Státní zámek Litomyšl
Renaissance château on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with “psaníčko” sgraffito, the château theatre from 1797 and tours of the Thurn-Taxis and Valdštejn interiors.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
In the Middle Ages, the site of today's château was occupied by a Premonstratensian canonry with a Romanesque basilica, and from the mid-14th century it was the seat of the Litomyšl bishopric. After the Hussite Wars the town belonged to the Kostka of Postupice family, and in 1547 the estate passed into pledged possession of the Pernštejn family. In 1568–1581 Vratislav II of Pernštejn had a Renaissance château built, the construction of which was led by Giovanni Battista and Ulrico Aostalli. The façades are decorated with “psaníčko” (letter-pattern) and figural sgraffito.
In 1649 the Trauttmansdorff family bought the estate, and from 1757 the château belonged to the Valdštejn-Vartenberk family, who had the interiors remodelled in the Classicist style at the end of the 18th century and built the château theatre in 1796–1797. In 1855 the Thurn-Taxis family bought the château, but they never lived there. After 1945 the château passed to the state.
The château was one of the first monuments opened to the public during the Smetana Litomyšl festival in 1949; in 1962 it was declared a national cultural monument, and in 1999 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today it is managed by the National Heritage Institute. In 2026 reconstruction is taking place, and the tour Zámek za Valdštejnů is closed. Available are the tours Zámek za Thurn Taxisů, Za příběhem zámeckého divadla, Novinky po rekonstrukci and the separate exhibition Proč je zámek UNESCO.
Highlights
- Renaissance château from 1568–1581 with “psaníčko” and figural sgraffito on its façades, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Historic château theatre from 1797 and the new exhibition Za příběhem zámeckého divadla
- Interiors of Prince Albert Thurn-Taxis and Princess Margareta
- Interactive exhibition Proč je zámek UNESCO (free with a valid ticket)
- Château kitchen and Renaissance tower with a view (175 steps)
Permanent exhibitions
- Zámek za Thurn Taxisů – The basic tour leads through the first floor of the north and east wings, with the reception and private rooms of Prince Albert Thurn-Taxis and his wife, Princess Margareta of Austria.
- Za příběhem zámeckého divadla – The exhibition on the 2nd floor shows the history of the château theatre through stage scenes, replicas of costumes and sound-effect machines, and includes a visit to the historic theatre from 1797.
- Proč je zámek UNESCO – The interactive exhibition on the 2nd floor traces the history and architecture of the château, with an emphasis on the values for which it was inscribed on the UNESCO list in 1999.
- Operated by
- Národní památkový ústav
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 220 Kč |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 180 KčSeniors aged 65+, young people aged 18–24 and holders of ZTP and ZTP/P cards (basic tour Zámek za Thurn Taxisů). |
| Children & teens | 70 Kčfree up to age 5 · Children aged 6–17 pay CZK 70; children under 5 enter free. |
| Seniors | 180 KčSeniors aged 65+. |
| Visitors with disabilities | 180 Kčcompanion free · Holders of ZTP and ZTP/P cards; the guide of a ZTP/P card holder enters free. |
| Students & apprentices | 180 KčYoung people aged 18–24. |
| Groups | –Teachers supervising school groups (1 adult per 10 children) and guides of groups of 15 or more people enter free. |
| Za příběhem zámeckého divadla – adults (50 minutes) | 220 KčSeniors, young people and ZTP, ZTP/P holders CZK 180, children aged 6–17 CZK 70. |
| Novinky po rekonstrukci – adults (30 minutes) | 180 KčTour of selected interiors on the 2nd floor from the Valdštejn era. |
| Winter route (from 5 November 2026) – adults | 220 KčSeniors, young people and ZTP, ZTP/P holders CZK 180, children aged 6–17 CZK 70. |
| Château kitchen and tower – adults (20 minutes) | 100 KčSeniors, young people and ZTP, ZTP/P holders CZK 80, children aged 6–17 CZK 30; the tower has 175 steps. |
| Proč je zámek UNESCO (20 minutes) | freeFree entry with a valid ticket for any château tour on the same day. |
Prices apply to the tour Zámek za Thurn Taxisů (50 minutes, up to 20 people); you can pay by card or in cash. Reservations are required only for groups. Free entry also applies to holders of the Ministry of Culture staff card, ICOMOS cards (for some tours only), Náš člověk cards and NPÚ tickets.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Tours I and II are on the 1st floor, tours III and V on the 2nd floor; after the reconstruction there is a platform lift in the château, but the tower is not step-free. For smooth check-in, it is recommended to announce your visit at least two days in advance at the ticket office. There is no seating during the tour.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
Children under 5 enter free; children aged 6–17 pay a reduced admission.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Litomyšl – zámek · 2-min walk
By train on the Prague–Brno line, alight at Česká Třebová or Svitavy and change to a bus to Litomyšl; the stop Litomyšl – zámek is 2 minutes from the château, and the stop Litomyšl – autobusové nádraží is about 10 minutes away.
By car
Parking available · 2-min walk to the entrance
Paid parking within 100 m of the château (Jiráskova and Zámecká streets, a 2-minute walk) and on Smetana Square, about 5 minutes away; spaces within 300 m are free of charge. Buses can drop off passengers at the château and then park in the designated car park by the MOL petrol station.
Litomyšl lies on the E442 road between Hradec Králové and Olomouc.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
The château café on the ground floor of the arcade courtyard is closed during the reconstruction; a sushi bar is in the former carriage house, and other cafés and restaurants are in the town centre. Dogs on a lead may enter the French garden and the English park, but not the château.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 50 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Tours are guided; the basic tour takes about 50 minutes. In 2026 the reconstruction is taking place and the tour Zámek za Valdštejnů is closed; exact tour times are given by the ticket office. |
