Piaristická kolej v Litomyšli School building

Piaristická kolej v Litomyšli, a former religious house of the Order of Religious Schools, is a key historical monument in the city of Litomyšl-Město. Founded in 1640 by Frebonia Herula Eusebii of Pernštejn, she served as an educational institution until 1950. Today it is part of the cultural area together with the Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross and other buildings that are protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. This school building is important not only for its historical context, but also for architectural elements and dramatic changes that it has experienced over the centuries.

The foundation of the piarist college took place in the middle of the Baroque Renaissance, a period characterized by the development of church institutions and the construction of many churches and monasteries. Frebonie Herula Eusebie z Pernštejna, the last owner of Litomysle of the House of Pernštejn, was the initiator of the transfer of the first piarists to the city, which reflected the broader trend of education institutions by the Order of Religious Schools. The first construction of the track began the following year, when the foundation stone was laid under the supervision of Archbishop Arnost Vojtěch of Harrach.

The architecture of the piarist track is characterized by the ground plan of the letter "U," which was the result of the plans of an unknown piarist builder from Mikulov and later modifications of Simon, the regional builder from Prague. Construction materials came mainly from local sources, such as stone from older buildings and bricks from Litomyšl brick. Over the years, small reconstructions took place, including the construction of the Purgatory Chapel in the 18th century, which served to serve the Mass for the deceased.

The ownership and administration of the track have undergone some dramatic changes. After it was founded, the college was used by the Order of Religious Schools until it was confiscated by the State in 1950 after the communist coup d'état. At that time, a political process took place with the last rector of František Ambrož Šrtešský, which led to the end of more than three hundred years' work of the Order in Litomyšl. After the fall of the communism of the college, it was restituted by the piaristic order and then transferred to the University of Pardubice, where the Faculty of Restoration is located.

Key events in the history of the college include its founding, state confiscation and subsequent restitution after the fall of communism. These events reflect broader political and social changes in Czechoslovakia during the 20th century.

Today, the piarist college in Litomyšl is not only a cultural monument but also a functional space. After total reconstruction between 2008 and 2015, he serves as a studio for students of the Faculty of Restoration of the University of Pardubice. The hostel hosts various studios, including the studio of the restoration of paper, book links and documents, and also serves as a college college. In addition, there is the original library of Litomyšl Piarist College with more than 4000 volumes, which was returned to the Order after 1989.

Piaristická kolej v Litomyšli is a place full of history and architectural pearls. Its rich past and current functionality make it a necessary destination for anyone interested in the history of education and architecture. Visiting this place offers a unique view of the changes of Czech school buildings and their importance to the local community.