In the small town of Litomyšl, the aristocratic family of Pernštejn had a mediaeval castle remodeled into a Renaissance chateau the second half of the 16th century. The chateau is an exceptional example of an original Italian arcaded structure which was adapted for the Czech environment. It is a fine illustration of an aristocratic residence built during mediaeval Renaissance, with later developments under the influence of new styles. The town of Litomyšl is also the birthplace of the great Czech composer Bedøich Smetana; an annual music festival (Smetana’s Litomyšl) bears his name.
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The town and chateau are located some 50 km southeast of Hradec Králové on the main road to Svitavy and Brno.