Litomyšl facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Litomyšl
Town
Smetanovo Square with the town hall and the Church of the Finding the Holy Cross
Flag Coat of arms
Litomyšl Location in Czech Republic
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Pardubice
District	Svitavy
First mentioned	981
Area
• Total	33.44 km2 (12.91 sq mi)
Elevation	330 m (1,080 ft)
Population  (2024-01-01)
• Total	10,493
• Density	313.79/km2 (812.70/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	570 01
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Litomyšl Castle
Criteria	Cultural: (ii)(iv)
Inscription	1999 (23rd Session)
Area	4.25 ha (0.0164 sq mi)
Buffer zone	118.13 ha (0.4561 sq mi)

Litomyšl is a town in the Czech Republic, located in the Pardubice Region. It has about 10,000 people living there. Litomyšl is famous for its beautiful Litomyšl Castle. This castle is so special that UNESCO has made it a World Heritage Site. The old town center, with its castle, is very well kept and is a protected historical area.

Parts of Litomyšl

Litomyšl is made up of several smaller areas. These include the town parts of Lány, Litomyšl-město, Nedošín, Zahájí, and Záhradí. It also includes villages like Kornice, Nová Ves u Litomyšle, Pazucha, Pohodlí, and Suchá. Two of these villages, Nová Ves u Litomyšle and Pohodlí, are a bit separate from the main town area.

What Does the Name Litomyšl Mean?

The name Litomyšl comes from an old personal name, Litomysl. It means "Litomysl's castle." This tells us that the town likely grew around a castle built by someone named Litomysl a long time ago.

Where is Litomyšl Located?

Litomyšl is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) northwest of Svitavy. It is also about 41 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of Pardubice. The town is in an area called the Svitavy Uplands. The highest point nearby is 558 meters (1,831 feet) above sea level.

The Loučná River flows through the town. There are also several fishponds in the area. The biggest pond is called Velký Košíř, which is located northwest of the town.

A Look at Litomyšl's History

Litomyšl Castle, a famous landmark.

The first time Litomyšl was mentioned in writing was in the year 981. This was in an old book called Chronica Boemorum. It mentioned the death of a duke named Slavník. Litomyšl started as a strong, protected settlement. It was built on an important trade route that connected Bohemia and Moravia.

In 1259, Litomyšl officially became a town. This was made possible by King Ottokar II of Bohemia. Over the centuries, different noble families owned the town. These included the Pernštejn family, who built the famous Litomyšl Castle between 1568 and 1581.

In the 19th century, Litomyšl became less important as a main business center. However, it remained a key place for culture and education. Before 1918, Litomyšl was part of Austria-Hungary.

A Jewish community lived in Litomyšl from at least the late 1500s. Sadly, during the Holocaust in 1942, the last Jewish families were forced to leave. After World War II, in 1945, many German-speaking people living in Litomyšl also left the town.

How Many People Live in Litomyšl?

The number of people living in Litomyšl has changed over time. Here's a quick look at the population from different years:

Getting Around Litomyšl

The main road, I/35, goes through Litomyšl. This road connects Hradec Králové to Svitavy. It is also part of a larger European route, E442.

Litomyšl is also the start of a local railway line that goes to Choceň. The town has three train stations or stops, making it easy to travel by train.

Culture and Arts in Litomyšl

Since 1946, Litomyšl has hosted a big yearly festival of classical music. It is called Smetanova Litomyšl. The festival is named after the famous composer Bedřich Smetana, who was born in Litomyšl.

You can also see many sculptures and art pieces by Olbram Zoubek at the Litomyšl Castle Vault Gallery. It's a great place to explore modern art.

Amazing Sights to See in Litomyšl

The historic House U Rytířů (At the Knights).

The most important landmark in Litomyšl is the Litomyšl Castle. It is one of the biggest Renaissance castles around. The buildings around the castle are known for their beautiful design. The castle area also includes the house where Bedřich Smetana was born. There are also old carriage houses, stables, a riding school, and a castle brewery. You can also enjoy the castle park and a French-style garden. In 1999, the castle complex was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Next to the castle, you'll find the Piarist college. This includes the Church of the Finding the Holy Cross and its monastery gardens. Today, these gardens are a lovely town park. You can see sculptures by Olbram Zoubek here too.

The town has a very long main square, almost 500 meters (1,640 feet) long. It is one of the biggest squares in Central Europe. On this square, you'll find a town hall that dates back to the Gothic period. There are also many Renaissance and Baroque houses. Many of these houses have arcades (covered walkways) and cool vaulted rooms on the ground floor. One of the most famous houses is U Rytířů ("At the Knights"). It's a Renaissance house built between 1540 and 1546, with a very special stone front.

Litomyšl is also home to the "Portmoneum." This is a museum dedicated to the artist and writer Josef Váchal. It's in the house of Josef Portman, who loved Váchal's work. Portman asked Váchal to paint murals and furniture in his home, turning it into a unique art space.

Famous People from Litomyšl

Statue of Bedřich Smetana in Smetanovo Square.

Many interesting people have lived in or come from Litomyšl:

• Jan Augusta (1500–1572), a religious leader and reformer.
• Magdalena Dobromila Rettigová (1785–1845), who wrote the first cookbook in Czech.
• Bedřich Smetana (1824–1884), a world-famous classical music composer.
• Julius Mařák (1832–1899), a talented painter and graphic designer.
• Josef Kořenský (1847–1938), a traveler, teacher, and writer.
• Zdeněk Nejedlý (1878–1962), a music expert and politician.
• Zdeněk Kopal (1914–1993), an important astronomer.
• Markéta Adamová (born 1984), a politician.

Litomyšl's Sister Cities

Litomyšl has special friendships with other towns around the world. These are called sister cities:

• Levoča, Slovakia
• Noordenveld, Netherlands
• San Polo d'Enza, Italy

Images for kids

• 

  Smetanovo Square with the town hall and the Church of the Finding the Holy Cross

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  Flag of Litomyšl

• 

  Coat of arms of Litomyšl

See also

In Spanish: Litomyšl para niños