Kladruby nad Labem. UNESCO Old Kladruby Horse Stud

Kladruby nad Labem is a picturesque village in the Czech Republic, famous for one of the oldest horse studs in the world and inscribed on the UNESCO list. Located on the Elbe River, it attracts lovers of history, architecture and equestrianism. It is one of the few places where in the stables you will meet a unique breed of Old Kladruber horses, white, strong and with a characteristic Roman nose. Check out our guide to Kladruby and its top attraction!

Kladruby nad Labem - location and access

Kladruby nad Labem lies in the Pardubice region, in the region of Eastern Bohemia, about 20 km west of Pardubice and about 100 km east of Prague, in a flat landscape. The village is bordered by the Elbe River in the south, and the whole surrounding area is a fertile lowland area, ideal for horse breeding. You will get here from Poland by the A1 motorway, and then the toll (vignettes) Czech D1 through Ostrava and Olomouc and then the D35 to Pardubice and from here about 20 km by the local road to Kladruby. It is less than 100 km from Prague on the D11 motorway. By train from Prague, you can get to the Řečany nad Labem station and then 3 km on foot or by taxi. There are no direct connections from Poland.

The Kladruby nad Labem Stud Farm (Národní hřebčín Kladruby nad Labem) - it's worth seeing!

Did you know that in Kladruby on the Elbe you will find an amazing stud farm, considered the third oldest in the world? This is the National Stud Farm Kladruby on the Elbe. Its origins date back even to the thirteenth century and monastic breeding, but from the sixteenth century the imperial Rudolf II stud farm operated here. He loved the unique breed of Old Kladruber horses.

History of Old Kladruber horses. Kladruber grey and black horses in Slatinany

Old Kladruber horses are the oldest Czech breed, bred since the 16th century in this stud. The breed was created in 1572 on the initiative of Emperor Maximilian II in the Kladruby stud, based on Andalusian, Neapolitan and Lipizzaner horses. Initially, various ointments were bred, but over time, only grays (white ceremonial horses) and kare (sled horses) began to be bred. For years, it was the beloved breed of the Habsburgs. They powered the carriages and carriages of the nobles of the Austrian court.

Grays are bred in Kladruby on the Elbe, beautiful white horses. Significantly, these horses are turning gray. They are born black, brown, sometimes dark and only after a few years they become lighter. They are usually white by the age of 10. They are long-lived horses, they live on average about 20 years, although they can live to 35!

These horses have a heavy head with a garbonose profile. Large, dark eyes, long neck, soft back, strong back and strong limbs with short tufts. The height at the withers is 165-175 cm and the weight is about 600-700 kg. The grays are majestic, while the kare is hardworking and easy to dress. Characteristic is the parade-like, high footfoot of these horses. They are obedient, elegant, perfect for royal carriages. There are about 250 of them in Kladruby, and barely 2000 around the world, also in Poland in a private kennel. Black variants are bred in nearby Slatinany. It mainly served the clergy and was also used at funerals.

In Kladruby, horses are the most important! Tradition on the UNESCO List

Love for horses is already manifested in the design of the Kladruby stud farm. The main alleys radiantly converge and lead straight to the stable, not to the castle next door. The whole area occupies 1200 hectares and since 2019 it has been inscribed on the UNESCO list as a cultural heritage. The entry concerns a perfectly preserved landscape composition, created for horses and a unique continuity of tradition. This is an example of a perfect symbiosis of man, horses and the landscape of the area. The perfect place for a trip.

Visiting the stud farm: carriage house, stables, castle and church

Today, the national stud farm in Kladruby can be visited after purchasing a ticket for the appropriate tourist route. One option is a carriage house. Not only do we like buggies today, in the past the mighty of this world also competed in lavish carriages, buggies and carriages! Here you will see various cars, in American, English style, for the Post Office or finally the most magnificent golden carriage. In fact, it is covered with gold, weighs 2 tons and was used only during large ceremonies. Full of baroque splendor, it was created for the Olomouc archbishops. Although they are extremely strong horses, as many as 6 animals were harnessed to ride such a wagon.

Interesting facts about Kladruby and horses:

• Kladruber horses are the oldest Czech breed, a symbol of courtly elegance
• The Kladruby Stud often hosted emperors, including Rudolf II and Franz Joseph I
• Horses from this stud are sent, among others, to the Presidential Guard in Prague
• The complex includes a carriage simulator and an observation tower
• Some horses from this stud (but not the Kladruber gray) took part in Wielka Pardubicka. This track is home to the world's toughest cross-country obstacle. This is the Trench of Taxis. Dozens of horses died on it. It consists of a hedge and a ditch. The last horse died on it in 2023. At that time, this ditch was reduced. Previously, horses had to be up to 8 meters in the air, now less than 6 meters. Apparently, they only jump it once a year, just during this race
• Why were bells used in the sleigh? Not so much for the atmosphere, but mainly for safety. There is no clatter of hooves in the snow, and the wheels do not rattle over the unevenness of the pavement. The rushing sleigh was silent, and during a blizzard or in the shadows it was also invisible! So the bells were mandatory.

Other attractions in Eastern Bohemia

The East Bohemian region abounds in beautiful attractions. The capital and largest city of the voivodeship is Pardubice, and other places around it are also worth visiting. Litomyśl with acastlefrom the UNESCO List is beautiful. The town of Chrudim is unique, small, but very atmospheric. And Dolni Morava has been located in the mountains, which for several years has attracted an extremely attractive resort with the Sky Walk tower and a suspension bridge.

Accommodation

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

Rent a car

Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.

What's worth seeing in the area?

If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.

• Koneprusie Caves in the Czech Republic, distance: 81  km
• Czech Karst, distance: 81.1  km
• Beroun, distance: 83  km
• Karlstejn Castle, distance: 90  km