Litomyšl wants to start the reconstruction of the historic house U Rytířů next year

Litomyšl - Litomyšl wants to start the reconstruction of the historic house U Rytířů on Smetanovo Square next year. The city has obtained a grant from the Ministry of Regional Development for the repairs. The municipal gallery, which lacks exhibition, storage, and archival spaces, is located in the building, and it also does not meet current standards for barrier-free access, the town hall stated in a press release.

"We have a preliminary grant approved for 38.74 million crowns. Personally, but also professionally, I am very pleased with this fact. After more than ten years, we will realize the proposed solution from the studio Kuba & Pilař architects and again confirm that traditional functioning can operate with new, modern in Litomyšl," said Mayor Daniel Brýdl (Generace 89).

The main goal of the adjustments to the building is to expand the exhibition space, storage, and archives of the gallery to simplify the handling of artistic artifacts. Currently, larger-sized items cannot be transported using the existing stairs. The building will also open more to the public and offer a café and a shop for art publications and tickets in the yard.

The rear section of the house, which is in a deplorable state and is currently not in use, will be restored. In the future, service spaces for the gallery, such as restrooms and an educational workshop near the entrance from Růžová Street, should be placed here. An elevator for barrier-free access to the exhibition spaces, also usable for moving exhibits, will also be installed. Both buildings will be connected by an arcade corridor, but they will be operationally independent due to the newly inserted outdoor staircase.

The reconstruction costs were previously estimated at around 50 million crowns. Construction work is expected to begin next year and conclude by the latest in 2027.

The House U Rytířů stands in the middle of the square, almost opposite the town hall tower. It is among the oldest and most valuable houses in the city due to the preserved original decoration of the facade and part of the interior. Its stylistic conception refers to the artistic circle of the Pernštejn Court in Pardubice. The house was likely transformed into its current Renaissance form by the stonemason master Blažek for himself, after a major fire that swept through almost the entire city in 1540. It was probably completed by 1546. It lost part of its Renaissance appearance due to minor and more significant modifications. The first significant transformation that changed its exterior occurred in 1814, when the original, probably high Renaissance gable was replaced by an Empire attic.