Towns

Litomyšl is a town with a thousand-year history. The dominating feature of the town is the Renaissance Castle, a listed UNESCO sight. The town is also known as Bedřich Smetana’s birth place. The composer is remembered by an annual opera festival. At the 500-meter long square lined with arcades, you can see a gothic town hall and a number of Renaissance and Baroque houses. Another place of interest is Josef Váchal’s Museum called Portmoneum. Litomyšl is more than history; there are also numerous modern architecture structures.

Practical tips:

Information center – Infocentrum - Smetanovo náměstí 72, +420 461 612 161, www.litomysl.cz, ic@litomysl.cz

The Chateau Information Office - Jiráskova 133, +420 461 611 051, info@esclitomysl.cz

Recommended:

The Litomyšl State Chateau – UNESCO

This fresh Italian Renaissance chateau whose current appearance was shaped under Vratislav of Pernštejn will catch your attention in the Litomyšl’s panorama.

There is a permanent exhibition of statues by Olbram Zoubek.

The Chateau Brewery and Bedřich Smetana’s Parental Home

In spite of the fact that beer has not been brewed here since 1953, the building of the chateau brewery has a lot to offer. The historical façade hides a modern interior that provides accommodation both to groups and individuals.

The Cloister Gardens

This recently renovated Cloister Gardens suitably accompanies the chateau garden.

Portmoneum – Josef Váchal’s Museum

In 1920, an amateur printer and art lover named Josef Portmon invited his friend, painter, printmaker and writer Josef Váchal to decorate the ceilings and walls in two rooms of his house. Váchal granted the wish and by carving and painting, he also turned Portman’s furniture into pieces of art. This unusual and unique museum is definitely worth seeing.

Smetanovo náměstí

At 500 meters, Smetana Square is one of the longest in Europe. Its distinctive feature is the arcades.

Do not miss:

Litomyšl – the town of modern architecture

With a little exaggeration, Litomyšl is sometimes referred to as the capital of modern architecture. Over the past twenty years, many high quality new development projects have been built and listed buildings have been successfully restored.

Litomyšl and sports

In addition to hiking, cycling and riding horses in the beautiful surroundings, leisure time in Litomyšl can also be spent at tennis courts, at a swimming pool with a toboggan run, a town pool, a billiards room, a covered winter stadium, a football field, gyms, the Municipal Sports Hall and the SPORT Tennis Hall (covered tennis courts, 3 squash courts and two bowling double lanes).

Litomyšl and culture

In addition to Smetana’s Litomyšl International Opera Festival and Toulec’s Summer Fridays, there are many other annual events held in Litomyšl. Popular old-time fairs are held in June and September, the International String Courses take place during summer vacation, fans of chamber music meet here and interpretation courses are held. Young people gather at the traditional May festivities and Young Smetana’s Litomyšl held every fall.

Make sure to visit other historic towns :

Polička

Information center – Infocentrum,

Palackého náměstí 160, 572 01 Polička,  +420 461 723 800, www.cbmpolicka.cz, www.policka.org, info@ic.policka.org

Bohuslav Martinů’s Birth Room in the Church of St Jacob’s tower. – National monument

Having climbed 192 stairs, you can enjoy a real curiosity – a room where the famous composer used to live with his entire family. The town of Polička and its surroundings can be viewed from the gallery.

Bohuslav Martinů’s Center in Polička – We would like to invite you to the modern world of knowledge, entertainment and relaxation. The expositions include “The Colorful World of Bohuslav Martinů”, “Bohuslav Martinů’s Historic Classroom”, “The History of Polička and Its Surroundings” and “The Glass Industry in the Horácko Region”. There are also interactive expositions, a number of interesting exhibitions and workshops for children and adults.

Town Walls – A 1220 m ring of Gothic fortifications is one of the best preserved in Central Europe. You can enjoy a pleasant guided tour on the gallery.

Svojanov Castle – The town of Polička has had a romantic castle amidst beautiful nature and deep forests, located approximately 20 meters from Polička, for 100 years. Make sure not to miss a tour of the castle and the comprehensive program the castle offers on weekends.

Moravská Třebová

Tourist information center

nám. T.G.Masaryka 33, 571 01 Moravská Třebová +420 461 313 502, mobil 731 176 809, icentrum@mtrebo­va.cz, skype: tictrebova

Moravská Třebová Castle

The castle is one the most important Renaissance sights in Central Europe. Modern Renaissance elements were used for the first time in Bohemia at the end of the 15 century. The multimedia exposition includes the Medieval Torture Chamber, Mater Bonacina’s Alchemyst Laboratory and The Treasures of Moravská Třebová.

Hřebeč Mining Footpaths

This system of nature trails with a unique Hugo navigation on Hřebečský hřbet Hills near Moravská Třebová is supplemented with mine mock-ups, garden houses, lookout decks and a new view tower on Strážný vrch. The guide to the trails is Gnome Hugo.

The Aquapark in Moravská Třebová

This is a brand new aquapark with heated water, a swimming pool and a recreational pool with water spouts, massage benches, a toboggan run and a kamikaze slide. The facility has its own restaurant, a beach volleyball court and a tennis court with soft surface.

Vysoké Mýto

Information center – Infocentrum

B. Smetany 92, 566 32 Vysoké Mýto

+420 465 466 113, +420 465 113 112, www.vysoke-myto.cz, infocentrum@vysoke-myto.cz

The Prague Gate

Together with the Choceň and Litomyšl Towers, the gate was part of the town’s fortifications built in the 13^th century. From its 48-meter tower, you can get a picturesque and unique view of the town and its surroundings.

The Vraclav Baroque Precinct

The precinct includes the Church of St Nicolas, the spa building and a hermitage. Today, the spa building is used for thematic Baroque exhibitions. The Church of St Nicolas houses a collection of unique marquetry scultpures from the pilgrimage route between Hedeč and Králíky.

The Church of St Lawrence

This is a Gothic church from the 13^th century with a unique wall secession decoration. Inside the church is a remarkable tin baptistery from 1499. The main altar, with the largest painting of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary by Petr Brandl, is one of the greatest gems of Czech Baroque art.

Chrast

Information center – Infocentrum, Lenka Schinaglová Náměstí 1, 538 51 Chrast ,+420 469 667 194, www.mestochrast.cz, l.schinaglova@mestochrast.cz

The Castle

The most interesting site in Chrasť is the castle, a former seat of Hradec Králové bishops, with a permanent exposition of the Municipal Museum, a former castle chapel and a gallery.

Codex Gigas (The Giant Book)

One of the museum’s permanent exhibits is a model of the largest book in the world, the Codex Gigas, that drew the attention of Emperor Rudolph II and the Swedish Queen Kristina. Its dimensions, texts and illustrations of the Devil still attract both visitors and explorers.

Chrudim

Information center – Infocentrum

Stará radnice - Resselovo náměstí 1, 537 01 Chrudim

+420 469 645 821,  info@chrudim-city.cz

The Puppet Festival in Chrudim

The festival of amateur puppeteers, a great feat for the entire town, has celebrated its 60^th edition. It involves performances by ensembles from all over the country, workshops, concerts and a fair. The festival is held the first week of July.

The Museum of Puppets, Břetislavova 74, +420 469 620 310

This museum with handicapped access has both Czech and foreign puppets on display. The most interesting exhibits are a luminescence theater and a children’s playroom in which exhibits can be touched. The exposition also includes a unique well located on the first floor.

The Museum of Baroque Statues

This delicacy for Baroque art lovers is located in a former Capuchin church in one of the most valuable Baroque architecture sights in Chrudim.

Letohrad

The Letohrad Culture Center, Václavské náměstí 77, 561 51 Letohrad

+420 465 622 092, www.infoletohrad.eu,  info@letohrad.eu

The urban monument zone

The historic center is made up of 37 listed buildings with a nearby nature-landscape park, a baroque castle, a church with precious stucco decoration and a chapel above the town. The square is lined with arcades. There is a bike trailhead near the castle.

The Museum of Crafts

The museum is located in a former granary in Nový dvůr. The 1 300 m² of this private museum features more than 50 comprehensive expositions of different crafts and trades, mostly dating from 1840 – 1930.

The Town Museum

This house built in Baroque style dates back to 1680. The museum’s exposition is dedicated to the town’s history and the production of matches. You can see an original sleigh Napoleon used while flee from Russia in 1812. The museum is found in the Information Center.

Lanškroun

Lanškroun Castle

The original monastery from 1393 was turned into a Renaissance castle in 1601. Today it houses the Municipal Museum (tel. +420 465 324 328) and its exhibitions include the town’s history, the history of the glass industry on the Bohemian-Moravian border, works by academic sculptor Z. Kolářský, J. Praveček’s Hall and an emperor’s room.

Nový zámek u Lanškrouna

This Baroque castle was built by the Liechtenstein family 300 years ago. After 3 fires, a major section was torn down.

The Lanškrounské rybníky Nature Park

The nature park includes a set of seven ponds. The recreational area at Lanškrounské rybníky offers a natural pool, boat rental facility, beach volleyball court, minigolf and fishing. There is a bike trail and nature trail that winds around the ponds (in addition to a restaurant, camp sites and a hotel).