Modern Historical Town Litomyšl by Informační centrum Litomyšl

Modern Historical Town

LitomyĹĄl

Litomyšl

The city of Litomyšl is first mentioned in Kosma's Bohemian Chronicle, where there is an entry for the year 981 that refers to the area as a hill fort of the Slavniks' territory. It was here on the Trstenice path that runs between Bohemia and Moravia that a Premonstrian monastery was founded in the 12th century. Below this, at river level, a settlement grew, which was the embryo for the future city. Litomyšl was granted city privileges in 1249 by King Přemysl Otakar II, and the importance of the city in mediaeval Bohemia can be seen by the establishment of a bishopric here. The Bishops seat was situated at the former monastery from 1344 until the Hussite rebellion, when the palace and the imposing Cathedral of Our Lady was seized and burnt to the ground.

During the following period, when the Kostka of Postupice family governed the city, Litomyšl became a sanctuary for the Unitarian Brother-hood, the seat of a Bishop, and the home for many eminent intellectuals. In addition, one of the oldest printing works in the Czech Lands was established here. In 1547, after the unsuccessful Estates Rebellion, the Lords of Postupice lost control over Litomyšl, and their guards were forced to vacate the city. Vratislav of Pernštejn, one of the most powerful Bohemian noblemen, took over the lordship of the city in 1567. One year later, on the site of the dilapidated castle, work began on a new large-scale palace. Fourteen years later, the renaissance chateau with its courtyard surrounded by porticoes and sgraffitoed facades, and gables was completed. It was the work of the Italian builders G. B. Aostalli and U. Aostalli. The castle was UNESCO listed in 1999.

1, 2) View over the outer castle courtyard 3) Interior of the castle chapel 4) Renaissance chimneys of the castle 5) Interior of the castle theatre with Platzer’s wing originals (from 1796–97)

The city itself also changed in appearance. The original wooden buildings on the square, which had been built on narrow plots of land during the Gothic period, and which had been provided with cellar chambers during the Kostka of Postupice era, were under threat from the fires that often occurred. It was because of this danger that they were gradually replaced by stone buildings. Number 110, called ”U Rytířů” (”The Knights’ House”), is a preserved example of renaissance burgher housing, and was built in the 1640's by the stonemason Blažek.

1) The upper part of Smetana Square with the former Town Hall from 1418. Smetana Square is 495 meters long

2) So-called Big Arcade along Smetana Square with The Knights House on the left. 3) Squires΄ House with baroque front from the year 1769 4) Town Hall 5) The Váchal Street, sgraffitto with scenes from the "Bloody novel" were etched on the facade of house No. 127.

Pernštejn's attempts to re-Catholicise Litomyšl, which continued during the Thirty Years' War, came to a head with an act carried out by Vratislav's granddaughter Frebonie. In 1640 she brought the Piarist educational order, which had recently been established, to Litomyšl and a college, school and church were subsequently built next to the castle mound. In the first quarter of the 18th century the Piarists built a new Cathedral of the Finding of the Holy Cross and school buildings (the site of today's museum) to the plans of G. B. Alliprandi.

1) The Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross, today’s museum and the surrounding area, including the lower town – everything was renovated in the period 2010–14 with European grants and so gained fresh energy

3 2) Priory church from the years 1356–76 is the most significant reminder of the gothic pre- Hussite Litomyšl. 3) Reconstructed monastery garden with baroque Piarist church dating from 1714–22 (Discovery of the Holy Cross) and the former Piarist college dating from 1641–80 4) Red tower is the most significant part of the former town fortification preserved. It is newly roofed today and serves as an exhibition place. 5) Church of Sending Away of St. Apostles on the Toulovec Square from the end of 14th century

Litomyšl is also the birthplace of the composer Bedřich Smetana, the painter Julius Mařák, and several other personalities from the fields of art and science. The name of Smetana is remembered to this day both by memorial in the castle brewery and through the festival, which is held annually in the castle grounds.

1) Smetana’s Litomyšl National Festival

2) Smetana House – theatre building from the years 1903–5 3) Birthplace of Bedřich Smetana, which is situated in the castle brewery 4) Permanent exhibition of statues by Olbram Zoubek in the basement of the State Castle 5) Portmoneum – Josef Váchal’s Museum

In 2000 Litomyšl was awarded the title Historic City of the Year for its exemplary level of monument care. Litomyšl is, however, not "purely" about history, for it can boast a number of buildings by modern architects, and thanks to their quality it is considered by experts to be an example of a so-called modern historical city. Because of its number of secondary schools, higher education institutions and the newlyopened training centre for the European YMCA Alliance, Litomyšl is also a European city for the young.

Modern architecture in Litomyšl 1) Student accommodation for the pedagogical school 2) New church of the Brethren Church 3) City sports hall

4) Černá hora stadium 5, 6) Municipal swimming pool

Litomyšl Places to visit Litomyšl Castle • 461 615 067 Castle Brewery and Riding • 461 653 491 Piaristic church • 461 653 491 Birthplace of Bedřich Smetana • 461 616 723 Permanent exhibition of sculptures by Olbram Zoubek • 461 612 575 Regional Museum • 461 615 287 Knights‘ House • 461 614 765 Portmoneum – Josef Váchal‘s Museum • 461 615 821 Museum of dollhouses, dolls and prams • 734 802 946 Sports and leisure Municipal swimming area • 461 315 011 Municipal swimming pool • 461 315 011 Černá Hora municipal stadium • 702 020 327 Municipal sports hall • 604 938 723 Indoor winter stadium • 602 360 558, 605 252 045 Sportcentrum Litomyšl (tennis, squash, bowling) • 734 233 003 Sports hall Jiskra • 702 020 327 Sokol gymnasium • 775 653 317 Sokol sports area • 777 947 718 Sauna • 777 947 718 Stratílek spinning centre • 724 033 548 Fitcentrum Fila • 737 901 896

K2 Hiking, Aerobic, Jumping, TRX • 776 288 774 Real gym Nedošín • 722 278 029 A-kart arena • 603 496 056, 731 587 944 Suchá breeding horse • 602 451 918 Stable Pucher Janov • 607 606 172 Rybářství Litomyšl s.r.o. (match fishing) • 461 613 723, 608 974 889 Sokol cinema • 461 612 505 Music Club Kotelna • 776 278 519 Dance Club U Kolji • 733 104 752 Fotbal Park Litomyšl • 607 145 497 Vlkov model airplane airport • 603 283 846 Water sports area Nedošín • 776 056 801 Černá hora municipal wood • jogging Veselka gymnasium • 775 998 869 Savitar (regeneration and relaxation centre) • 778 724 800 Golf Osík (teeing ground) • tel. 602 168 452 Places of worship Roman Catholic church (Priory): Mon - Sat 7:30 am, Mon – Fri 5:45 pm, Sun 7:35 am, 10:15 am, 5:45 pm Na Lánech Evangelic church: Sun 9:00 am New church of the Brethren Church: Sun 10:00 am, Tue 7:00 pm, Fri 17.00 Hussite chapel in Toulovcovo náměstí: Sun 9:00 am Seventh-day Adventists church: Sat 10:00 - 13:00 Useful numbers Police • 974 578 711 Municipal Police • 461 612 336 Hospital • 461 655 111 Taxi • 604 351 161, 722 001 440, 602 178 401, 723 632 266

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Castle and Castle Theatre Exhibition of sculptures by O. Zoubek Birthplace of Bedřich Smetana Castle Brewery and Riding Red tower Portmoneum Monastery gardens – park

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Priory church Piaristic church and college Regional Museum Statue of Alois Jirásek Smetana House – theatre Memorial to Zdeněk Kopal Statue of Bedřich Smetana

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Former Town Hall The Knights’ House – gallery Maria Plague Column Church of Sending Away of St. Apostles 19) Černá hora – sport grounds 20) New church of the Brethren Church

Litomyšl www.litomysl.cz

Tourist Information Centre Smetanovo nám. 72 Litomyšl, Czech Republic tel. +420 461 612 161 ic@ litomysl.cz www.ticlitomysl.cz

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