The Pardubice Castle

The Pardubice Castle is a renaissance château which is located near the city’s historical centre. It is considered to be unique in Central Europe due to its area and appearance. A water castle stood on the site of the current château in the 13^th century. The castle was renovated after the Hussite Wars and stone battlements were erected around it with embrasures and corner towers. Visitors can still view the remnants of the structure today. The most significant reconstruction work took place at the end of the 15^th and the beginning of the 16^th centuries under the House of Pernstein. William II of Pernstein converted the castle into a renaissance palace with four wings and surrounded it with fortifications. These fortifications are considered to constitute the acme of late gothic fortification technology. A barbican, which was connected to the château by a wooden bridge, was constructed in the direction of the city. These extensive renovations, which were also continued by the sons of William II of Pernstein, gave rise to a seat which represented a transition between a castle and a château. In 2010, the Pardubice château and its fortifications were entered in the list of national cultural heritage of the Czech Republic. It is possible to see, for example, the Knight’s Hall, the château chapel and the barbican. The Pardubice Castle underwent reconstruction in 2019 to 2020. The new areas and tour routes will be open to the public in 2021.