Litomyšl

History

It takes it name from the Litoměřici, one of over a dozen West Slavic tribes which settled in the Czech lands from the sixth century.

The eastern Bohemian town of Litomyšl emerged in the 13th century on the site of an older fortified settlement on the Trstenice path - an important trading route linking Bohemia and Moravia.

From 1344.04.30 till its 1474 suppression (during the Hussite Wars) it was the seat of a Latin Catholic Diocese of Leitomischl / Litomyšl / Lutomislen(sis) (Latin adjective), until its territory was merged back into the (meanwhile Metropolitan Arch)Diocese of Prague, but in 1970 it was nominally restored as Titular bishopric.

Until 1918, Leitomischl–Litomyšl (older German name Leutomischl) was part of the Austrian monarchy (Austria side after the compromise of 1867), head of the district with the same name, one of the 94 Bezirkshauptmannschaften or "okresní hejtmanství" in Bohemia. The German population was expelled as a result of the Benes Decrees in 1945.

Main sights

The dominant feature of Litomyšl is the monumental Renaissance castle dating from the years 1568–1581. The buildings of the castle precincts are not only exceptional for their architectural refinement, but have also inscribed themselves in history as the birthplace of the Czech composer, Bedřich Smetana. On the elongated square, which is one of the largest in the Czech Republic, stands a town hall of Gothic origin and a series of Renaissance and baroque houses, many with arcades and vaulted groundfloor rooms. One of the most important of these is the House At the Knights (U Rytířů) with its remarkable façade. In the past the town was also a significant religious centre; it was in Litomyšl in 1344 that the second bishopric to be established in Bohemia was founded, although it ceased to exist during the Hussite Wars. In the 19th century, the Litomyšl Grammar School was of great importance.

The cultural traditions of the town go much beyond regional and national frontiers. The exquisite interiors of the castle, especially the baroque castle theatre, the amphitheatre in the castle park and Smetana House, all offer varied programmes of concerts and theatrical performances and thus enrich the life of the town throughout the year. In 1994 the meeting of the seven Central European presidents took place at the castle. The chateau complex was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999.

Litomyšl is also home to the "Portmoneum", a museum of the artist and writer Josef Váchal in the home of his admirer Josef Portman, who commissioned Váchal's murals and painted furniture in the house.

Notable locals

Litomyšl is the birthplace of Bedřich Smetana (1824–1884), composer, August Jilek (1819–1898), physician and oceanographer, Arne Novák, critic and historian of literature, Hubert Gordon Schauer, literary critic, and Karel Píč (1920–1995), Esperanto writer, author of the innovative autobiographical novel "La Litomiŝla Tombejo" (The Litomyšl Cemetery).

Magdalena Dobromila Rettigová, the author of the first cookbook written in Czech, lived here between 1834 and her death in 1845.

Josef Kořenský (1847–1938), one of the most prominent Czech travellers, worked in Litomyšl as a teacher between 1871 and 1874.

There is an extensive permanent exhibition of Olbram Zoubek's (a famous Czech contemporary sculptor and designer) sculptures and art in Litomyšl Castle Vault Gallery.

Subdivisions

Broadcasting station

Near Litomyšl, there is a large broadcasting station for short- and mediumwave. The shortwave transmitter at 49°49′07″N 16°18′27″E is the most important shortwave broadcasting facility of Czech using towers with heights up to 105 metres (344 ft). A bit southeast at 49°48′38″N 16°18′5″E, there are two guyed masts, 125 metres (410 ft) tall, used for mediumwave broadcasting on 1287 kHz with 150 kW

Twin towns — Sister cities

Litomyšl is twinned with: