Pardubice — Czech city known for horseracing, gingerbread and industry

Notable landmarks

The city centre preserves several landmarks that draw visitors and reflect local history. Key sites include:

• Green Gate (Zelená brána), a tall city gate offering views over the old streets and squares.
• St. Bartholomew's Church, a prominent Gothic church near the main square with an imposing tower.
• Pernštejn Square, surrounded by burgher houses and the historical castle complex linked to the Pernštejn family.

History and development

Pardubice grew from a medieval settlement into a fortified town and later expanded during industrialisation. Its location in eastern Bohemia gave it strategic and economic importance: river access, trade routes and later rail connections helped the town develop chemical and engineering industries. The layout of the historic centre preserves traces of its medieval street plan while industrial districts reflect 19th- and 20th-century growth.

Culture, economy and events

The city is associated with several cultural products and annual events. Pardubice gingerbread (a type of perník) is a traditional local specialty produced and sold across the Czech Republic. The surrounding region supports chemical plants, manufacturing and services that form the modern local economy. Most famously, Pardubice hosts the Velká pardubická, a long-standing and challenging international steeplechase horse race that draws riders, trainers and spectators from many countries.

People and sporting traditions

Pardubice has produced notable athletes and cultural figures. The city is the birthplace of ice-hockey goaltender Dominik Hašek, one of the sport's most celebrated keepers; local clubs and arenas continue to foster winter sports and hockey development (ice hockey is particularly popular). The town’s sporting profile includes equestrian events, motorsports in the region, and grassroots programmes. The role of the goaltender as a specialized position in hockey is widely recognized in local training and fan culture (goaltender).

Visitors commonly explore the historic centre, sample local gingerbread, attend a horse race or visit museums and galleries that document the city’s industrial and social history. Pardubice combines a compact urban heritage with active cultural life and regional significance.