Litomyšl was raised into the status of a town in the mid-13th century and its importance was strengthened 100 years late by the establishment of the second bishopric in Bohemia. The town is characterized by an elongated street square surrounded by rows of citizen’s houses; the most significant one is the Renaissance house “U rytířů” with valuable stone-carving decoration. The main dominants of the town are the Piarists Church of the Holy Rood from the 18th century and the representative Renaissance chateau, one of the most valuable in Bohemia. Every year the opera festivals “Smetanova Litomyšl” and “Mladá Smetanova Litomyšl” take place in the courtyard of the chateau. In the town is also PORTMONEUM – the Váchal´s museum and a classical collection of ancient sculptures.