Kutná Hora Kutná Hora Kutná Hora Litomyšl Litomyšl Litomyšl Central Bohemian and Pardubice Region Kutná Hora Litomyšl Litomyšl Kutná Hora In the east lies the medieval town of Kutná Hora, charming and mysterious. Its secrets include cathedrals, cloisters, houses of the aristocracy, mysterious passageways, vaulted cellars, and masterpieces of Gothic and Baroque architecture, urban planning, and sculpture. In the Middle Ages, silver was mined here and coins minted; trade flourished, and the Czech king even had his seat here. You can stand in silent admiration under the arched ceiling of one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in Europe, dedicated to Saint Barbara; you can walk through the courtyards and chambers of the Italian Court, the former palace of Wenceslas IV; and you can hold your breath as you descend into the Ossuary of the Cistercian Monastery and gaze with awe and unease at the altars, coats of arms, chandeliers, pyramids and obelisks made from the bones of plague victims. Then enter the unique Gothic Stone House and, for a while, become a medieval craftsman or even a cook… Litomyšl In the arcades of the Renaissance houses on Litomyšl’s square, warm air shimmers lazily. Litomyšl is a white pearl in a Renaissance necklace. The majestic complex of historical houses, churches, and cloisters is topped off with a lovely chateau, where the sun pours on the sgraffiti and wind blows through the airy loggias. Inside, there is a charming courtyard, a Baroque theatre, opulent halls, an exhibition of historic pianos, a mysterious cellar, as well as the chateau tower reaching towards the sky. The chateau is surrounded by a fascinating English-style park and a French garden. And there is music in the air. Bedřich Smetana, one of the most important Czech composers, was born here in 1824, and the city, proud of its native son, has hosted the prestigious Smetana’s Litomyšl opera festival for six decades. i map menu www Kutná Hora Litomyšl