::::: Virtual tour :::LITOMYŠL AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

Litomyšl is a cultural and historical centre lying on the river Loučná. The beginnings of the city Litomyšl emerged in a turn of tenth and eleventh century when in 1259 a settlement received city privileges. From 14th century, there is an extensive construction on the monastic bank and under it. After Piarist order arrival in 1641 the buildings of schools, halls of residence and Piarist temple were built on monastic bank.

The dominant feature of Litomysl is the monumental Renaissance castle dating from the years 1568 - 1581 with more than eight thousand original sgraffiti. A baroque small 200 years old theatre with collection of well-preserved coulisses is part of it. In the castle area which was included in the UNESCO List of cultural monuments in 199, there is a castle brewery where Czech national composer Bedřich Smetana was born in 1824.

Vivacious cultural nowadays´s life is a follow-up to the cultural traditions in the past. The peak of the cultural life is represented by International opera festival Smetana´s Litomyšl (the first took place more than 50 years ago).

Litomyšl came to public notice in a political context as well: in 1994 the meeting of the seven Central European presidents took place here, and in 1995 the Spanish royal couple visited the town. Museum collection, Smetana´s natal home, Portmoneum - museum of painter J. Váchala, Váchala´s street (the walls of the house are decorated by sgraffiti processing of Váchala´s graphics of Krvavý román - Bloody Roman), Museum of ancient sculptures and restored Monastery gardens attract attention of visitors.

On nearly 500 meters long, the elongated square, stands a town hall of Gothic origin and a series of Renaissance and baroque houses. One of the most significant is Renaissance House At Knights´ from 16th century where is actually a gallery. Because of excellent monument care Litomyšl was awarded “Historical Town of the year 2000”.

But in Litomyšl there is not "only" a history, but also a lot of buildings of modern architecture. This ten thousand city wants to be an example of so called modern historical city.

As leisure time activity except of tourist walks and cycling or horse riding in beautiful landscape of Litomyšl it is possible to use the tennis courses, swimming pool area with water slide, billiard club, sport hall TJ Jiskra, winter stadium, football pitch, fitness centre and last but not least City sport hall (ball games - European parameters fields for handball, indoor football) and Tennis hall SPORT (indoor tennis court, 3 squash courts, two bowling double tracks).