At the castle in Litomyšl, builders have begun preparations for the reconstruction of the UNESCO monument

Litomyšl - Builders have begun preparations for the reconstruction of the UNESCO monument at the castle in Litomyšl. They have marked out the construction site, which extends into the castle gardens, are building scaffolding, and examining the terrain where a pair of cranes will be set up to avoid disturbing archaeological findings preserved underground. Workers are also uncovering the bases of beams in the attics, which were once encased in concrete, covering pavements and stone elements to prevent damage. Tourists will be able to visit the castle even during construction work, although it may sometimes disrupt tours, said custodian Petr Weiss to ČTK.

"Whether both tour routes will always remain operational is something nobody can determine right now. When demolition works are underway over a particular area, it will shake and nothing will be audible. We are planning operations, we have the castle prepared for opening, but it will depend on the current situation as required by the construction. For instance, sometimes only one route may be open, or it may be necessary to take a different path,” Weiss stated.

However, the French garden and a designated section of the English park will be completely closed to visitors. Also, in the courtyard, only a narrow corridor will be preserved for visitors due to safety reasons. Tickets will be sold at a temporary box office in the courtyard, as the original is undergoing repairs.

In the first phase, builders will repair the roofs and interiors of the third above-ground floor of the castle using European funds. They have only ten months for construction work; this part of the project must be completed by December due to the conditions of funding from the Integrated Regional Operational Program (IROP). The remaining phases of the restoration, including the other interiors of the castle, restoration of sgraffito facades, and the Manor House, are planned to be completed by 2027.

Thanks to the reconstruction, the entire second floor of the castle with the popular viewpoint in the second arcade will gradually be accessible. "From the list of new exhibitions, I want to highlight the section dedicated to the fund of the historical theater. To this day, over 20 complete sets of theater scenery have been preserved, such as a palace, a prison, and a café, which are located in the depository; the new permanent exhibition will reveal these 18th-century treasures to the public,” Weiss mentioned. At the same time, the unused part of the theater decorations will be stored in a new depository with controlled climate. However, incoming visitors will be able to at least take a look into this otherwise guarded room through the glass doors directly from the theater exhibition.

Technical operations have so far had to function directly in the main building of the castle. The missing facilities of the castle management will return to the historically designated building, which is the Manor House, where there used to be a kindergarten. This will free up many spaces in the castle, which will be accessible to the public. The Manor House will undergo a general reconstruction, including engineering networks, renovation of historical windows, doors, and parquet floors, facade repairs, and also garden adjustments.

The National Heritage Institute has received 244 million crowns from IROP for repairs. An additional 425 million crowns come from the state program for the Care of National Cultural Heritage.

The castle in Litomyšl is a valuable example of the adaptation of the Italian Renaissance palace to the conditions of the Alpine countries. It was commissioned by Vratislav of Pernštejn as a gift for his wife in the 1560s to 80s. The Renaissance residence of Pernštejn was supplemented in the 17th and 18th centuries by Baroque adaptations made by subsequent owners, the Trauttmansdorffs and Waldstein-Wartenbergs, with the participation of leading Baroque artists. A unique feature is the preserved family theater from 1797. The castle was inscribed on the UNESCO list in 1999.