In the small town of Litomyšl, the aristocratic family of Pernštejn had a medieval castle remodeled into a Renaissance château in the second half of the 16th century. The château is an exceptional example of an original Italian arcaded structure which has been adapted to the Czech environment. It is a fine illustration of an aristocratic residence built during the medieval Renaissance, with later developments under the influence of new styles. The town of Litomyšl is also the birthplace of the great Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. An annual music festival (Smetana's Litomyšl) bears his name. The town and château are located some 50 km south-east of Hradec Králové on the main road to Svitavy and Brno.