A Little History
The story first.
Litomyšl's château is UNESCO-listed for its thousands of hand-scratched sgraffito "envelopes" — no two alike — and its rare baroque theatre. Bedřich Smetana, whose Vltava (The Moldau) is the most romantic music this country ever produced, was born in the château brewery; the summer opera festival fills the courtyard with his music.
Why It's Romantic
The atmosphere you're proposing into.
There's a poetry to proposing in the birthplace of the composer whose river-song you've walked along in Prague. The arcaded courtyard, the monastery gardens with their modern statues gazing over rooftops, and the long renaissance square all glow in the evening — cultured, calm and completely uncrowded.
Quick Facts
- From Prague: 2 h from Prague
- Privacy: Excellent
- Crowds: Low outside festival evenings
- Good to know: Smetana's Litomyšl festival (June–July) sells out — book ahead if you want it