variety of cultural events and gatherings.

The ongoing reconstruction is not merely about saving an architectural monument; it is about transforming the industrial spirit of the past into a modern center for creative industries.