Erection of Litomyšl Castle
In the 16th century, the Pernštejn family had a Renaissance chateau built as their family seat. ...
The extensive conversion was designed by Giovanni Battista Aostalli (1510–1575). Older buildings belonging previously to Kostkas of Postupice were adapted for the east wing, the north corridor and the connecting wing. The west wing is a new Renaissance building with a partial use of older cellars. The rich sgraffito decoration, consisting of stylised 'envelopes' (about 8000 different envelopes on the facade of the castle) and figural (themes from the Old Testament, from ancient times, battle scenes on the north wall of the 2nd courtyard) was created by a group of Italian builders and stonemasons. The Pernštejns also built a chapel dedicated to St. Monica inside the castle. After the Pernštejns, the Trauttmansdorfs got possession of the castle, after which the Wallenstein-Wartenberg family settled there and had the interiors modified in the Classicist style. The castle was put up for auction in 1855, in which it was bought by the Thurn-Taxis, who however did not live in the castle. Nevertheless, the castle remained in their possession until the end of World War II, when it was confiscated on the basis of presidential decrees. The compound is a rare example of the conversion of an Italian Renaissance palace; on the ground floor of the aristocratic residence a unique Baroque theatre with functional machinery and a set of backdrops has been preserved.