Discover Litoměřice-Město

Litoměřice-Město combines medieval traces, ecclesiastical art, unusual exhibitions, Bohemian winegrowing and cycling experiences along the Elbe within a compact area. If you are planning a trip to Litoměřice, you can choose between cultural history, wine discoveries and active days, without the town being limited to just one theme.

History on Dómský pahorek

One particularly far-reaching starting point is Dómský pahorek. In around 1057, Prince Spytihněv II founded the Chapter of St. Stephen there. Since the 10th century, the site had also contained an original princely and Přemyslid fortified settlement covering about 6 hectares, which has disappeared without a trace. The present-day Cathedral of St. Stephen was built later, in 1664–1668, in the early Baroque style. Before that, the former church had been demolished between 1662 and 1664.

History can also be combined with a museum visit at Mírové náměstí. The Litoměřice Diocesan Museum is housed in a originally Gothic building bearing the year 1513 on its gable. Since 1995, works from the collections of the Diocese of Litoměřice have been accessible there. Another historical memory is preserved at the Karel Hynek Mácha Memorial: it includes an exhibition in the room of the Na Vikárce house where the poet lived and died on 6 November 1836.

Exhibitions with very different characters

For a museum and culture itinerary, Litoměřice offers several distinct themes. The exhibition “Důl Richard v proměnách času” is accessible in an approximately 160-metre-long underground passage beneath the town hall. It documents the history of the nearby Bídnice hill. The information panels along the passage are written in Czech, German and English.

The Marionette Gallery offers a much more playful approach. It is located in a Gothic tower that was formerly part of Litoměřice’s fortifications and displays more than 250 marionettes and fairy-tale sets. This makes the visit a clear contrast to the ecclesiastical and urban-history collection of the Diocesan Museum. At the Dílna ručního papíru, guided tours begin every hour on the hour at 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15 o’clock.

Winegrowing between exhibition and educational trail

Litoměřice is also a place where the history of Czech winegrowing meets the modern exploration of wine. Litoměřice Castle houses an exhibition providing an overview of the history of Czech winegrowing. The castle also offers wine-tasting tours; these must be booked at least one to two days in advance.

Those who want to experience winegrowing beyond an exhibition can include the Litoměřická Wine Trail in their plans. It is slightly more than 15 km long and includes nine stops with information panels. Officially, the trail begins in the courtyard of Litoměřice Castle. By prior telephone arrangement, visitors can visit local winemakers along the route and taste their wines. The educational trail thus combines a longer route with specific stops and scheduled encounters with winemakers.

Location on the Elbe and Ohře

The geographical location complements the cultural offerings: Litoměřice lies at the confluence of the Labe and Ohře rivers, at the transition between the mountains of České středohoří and the fertile Polabská lowland. For a cycling tour, the Hněvice–Litoměřice section of the Elbe Cycle Route provides a clearly described connection. It runs mostly along a cycle path and partly on quiet third-class roads.

This allows you to consciously choose the focus of your stay: the cathedral and the traces of Dómský pahorek, museums and unusual exhibitions, the wine tradition or a route along the Elbe Cycle Route. Other places to research are Ploskovice (Ploskovice), Horní Beřkovice (Horní Beřkovice), Brňany (Brňany), Sulejovice (Sulejovice), Černiv (Černiv), Černěves (Černěves), Slatina Pod Hazmburkem (Slatina Pod Hazmburkem) and Hlinná (Hlinná).

For the broader travel overview: Litoměřice District.