From the History of the International Folklore Festival Liptálské slavnosti

Thirty five years ago, in 1970, a statue of the painter Jan Kobzáň - a Liptál native and the founder of the Walachian ethnographic society - was introduced to the public. Members of the Lipta ensemble used the occasion to offer their performance to the citizens of the village. Their performance was so successful that the leaders of the ensemble decided to hold a similar event every year - this tradition had later come to be known as Liptálské slavnosti.

For a long time, there was no official location for the festival. It was held in front of the castle or on the playground. At the end of the 1970s, the ensemble initiated the construction of a new cultural arena in the former park of the castle. More than 15000 hours of volunteer work - mostly by members of the Lipta ensemble, citizens of Liptál, and parents of children from Malá Lipta - were required to create the arena.

Hundreds of volunteers have contributed to the unique character of today’s folklore festival in Liptál. To name just a few, I would like to mention my predecessors - directors of Liptálské slavnosti - namely the festival’s founder Karel Mrlina and Jiřina and Radomír Sousedík from Vsetín.

The arena is used for more than folklore events - an outdoor cinema, concerts, balls, and discos prove the multi-functional character of this complex.

Over the last 35 years, Liptálské slavnosti have become an international folklore festival and four years ago, the festival earned the status of an I.O.V. festival. Untill this day, more than 320 ensembles (115 of which came from abroad) have participated at Liptálské slavnosti. Traditions, customs, songs and dances from all around our country but also from Europe and the rest of the world, have been admired by almost 130 000 visitors.

On behalf of the organizers, I would like to wish all visitors of Liptálské slavnosti an enjoyable time and a deep cultural experience.

ing. Ladislav Michálek
director of Liptálské slavnosti


Liptál

Liptál is a small village in Eastern Moravia, 9 km South-West of Vsetín, on the way to Zlín. 2 418 hectars of land, many of which are covered with forests, belong to the village. The centre of the village has an altitude of 428 m.

The first written records mentioning the village date back to 1361 when the village belonged to the Vsetín demesne. Liptál became an independent estate in 1666 and obtained the right to hold markets in 1846. The village now has 1400 citizens and 470 houses.

Liptál’s original name comes from German and stands for a ‘lovely valley’. A heart is the main symbol on the village seal.

The most significant sights in the village include a baroque castle from the end of the 17th century, a baroque church of St. Michal from the years 1796 - 1798, and an evangelic church built from citizens’ donations in 1907, after the original church got destroyed by lightning.

The Outdoor Cultural Arena is known worldwide. It is the place where international folklore festivals take place every year. Ensembles from all around the world will meet in Liptál for the 36th time this year.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN LIPTÁL!

Contact: Obecní úřad, 756 31 Liptál, Czech Republic,
Tel.:/Fax 00420 571 438040
E-mail: obec@liptal.cz

INFORMATION: http://www.liptal.cz