Litomyšl Castle sees record attendance in 2026, and stays open for winter

Litomyšl Castle is heading toward record attendance after welcoming more visitors in the first 10 months of 2026 than during the whole of last year.

The castle recorded 74,184 visitors through the end of October, surpassing its 2025 total of 73,401. With tours continuing beyond the main sightseeing season, this year’s figure will rise further, according to the National Heritage Institute.

For visitors planning a late-autumn trip, the castle’s winter tour route is available Thursday through Saturday.

The increase follows the completion of a major restoration project, culminating in repairs to the façades on the château’s eastern frontage.

A new tour devoted to the history of its 1797 theater opened in early June, giving visitors a closer look at the workings of a historic stage.

The route features period scenery, theatrical costumes and replicas of machines once used to create the sounds of wind, rain and thunder during performances.

Its most valuable exhibits are original stage sets by painter Josef Platzer, whose work also served Vienna’s court theater and Prague’s Estates Theatre.

Alongside regular tours, special visits led by the château’s castellan and tours exploring the building’s architectural history helped attract audiences. Events during August’s annual Castle and Château Night sold out completely.

The winter route extends the opportunity to visit into the quieter months, although it is a separate seasonal offering from the full main-season program.

Several other heritage sites in the Pardubice Region also reported strong attendance this year.

Slatiňany château welcomed 37,075 visitors through October. Figures of garden sprites were among the attractions helping draw visitors, according to the heritage institute.

The château will open for tours Nov. 11 and again Nov. 14–17, when its program will mark the hunting season. Regular winter tours have been discontinued following the end of this year’s main season.

Litice Castle, which attracted 16,549 visitors through October, will have an exceptional opening Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Autumn-themed sprites will add a family activity to the route up its tower. Children’s programs were among the castle’s successful attractions this season.

Kunětická hora was the regional exception, recording 35,041 visitors—approximately 5,000 fewer than last year.

The heritage institute attributed the decline partly to the time elapsed since its last major restoration and to hot summer weather encouraging visits to sites with more cool indoor spaces. Many people also visit its courtyard and refreshments area without buying admission, meaning those outings are not reflected in paid visitor figures.