Litomyšl Castle

Lore & Background

The famous Czech composer Bedřich Smetana was born in 1824 at the Brewery, an ancillary building next to the castle. After the Second World War, the castle was confiscated on the basis of the so-called Beneš decrees and declared a national cultural monument in 1962. The Smetanová Litomyšl Opera Festival has been held in the castle since 1949. At the invitation of then President Václav Havel, a meeting of seven Central European presidents took place in the castle in 1994.

Reader's Guide

Litomyšl Castle holds significance as a major Renaissance architectural monument in the Czech Republic and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its arcade castle design, originating in Italy and adapted in the Czech lands, represents a distinctive architectural evolution. The castle's history reflects the shifting ownership of powerful noble families, including the Pernštejn, Trauttmansdorff, Waldstein, and Thurn and Taxis families, each leaving their mark. The addition of High-Baroque features in the 18th century by architect František Maxmilián Kaňka further enriches its architectural layers.

The castle is also culturally notable as the birthplace of composer Bedřich Smetana, whose legacy is celebrated through the annual Smetanová Litomyšl Opera Festival held on the grounds since 1949. Its role as a venue for a 1994 meeting of seven Central European presidents, hosted by Václav Havel, underscores its modern diplomatic importance. Today, the castle is open to the public, offering views of state rooms and the private quarters of Prince Albert of Thurn and Taxis and his wife, as well as a preserved Baroque theater and English-style park.