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The historical center in Litomyšl
Although Litomyšl's UNESCO-listed castle is a jewel of the local architecture, the display of burgher houses lining the nearly half-kilometer-long Smetana's Square also deserves your attention. Houses with the Renaissance, Baroque or Empire-style facades are equipped with arcades which have been protecting both locals and visitors to the town from rain and fierce sun rays for several centuries. The oldest building on the square is the Renaissance House At the Knights' of the 16th century where the municipal gallery is located these days. The name was given to it in relation to the statues of two knights which are a part of the rich facade decoration of the house.
The dominant feature of the square is the originally Gothic building of the former town hall with a tower. Here you can see the still working original Art-Nouveau astronomical clock and the cubit of Litomyšl which represents the sales measure used earlier on the local market.
The municipal gallery could hardly look for a more representative exhibition space than a Renaissance house from the middle of the 16th century. On the façade of the oldest building in Litomyšl square you can see the statues of the knights who gave the house its name.
A small piece of Italy seems to have been imprinted into the architecture of Litomyšl's Renaissance jewel. The castle, which will enchant you with thousands of sgraffito decorations on the facade and a unique Classicist theatre, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.
The expositions of the regional museum will be the key to learning about the rich history of Litomyšl. You can look forward to models of the castle hill through the centuries, stories of famous personalities or an interactive programme for children.
You can enjoy an angelically beautiful view of the castle hill and the town centre from the viewpoint of the Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross. The interior of the church is enriched by contemporary art elements and the exhibition of sacred art Angels on the Hill.
A fantasy world awakens inside an inconspicuous house near the centre of Litomyšl. Various motifs from Christianity and oriental teachings, as well as goblins, devils and ghosts have been brought to life by the original artist Josef Váchal.
