Pardubice consists of eightself-governing boroughs.[2] In addition, Pardubice consists of 27 municipal parts, whose borders do not respect the boundaries of boroughs (in brackets population according to the 2021 census, in italics municipal parts only partly in the boroughs):[3]
The namePardubice is derived from the personal Polish name Porydęb. It was the name of the leader of the monks who came here from Poland. For the first time the name was recorded in the form ofPordobice.[4][5]
Pardubice is located about 90 kilometres (56 mi) east ofPrague. The city lies at the confluence of theElbe andChrudimka rivers. There are several fishponds, artificial lakes andoxbow lakes of the Elbe in the municipal territory.
Pardubice is located in a predominantly flat agricultural lansdscape in theEast Elbe Table, in the eastern part of thePolabí lowland. The highest point is the hill Stropinský vrch at 258 m (846 ft) above sea level, located on the southeastern municipal border.
Pardubice's climate is classified asoceanic climate (Köppen:Cfb;Trewartha:Dobo). Among them, the annual average temperature is 9.7 °C (49.5 °F), the hottest month in July is 19.8 °C (67.6 °F), and the coldest month is −0.3 °C (31.5 °F) in January. The annual precipitation is 573.4 millimetres (22.57 in), of which July is the wettest with 79.9 millimetres (3.15 in), while February is the driest with only 30.9 millimetres (1.22 in). The extreme temperature throughout the year ranged from −27.7 °C (−17.9 °F) on 29 December 1996 to 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) on 28 July 2013.[6]
Climate data forPardubice Airport, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1961–present
Map of Pardubice (c. 1760)Church of Saint Bartholomew on Republic SquarePardubice Castle
The first written mention of Pardubice is from 1295, whenPope Boniface VIII took over the protection of the local Church of Saint Bartholomew with the order ofCanons Regular of the Penitence of the Blessed Martyrs. In the first half of the 14th century, the settlement was acquired by a noble family, later known as Lords of Pardubice. In 1340, when Pardubice was inherited byArnošt of Pardubice, it was first referred to as a city.[4][10]
In 1491, Pardubice was bought byVilém II of Pernštejn, who continued to expand the city and made significant impact on its prosperity. He chose Pardubice as the centre of his estate and began to build a city that corresponded to his status. ThePernštejn family had the entire historic centre with the Renaissance square built. They also had rebuilt the medieval castle into a comfortable fortified residence. In 1560, the Pernštejns were forced to sell the estate to EmperorFerdinand I because of debts.[10][11]
An important milestone in the history of the city was the year 1845, when the railway fromPrague toOlomouc was finished. Pardubice became an important railway junction, which led to the development of the food, engineering and chemical industries, and subsequently the development of social and cultural life. In 1874, theVelká pardubická steeplechase horse race took place for the first time. In 1910,Jan Kašpar made here the first successful flight in Czech lands and a year later he made history by flying the firstlong-haul flight from Pardubice to Prague.[10][11]
In the interwar period, Pardubice continued to develop until its heyday ended with the advent ofWorld War II. During the war, the city was damaged by air strikes of the Allies, and the Fanto Werke refinery was repeatedly bombed during theoil campaign.[10]
Pardubice is known as an industrial city. The dominant industries are chemical industry, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.Tesla electronics manufacturer operated here in 1921–1989. In 2000,Foxconn established a production plant in its former premises. This electronics manufacturer is the largest employer in Pardubice.[14]
Pardubice has a long tradition in the chemical industry. It is represented by the Paramo refinery, which was founded by David Fanto in 1889. Today it is owned byOrlen Unipetrol.[15] In Pardubice-Semtín there are the companiesExplosia (a manufacturer of explosives founded in 1920, which is associated with the invention ofSemtex plastic explosive) and its subsidiary Synthesia (manufacturer of cellulose, pigments and dyes, and organic compounds, established in 1929).[16]
Pardubice is served byPardubice Airport, which is used as both military and civilian international airport.
In addition to buses,trolleybuses also provide intra-city transport. Trolleybus service was started in 1952.[20] There are 12 trolleybus lines in operation.[21] Intra-city transport is provided by the company Dopravní podnik města Pardubic a.s., which is owned by the city of Pardubice. The company was founded in 1950.[22]
Pardubice is home toUniversity of Pardubice. It was founded in 1950 as Chemical College and is mainly focused on fields historically associated with the city, such as the chemical industry and transportation.[23]
The Pardubice Stallions are an American football team currently playing in theCzech League of American Football 2nd division. They play home games at the Summer Stadium.
Pardubice is also represented in the Czechrink bandy league.[24]
Pardubice hosts two world-famous sporting events each year. TheVelká pardubická steeplechase was first held in 1874 and is one of the most famous horse races in Europe. The second event is theGolden Helmet of Pardubice, amotorcycle speedway competition held at theSvítkov Stadium. The Golden Helmet has been run since 1929 is one of the oldest individual titles in world speedway.[25][26]AMK Zlatá Přilba Pardubice is a speedway team that race at the Svítkov Stadium.
The Czech Open international chess and games festival has been held in Pardubice since 1990.[27] The city was also known for theCzech Open in golf, but it was last held in 2011.
View towards the Green GateChurch of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary on the Komenského Square
The landmark and symbol of Pardubice is the Green Gate as a remnant of the city's fortifications. It is a Renaissance gate with a façade decorated by a relief designed byMikoláš Aleš, which depicts the Lords of Pardubice. Behind the gate is a 60-metre-high (200 ft) tower that serves as a lookout tower. In its interior there is also an exposition with the history and legends of the city.[28]
Pardubice Castle was built at the end of the 13th century and rebuilt in the Renaissance style at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. Massive fortifications are preserved around the castle. Today the castle houses the Museum of East Bohemia in Pardubice and Gallery of East Bohemia in Pardubice.[29]
The original Church of Saint Bartholomew was built in 1295 and destroyed during theHussite Wars. The today's Church of Saint Bartholomew was built together with a monastery in 1507–1514. It was used as a burial place of thePernštejn family. In the interior there is a valuable main altar with the painting "The Passion of St. Bartholomew" from 1692 byMichael Willmann and a painting decoration by Mikoláš Aleš.[30]
The Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary was founded byArnošt of Pardubice before 1359. Its present late Gothic and Renaissance appearance dates from the first half of the 16th century. Until 1786, the church belonged to a Minorite monastery, from which time there are extensive underground tombs under the church.[31]
The House at Jonáš is one of the most treasured burgher houses in Pardubice. It was built after the fire that hit the city in 1507. It is known for its façade, decorated with a stucco relief from 1797, showing a biblical scene of a whale swallowing the prophetJonah. The premises of the house are used by the Gallery of East Bohemia in Pardubice.[32]
The Zámeček Memorial is a place of reverence that commemorates execution of 194 people in 1942. The place is a national cultural monument and at its centrepiece is a granite monument dating from 1949.[33]
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