Litomyšl is located in Eastern Bohemia, 170 km from Prague. The main attraction of the city is the Litomysl Renaissance chateau, declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1999. Be sure to visit the historical houses around Smetana square. Of particular interest is the House of Knights, which has been lovingly restored to it’s original glory. The monastery gardens and the Portmonuem museum are also well worth a visit.
More for six decades, since 1949, a great music festival has been organized almost each year between the end of June and the beginning of July in Litomyšl, an old East-Bohemian town where Bedrich Smetana – the founder of Czech national music – was born. It mainly presents opera performances and concert versions of operas, but gala concerts, oratorios, cantatas and song evenings are also included – i.e. all those forms in which vocal artistry is dominating. Symphonic, instrumental or chamber music is not put aside either; ballet and cathedral or promenade concerts find their space here as well. Performers include important guests from abroad, foremost Czech soloists, ensembles and renowned conductors. The festival’s main center is right on the premises of the magnificent Litomyšl State Castle, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage in 1999. Main events normally take place in the Courtyard that seats an audience of up to 1300 people, with excellent acoustics and unique retractable roofing. Other venues include different Castle halls, Litomysl churches and cathedrals, the Smetana’s House, and one other selected city of the Pardubice region. Your trip to Smetana’s Litomysl is sure to be a brilliant experience – apart from a truly interesting repertoire and top performances at the festival itself, Litomysl offers an opportunity to stay out of the metropolitan hustle and bustle, yet in town with an extraordinary genius loci.
Programme 2023 will be published on-line here.
Tickets can be purchased on festival website.
If you require any of these services, we can provide them. Flight tickets, airport transfers to and from hotels and car hire from reputable rental agencies.
Litomysl offers a lot of smaller hotels and guesthouses which are fully equiped for your comfortable stay in the town. If you have any ideas or requests concerning your accommodation needs, do not hesitate to let us know. We will do our best to find you a hotel that is perfectly suited for your needs.
You can also book online here.
We can assist you in putting together some tailor-made activities – don’t hesitate to let us know.
The city tour, including the castle grounds which is on the UNESCO list, usually begins on Smetana Square at the Plague Column.
Visitors will learn about the history of the city as well as the present day. The tour then heads to the Town Hall Tower, House of Knights and other municipal buildings of interest up to the monastery garden. The tour usually concludes on the castle hill where you will bid farewell to your guide. You can then continue visiting the doll and toy museums and other places of interest. The guided walk takes approximately 1 hour.
The cycle of art exhibitions called Smetana’s Creative Litomyšl accompanies the Smetana’s Litomyšl International Opera Festival every year. Originally a mere complement to the festival, it has gained its own repute and has become an independent cultural event enriching the Czech creative arts season. It is held in the Litomyšl galleries as well as places that become exhibition venues only during the event. In this way it discloses new places and amazing secluded spots for the visitors to this picturesque town.
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