Pardubice in the Czech Republic. Castle, Green Gate, Mills and other attractions worth seeing!

Pardubice is an interesting city in the Czech Republic, associated mainly with horses, the racing track and the Great Pardubice. However, not everyone knows that this Czech city hides beautiful architecture and monuments and delights with its intimate market. It is the capital of the province and the largest city of the region. It is famous for gingerbread, Automatic Mills and a Renaissance castle with the first act in the Czech Republic! Check out our guide to Pardubice!

Location and access to Pardubice

Pardubice is located in the region of Eastern Bohemia, about 100 km east of Prague and 50 km northeast of the city of Hradec Králové and just over 40 km west of Kutná Hora, at an altitude of about 220 m above sea level. It is the capital and largest city of the Pardubice Region, i.e. the Pardubice Voivodeship. It has over 90,000 inhabitants and is an important transport hub on the Elbe and Chrudimka rivers. 

From Poland, from Warsaw, Wrocław or Katowice, you can take a train to Pardubice Hlavni Nadrazi (main station) with stops. Buses also run here from major cities, e.g. FlixBus. The easiest way to get there is by car. From Silesia, the route leads mainly by motorways and expressways. It is about 450 km and about 4.5 hours drive first on the A1 motorway, and then on the Czech D1 motorway (requires a Czech vignette of 310 CZK/10 days, 2026), through Ostrava and Olomouc and then D35 north through Hradec nad Moravicí and Litovel to Pardubice. We parked on the market square, in a paid car park.

Monuments and attractions in Pardubice. What's worth seeing? A map of the city's experiences

You will be surprised how many beautiful monuments and interesting attractions are hidden in Pardubice. The most valuable and impressive is the castle, but attention is also drawn to the Green Gate, the impressive Theatre, the noble church or the modern Automatic Mills. And our heart was stolen by a nicely maintained and very intimate market. Here are the best attractions of Pardubice!

Castle in Pardubice: Knights' rooms, Renaissance paintings and the first act in the Czech Republic!

The castle in Pardubice is a valuable building, today Renaissance, but initially Gothic from the 13th or 14th century. It was rebuilt into a magnificent Renaissance residence by the Pernsteins in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, for whom it became the main residence. At that time, it acquired the form of a combined castle and a sumptuous aristocratic palace with fortifications. Later, sgraffiti ornaments were created on the facade, a stone bridge added to the defensive walls of the castle and a powerful tower, called the guard tower. It is true that later on in the castle there was a brewery and a warehouse of a textile manufactory, but valuable and at the same time beautiful elements of the old decor were still preserved.

Visiting the castle: East Bohemian Museum

The castle in Pardubice is open to tourists. Inside, there is the Museum of Eastern Bohemia with exhibitions of the city's history, there is a shelter in the basement, and an educational path around the Castle Wall was created. The Museum was established in 1880, and the current East Bohemian Museum is its successor. The most delightful are the Knights' Halls, which show original decorative stone portals, Renaissance, painted, wooden coffered ceilings and, finally, original Renaissance wall paintings! And here is a curiosity, because on the wall you can admire the depiction of the biblical scene, that is Samson and Delilah, when she cuts his hair, thus taking away his power. It is one of the most beautiful Renaissance paintings in this country. And next to it, it is even more unique, because it is the first act in the Czech Republic. This is what is said about the painting depicting the naked Fortune. This is Fortuna Volubilis, or the Perverse Fortune, personifying divine favor. It is depicted on a sphere, because "fortune rolls around". This mural was created in 1532 and was painted by Wojciech of Pernstejn. In this way, he wanted to ensure lifelong favor. The frescoes were discovered only in the 20th century, because earlier the layers of plaster obscured this beauty. 

An interesting fact is also the Chapel of the Three Kings, which he built at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries by Viliam of Pernstejn. It was closed to tourists for a long time, but now it can be visited on guided tours. In its basement there is the Pernstejn Chest - the only surviving element of the late Gothic furnishings of the castle. The chest served as a medieval treasury, hiding documents, contracts and hundreds of kilograms of gold and silver from the world.

Castle tower, shelter and cafe

The castle tower is a convenient vantage point. It is 59 meters high and in good weather it allows you to admire the panorama reaching 20 km. 172 steps lead to the tower. Along the way, you will see an archaeological exhibition. And why are the original elements preserved in the Pardubice castle? Because the castle was never captured. Interestingly, its strong fortifications were also used during the Cold War in the 20th century, because under its fortifications there is a shelter prepared for a nuclear attack. However, the café organized in the premises of the former stable in the courtyard of the castle is much more pleasant.

Green Gate in Pardubice (Green Gate)

The Green Gate is considered the most popular monument in Pardubice. We could not fully appreciate its magic, because it was being renovated during our trip and it was impossible to look inside. It is an element of old, 16th-century fortifications with a guard gate and a bas-relief of the knight Jesek. It is commonly believed that they are one whole, but in fact they are two buildings standing in a row: a Renaissance gatehouse and the gate with the tower itself.

The first city gate was probably built here in the fourteenth century, when the city was fortified. Even in the time of Wilhelm Pernstejn, it was low, it had at most 2 floors. At that time, it was called not green, but Prague, because the road from Pardubice to Prague led here. Only his son John of Pernstejn, after the great fire of the city, rebuilt it into a Renaissance pearl, and then the Prague Gate underwent a radical transformation. This tall city tower rose above the main square, decorated with a magnificent copper roof with turrets and a spire. This copper roof shone with gold in the sun and even the saying "Shine like a tower in Pardubice" was created. Quite quickly, however, weather conditions caused the roof to turn green, and this name has stuck to the building to this day. In the past, from the gallery of the tower, the guards guarded the security of the city, and today tourists admire the beautiful surroundings with magnificent sunsets.

Relief on the gate with the legend of the Pardubice coat of arms

In front of the tower, at the same time, a new, one-storey gate was built, topped with an attic, with Renaissance arches typical of Pardubice. At the beginning of the 20th century, a bas-relief according to the design of the famous Czech painter Mikoláš Alše appeared on this barbican. It presents the legend of the creation of the coat of arms of the Lords of Pardubice, namely in 1158 the knight Ješek took part in the siege of Milan. As he fled the city, the city gate crushed his horse, splitting it in two. Desperate, he took the part with his head on his back and with the last of his strength carried him to the camp. The ruler, seeing this sacrifice and his love for the animal, gave him such a coat of arms.

Market Square in Pardubice or Pernštejnské Square

The market in Pardubice charmed us. It is not only beautiful, but also very intimate. It is a historic square with beautiful and well-kept buildings. It is dominated by a very impressive Neo-Renaissance town hall from 1892-94. Very ornate and boasting an interesting shape. In front of it stands a Baroque Marian column from 1695. It was created as a thank you for the disappearance of the plague. This is a typical plague column, which can often be admired on the Czech markets. It is impressive, although more modest than the most beautiful one we have seen in Olomouc so far. Around the square, there were nice tenement houses in the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. Many of them still remember the 16th century, because during the war this part of the city did not suffer. 

Several of them attract particular attention, and the most eye-catching is the tenement house "U Jonáše" (U Jonasza) under No. 50. It is unique on a European scale. A bas-relief of Jonah with a whale was carved on the facade. The entire facade is a bas-relief depicting the biblical scene of Jonah being swallowed by a whale. The 18th-century artist has probably never seen a whale, so this creature resembles it on average, it looks more like a big fish. There is also House No. 3 "U Św. Wacława", originally Gothic, and rebuilt in the Renaissance style after a fire in 1538. On the façade, it shows Gothic paintings, Renaissance ornaments, Baroque gables and a relief of Jacob Teple depicting St. Wenceslas on a horse. Currently, it houses the Mazhaus gallery.

Automatic Mills - Automatic Winternitz Mills

Under the castle, Chrudimka enters the Elbe. It was on its banks at the beginning of the 20th century, in the years 1909-10, that Automatic Mills were built - huge modernist buildings of automatic mills designed by Josef Gočár. They were automatic not only in name, because it was one of the first objects where the grain grinding process took place without the touch of a human hand – from grain to a bag of flour. Interestingly, Gočár, the architect, was inspired by the Ishtar gate from Babylon, hence such an unusual connector, and beautiful frills at the top. A slide can also be seen outside. In general, flour was drained here, but in the days of the Austrian company, when it controlled the mill for a while, new employees, according to their ritual, were drained down this trough. And what is interesting, once one was forgotten and fell, unfortunately breaking bones. 

When the mills stopped grinding grain after more than 100 years, the former industrial complex became an art gallery and a cultural and educational center. Some rooms have been made available to tourists, so you can, for example, enter the interior of silos. Each of them, and there were 12 of them, contained 10 grain wagons. So it can be said that in these walls there was an endless river of dough for the famous Pardubice gingerbread. 

Church of St. Bartholomew in Pardubice

St. Bartholomew's Church is a late Gothic temple built at the beginning of the 16th century. It served the Catholic minority and at the same time constituted the family tomb of the Czech branch of the Pernsteins. Behind the bars, we can admire a painting depicting the martyrdom of St. Bartholomew, and its author is Michael Willmann, the famous artist known as the "Silesian Rembrandt". In Poland, you can admire his works in many places, including Wrocław, Krzeszów, Otmuchów, but he is also known for the famous abbey in Lubiąż. In the presbytery, you can additionally admire a Renaissance sandstone tombstone with a marble sculpture of Wojciech of Pernštejn.

Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin

The Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary is the oldest church in the city. It was built as a Gothic in the fourteenth century, and in the sixteenth century it was rebuilt by Vilhelm Pernstejn. To this day, it is a valuable monument with original architectural elements, such as a gothic ribbed vault in the nave or a crystal vault in the presbytery. After the parish was taken over by the church of St. Bartholomew, this temple became a monastery of minorites, after which there remained underground rooms with crypts, which served as an anti-aircraft shelter during World War II.

East Bohemian Theatre in Pardubice

The East Bohemian Theatre is one of the oldest permanent stages in the Czech Republic. The beautiful Art Nouveau building was built in 1906-09. On the facade you will see the Statue of "Genius" with the face of Ema Destin (famous Czech opera singer) and medallions of leading Czech composers. East Bohemian Theatre is a modern cultural scene, with its own group of actors.

Horse racing track and Wielka Pardubicka (Velká Pardubická)

In Pardubice, there is a horse racing  track, where the world-famous Great Pardubice Race takes place. On this track, the most difficult obstacle among cross-country terrain obstacles for horses was created. It's called the Taxis Trench. Dozens of horses died on it. It consists of a large hedge, behind which there is a large ditch. The last horse died here in 2023, and then the ditch was slightly reduced. Previously, horses had to be in the air as much as 8 meters on this obstacle, and now less than 6 meters. It's still very difficult for them. Apparently, they only jump it once a year, during this race, so they don't really have time to learn it.

Other attractions and monuments of Pardubice and its surroundings

• Jewish cemetery and synagogue – traces of Jewish history
• Kunětická hora – nearby castle
• The Stud Farm in Kladruby - the oldest stud farm in the Czech Republic and the third in the world, dates back to the 13th century. Since the time of Emperor Rudolf II, a great horse lover, a unique breed - Old Kladruber horses - has been bred here. They are grays that are born dark and turn gray with age, eventually becoming white. They have characteristic Roman noses and dark, vivid eyes

Where to eat in Pardubice?

We visited the iconic Struhadlo Restaurant in Pardubice, which is located opposite the city gate, behind the market square. We tasted several Czech specialties, including the famous svicková. This is long roasted beef, usually served with a touch of sweet, whipped cream. Fortunately, this time there was no kleksa, and the cream was in the sauce, which together tasted very good. For me, only a small minus for the lack of greens in this dish, although there was a small amount of cranberry served on meat, accompanied by dumplings. In addition, I ate a very good Czech limp soup here. It is served with egg, mushrooms and potatoes. Pride, I didn't know her before. The grater also serves desserts, but we were already full, and for a sweet break we can also recommend the Confectionery on the atmospheric Pernsztyńska street, near Vinoteka, between the castle and the market square.

Accommodation in Pardubice

In a beautiful corner of the city, on the pleasant and quiet Pernsztyńska street, there is the Penzion Víno Hruška Pardubice, a small and atmospheric hotel with apartments. Our room, apart from the large bed, also hid a beautiful bathtub, which was a very interesting interior design. There is also breakfast on site, and even a car park is available.

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.

Interesting facts about Pardubice

• In Pardubice you will find souvenir gingerbread shops, because Pardubice gingerbread is famous. In the past, they were so hard that some served only as an ornament. And in general, it is interesting that in the 16th century, during the Pernsteins, Pardubice was considered a luxurious city, horribly expensive. The nobility who came here complained about the prices of accommodation and food. There was even a saying: "I'll show you how much a Pardubice gingerbread is worth". It was a kind of warning about the amount that had to be paid everywhere, but also a kind of threat
• The first archbishop of Prague was Arnost from Pardubice, the patron saint of the city
• Pardubice flourished when it was acquired by William II of Pernstejn, the second person in the state after the king. And this was Władysław II the Jagiellonian. Thanks to his connections with the ruler, he transformed then small Pardubice into a Renaissance gem
• Jan Kašpar, the first aviator who flew from Pardubice to Prague in 1911, came from Pardubice, which was an amazing event. Apparently, crowds were waiting for him in Prague and he gained great fame for it. His plane had only 70 horsepower, which is about as much as today's medium-sized motorcycles

Legend of the coat of arms of the Lords of Pernstejn

The origin of the coat of arms of the Pernstejn family is known from the legend, which they presented as stone reliefs on their former buildings, such as the Pardubice castle. This coat of arms depicts the black head of a bison on a silver-gold shield. According to this legendary in the forests of Moravia, there once lived a poor charcoal burner, Wojciech, whose food was stolen from his hut. One day, he attacked a thief who turned out to be a wild bison. Wojciech grabbed him and pushed the snake-shaped bark into his nostrils. Thus he led the animal to the ruler's castle and beheaded the bison in front of everyone. In exchange for this heroic act, with which he saved the prince from the marauding bison, he received from his master a black bison head with a golden circle in its nostrils as an emblem, as well as a forest in which he burned coal so that he could build his ancestral seat on this land.

Other attractions in Eastern Bohemia

The East Bohemian region abounds in beautiful attractions. The capital and largest city of the voivodeship is Pardubice, but it is also worth visiting other places around. Nearby is the oldest horse farm in the Czech Republic in Kladruby. Litomyśl with a castle from the UNESCO List is beautiful. 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.

Pardubice is a fantastic city, full of history and beautiful architecture, as well as modern solutions. We visited themthanks to an invitation from Eastern Bohemia. Thank you!

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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.

• Szczeliniec Wielki, distance: 63.7  km
• Gorzanów Palace, distance: 70  km
• Sarny Castle, distance: 74.4  km
• Kłodzko Fortress, distance: 76.5  km
• Bear Cave in Kletno, distance: 78.9  km
• Tower on Dzikowiec, distance: 81.8  km
• Fortress Silver Mountain, distance: 85.5  km
• Colorful Rudawy Janowickie Lakes, distance: 88.8  km
• Grodno Castle in Zagórze Śląskie, distance: 90.8  km
• Książ Castle, distance: 96.5  km