Litomyšl Castle (Czech: Státní zámek v Litomyšli, which means "State Castle in Litomyšl") is one of the largest Renaissance castles in the Czech Republic. The Czech government owns the castle. It is located in the center of the town of Litomyšl and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Litomyšl Castle is a great example of an arcade castle, a type of building first created in Italy and later changed in the Czech lands to form a unique and improved design. In the 18th century, High-Baroque features were added to the castle.

History

The town of Litomyšl began to grow in the 13th century along the trade route between Bohemia and Moravia. In 1568, construction of the castle started, led by Jan Baptista Avostalis and his brother Oldřich. By 1580, most of the castle was completed. The Pernštejn family owned the castle from 1567 until 1646, when the last member of the family, Frebonie, passed away.

In 1649, the castle became the property of the noble Trauttmansdorff family. They hired František Maxmilián Kaňka to redesign the castle in the classicist Baroque style during the first half of the 18th century. These changes remain visible today. In 1758, the Counts Waldstein acquired the castle. Georg Josef von Waldstein-Wartenberg built a theater inside the castle. The final owners were the Princes of Thurn and Taxis, who purchased the castle in 1855.

The famous Czech composer Bedřich Smetana was born in 1824 at the Brewery, a building connected to the castle.

After World War II, the castle was taken over under the Beneš decrees. It was declared a national cultural monument in 1962. The Smetanová Litomyšl Opera Festival has been held at the castle since 1949. In 1994, seven Central European presidents met at the castle at the invitation of President Václav Havel.

The entire castle complex has been thoroughly restored in recent years. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and was added to the list of protected sites. The castle is open to the public. Visitors can see the grand rooms and the former private living areas of Prince Albert of Thurn and Taxis and his wife.

Description

The castle has three floors and four wings that are not arranged in a straight line. The largest wing is the west wing, and the smallest is the south wing. The south wing is a two-story gallery with arches that forms a square courtyard. The arches and vaulted ceilings extend around the courtyard. The eastern wing houses the castle chapel, and the western wing includes a theatre. The stage decorations, machinery, and auditorium are kept in their original condition.

In addition to the castle, there are other buildings, such as the Brewery. The Brewery is located to the south of the larger courtyard and was originally decorated with sgraffito to match the castle. After a fire in 1726, the Brewery was redesigned by the well-known Baroque architect František Maxmilián Kaňka. There is also an English-style park and a Baroque pavilion on the castle grounds.