Pardubice District: Horse Culture, History and Nature

Fortress, Horses and Cultural Landscape

Kunětická hora is a national cultural monument with a remarkable medieval fortification system. It also hosts open-air theatre, concerts, festivals and themed historical programmes; individual events vary by season. If you would like to include an event in your stay, check the relevant dates before travelling.

Pardubice Castle is a Renaissance castle and home to the Museum and Gallery of East Bohemia. Remains of the original structure can still be seen. The Kladruby stud farm is one of the oldest stud farms in the world and is home to the oldest original Czech horse breed, the Old Kladruber.

The cultural landscape of Kladruby nad Labem lies in the Elbe Lowlands, in the Střední Polabí area. It includes fields, meadows, fenced pastures, a landscaped park, wooded areas, buildings and farmsteads. The landscape is still used for breeding and training Kladruber ceremonial carriage horses. So, if you are interested in horses, you will encounter more than a historical tradition here: breeding and training remain part of the landscape’s use.

Hiking Trails and Water

You can explore the Kladruby Polabí Protected Landscape Area on foot. A red hiking trail leads from Přelouč to Kladruby nad Labem, passing Slavíkovy ostrovy and the Semín Aqueduct. Another option is the yellow trail from Stéblová to Kunětická hora, which runs near the Baroch Nature Reserve. When hiking, it is worth checking current trail conditions, as local conditions can change.

Pardubice is directly connected to the marked CT 2 Elbe Cycle Route, which includes paved paths and sections separated from road traffic. The Opatovický Canal is suitable for less demanding boating. This gives you different ways to plan your activities: a hike with named stops, routes through the cultural landscape, cycling along the Elbe Cycle Route or a boat trip on the canal.

Wetlands and a Spa Park

Baroch is an ornithological site where visitors can encounter common and rare bird species. There is also a grazing reserve where you can see buffalo and wild horses. The Bohdanečský rybník National Nature Reserve protects aquatic, wetland and forest ecosystems around the pond. These include peat meadows, reed beds, alder carr, willow stands and oak forests.

Access within the protected area is restricted to marked trails; the birdwatching hide on the Polákov peninsula is accessible without restrictions. As these access rules may change due to conservation measures, check the conditions before your visit.

Lázně Bohdaneč is considered the only spa town in the Pardubice Region. Lázeňský Park has well-maintained paths, benches and lawns for walking and relaxing. This means you can combine the focus on nature and landscape with a more peaceful stay in the park.

Pardubice: Gingerbread and Getting Around

Pardubice lies at the confluence of the Labe and Chrudimka rivers. Gingerbread-making in the city dates back to the 16th century. Near Kunětická hora, Perníková chaloupka offers a gingerbread museum and fairy-tale attractions. If you are planning a visit, check reservation and access details in advance.

The Pardubice Tourist Information Centre offers tips on trips and attractions, multilingual materials about places of interest, accommodation advice, guided-tour arrangements and local products for sale. The offer may change; for specific questions, contact the centre directly. These different highlights can help guide your hotel planning: horse history and cultural heritage, nature watching, trails or local gingerbread traditions.

Discover more destinations: Slepotice, Trnavka, Vysoke Chvojno, Pardubice, Živanice, Mikulovice, Staré Hradiště, Býšť, Choltice, Dolní Roveň, Dolní Ředice, Dříteč, Čepí, Hlavečník, Holice V Čechách, Horní Jelení, Kladruby Nad Labem, Lázně Bohdaneč, Lipoltice, Ostřetín, Opatovice Nad Labem, Ostřešany, Dašice, Přelouč, Rohovládova Bělá, Rybitví, Spojil, Staré Ždánice, Rokytno, Staré Jesenčany, Turkovice, Uhersko, Vápno, Zdechovice, Řečany Nad Labem, Barchov, Brloh, Bezděkov U Choltic, Břehy, Bukovina Nad Labem, Bukovina U Přelouče, Bukovka, Časy, Čeperka, Moravany, Černá U Bohdanče, Dolany, Sezemice Nad Loučnou, Dubany, Trusnov, Holotín, Svinčany, Horní Ředice, Chvaletice, Srch, Hrobice, Choteč, Chvojenec, Chýšť, Jankovice, Jaroslav, Jedousov, Jezbořice, Kasalice, Kojice, Kostěnice, Litošice, Křičeň, Kunětice, Labské Chrčice, Lány U Dašic, Libišany, Malé Výkleky, Mokošín, Neratov, Plch, Poběžovice U Holic, Poběžovice U Přelouče, Podůlšany, Pravy, Přelovice, Přepychy, Ráby, Selmice, Semín, Sopřeč, Sovolusky, Srnojedy, Starý Mateřov, Stéblová, Stojice, Strašov, Svojšice, Tetov, Třebosice, Úhřetická Lhota, Újezd U Přelouče, Újezd U Sezemic, Urbanice, Valy, Veliny, Veselí, Vlčí Habřina, Voleč, Vyšehněvice, Žáravice, Horní Roveň, Rohoznice

For the overview of the wider area: Pardubice.