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 Lanškroun was founded in the 2nd part of 13th century during the reign of Přemysl Otakar II. in connection with colonization of wide area on Tichá Orlice, Třebovec and Moravská Sázava River. Brothers Oldřich and Heřman z Drnholce were probably its founders. In the Middle Ages, history of Lanškroun is tightly connected with history of Lanšperk manor. The first mention of Lanškroun dates back to 1285 when belonged to Bohemian king Václav II. (Wenceslas II.) who ceded it to his step-father Záviš z Falkenštejna. In 1304, Václav II. donated the town with eastern part of Lanšperk manor to Cistercian Monastery in Zbraslav; in 1358 Litomyšl bishopric get the whole Lanšperk manor and Lanškroun on the basis of property exchange. In 1371, in Lanškroun, Petr Jelito, bishop of Litomyšl, native of Třešňovce u Lanškrouna, founded Augustinian monastery. Originally, it stood in front of the town wall, in the locality of today’s church of St. Magdalen and neighboring little park; but in 1393, construction of new monastery started right in the center of the town in the neighborhood of parish church of St. Václav (Wenceslas; in that time it was consecrated to Maria) near town wall, on the place of 8 burn down houses and former town cemetery. Archeological exploration made in 1940 provided basic conception about monastery appearance. It was typical Gothic monastery quadrature that occupied almost entire today’s Jirásek Square. Most probably the monastery was fired and damaged by local inhabitants.
After events in spring in 1421, Lanškroun was ruled by Hussite hetmans who resided in Litomyšl – from 1425 it was Jeník z Mečova and Diviš Bořek z Miletína; from 1432 it was Vilém Kostka z Postupnic who ruled. In 1436, Bohemian king Zikmund confirmed ownership of lien of some property of perished bishopric of Litomyšl, e.g. part of Lanšperk manor including Lanškroun. When in 1451 Vilém, son of Zdeněk Kostka, get lien of the rest of Lanšperk manor from Bohuš z Kosině, Lanškroun was connected with this manor again. After death of Zdeněk in 1468, his brother Jan took over Lanšperk manor including Lanškroun, then his sons Jan II. Kostka and Bohuš followed. After death of Bohuš in 1505, his daughters Anna and Markéta inherited this manor.
In 1507, after marriage of Markéta Kostková and Vojtěch z Pernštejna, the family of Pernštejn get Lanšperk manor including Lanškroun. Vojtěch ruled the first, after his death in 1534, his brother Jan z Pernštejna took over the manor. In 1544, because of debts he was obligated to sell considerable part of Lanšperk manor to Petr Bohdanecký z Hodkova; he kept only Lanškroun and 12 villages. In this time, the castle became administrative center of the manor. But either Jan z Pernštejna did not hold Lanškroun for a long time and even before his death (1548) he pawned it to Václav z Boskovic. In 1561, Vratislav z Pernštejna, son and inheritor of Jan z Pernštejna, pay off forfeit to successor of Vaclav z Boskovic – Albrecht Černohorský z Boskovic. In 1564, when he also get Lanšperk from inheritors of Petr Bohdanecký z Hodkova, Lanšperk and Lanškroun were again connected but management of whole manor stayed in Lanškroun castle and during their visit possessors did not stayed in Lanšperk but in Lanškroun. We do not know if under Pernštejn family there were any reconstruction and widening of older building of Kostka family. In 1588, when Jan z Pernštejna, son of Vratislav, sold Lanšperk-Lanškroun manor to Adam Hrzán z Harasova, Lanškroun castle is described as partially stone, partially wooden building with many rooms.
Adam Hrzán z Harasova was infamous for his relationship to serfs. He restricted rights of citizens and increased levy. This caused disputes that culminated in 1593 when Adam imprisoned several citizens of Lanškroun in the castle. Civil litigation among citizens of Lanškroun and Adam Hrzán dragged out until his death in 1619. In this year, his sons Zdeslav, Vilém and Jan took over all his manors. In 1620, they split up manor and Lanškroun fell to Vilém Hrzán z Harasova. However, Vilém died in the same year and Zdeslav Hrzán became his inheritor. Serfs refused to make a vow to the new owner. After legal proceedings they were forced to make it but Zdeslav had to reduce newly set up payments and corvées. But already in 1622, Zdeslav Hrzán disconcerted by opposition of serfs and because of suspicion of participation in uprising of the Estates in 1618-1620, sold Lanšperk-Lanškroun manor to Karel z Lichtenštejna. In contract of purchase – as in 1558 – this manor is separated into two parts: Lanšperk and Lanškroun. Town of Lanškroun and 12 villages belonged to Lanškroun part.
In 1627, Karel z Lichtenštejna died and his son Karel Eusebius took over Lanškroun manor and other Lichtenštejn’s manors. During his reign, Lanškroun experienced horror of 30-years war. In 1639, Swedes tried to capture the town but this attack was fought off. According to tradition near the town (close to Bohemian-Moravian borderline near today’s village of Mezilesí, formerly Laudon) Swedes built unusual fortification whose ruins are called Swedish chance. From that place they harassed vast surroundings and in 1643 they succeeded in capturing of Lanškroun. Both Swedish attacks extensively damaged castle and the town and… what was not destroyed by Swedes, in 1645, conflagration destroyed – even castle and neighboring church became its victim.
Already in 1650’s, Karel Eusebius z Lichtenštejna started reconstruction of burned down castle and church. However, this reconstruction was finished only in 1716 – according to coat of arms of Lichtenštejn family with year that was originally placed above gateway, today it is deposited in museum in the castle.
Alois Josef z Lichtenštejna was the last feudal lord of Lanškroun manor. In 1843, during his reign, two more towns, one little town and 51 villages belonged to manor besides town of Lanškroun and the castle. In 1858, Alois Josef z Lichtenštejna ceded farm buildings of the first castle courtyard to the town (until 1848, there was manorial management of manor). After 1858, majority of buildings and wall closing the first courtyard were pull down and this area was modified to second square (today Jirásek Square). In the place of building (that originated from western wing of former monastery) new school (today elementary school) was founded. Thanks to this modification the area of castle (not castle itself) blend in with the rest of built-up area. In the second half of 19th century and in the beginning of 20th century, interiors of the castle were used as offices of management of Lanškroun estate. In the northern part, Gothic but Baroque-adapted church of St. Václav is connected with the castle.
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