CZ, Litomyšl – The City of Famous Personalities, Culture, and History – VIDEO

Litomyšl is most famous for its Renaissance chateau, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its native, Bedřich Smetana. However, other important personalities, such as Božena Němcová and Alois Jirásek, painter and illustrator Josef Váchal and sculptor Olbram Zoubek, are also connected with the town.

Let's start the tour on the castle hill. There is an unmistakable chateau built in Renaissance style in 1568–1581. Note the typical sgraffito plaster and arcade for the Renaissance.

You can see Bedřich Smetana's birthplace right opposite the chateau. Just a few steps away is the local Piarist Monastery and the beautiful Baroque Church of the Holy Cross, since 2014 opened to the public.

Continue through the monastery gardens to the originally Gothic Church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross. Its tower offers a beautiful view of the entire city.

However, the castle is also worth a visit, especially around Smetana's Square. It consists of a number of historic houses in which a romantic arcade has been preserved on both sides. The old town hall dating back to 1418 will be most interesting.

On Komenské Square, there stands stands the Neo-Renaissance Smetana House with a theater hall. This is where some of the many cultural events take place, including the Smetana's Litomyšl International Festival. Also worth mentioning are the ArchiMyšl Architecture Festival, Litomyšl Days of Baroque Tradition and Smetana's Creative Litomyšl.

We sincerely recommend you to visit this town regardless the season. However, what we recommend you the most is spring or summer or the beginning of fall. At those seasons the chateau is open to the public. The majority of cultural events take place  at this time. A time before Christmas is also beautiful here

GPS: Smetana's square 49°52'12.4"N 16°18'44.2"E

Text, photos, and video: Matouš Vinš