Pardubice

Go Back

Known for its gingerbread heritage, stately castle, and world-famous steeplechase, Pardubice is a city where tradition and innovation meet in confident stride. Located on the Elbe River and just over an hour from Prague by train, it offers a diverse array of venues ideal for sports events, business conferences, cultural festivals, and heritage-themed gatherings.

At the heart of the city lies the Pardubice Castle, a beautifully restored Renaissance fortress that now houses the East Bohemian Museum and hosts exhibitions, gala evenings, and classical music events. Its dramatic courtyard and ornamental halls provide an impressive setting for weddings, art installations, and formal receptions.

Pardubice is best known internationally for the Velká pardubická, Europe’s most challenging steeplechase, held at the Pardubice Racecourse each October. This iconic event draws international spectators and offers extraordinary opportunities for sponsorship events, sports hospitality programs, and brand activations. Planners can tap into this infrastructure year-round, organizing team-building races, equestrian clinics, or heritage sports tourism experiences.

Modern venues such as the Enteria Arena and Automatic Mills (Automatické mlýny)—a revitalized industrial complex turned cultural and business center—are at the forefront of contemporary event planning, with facilities for corporate conferences, creative forums, and regional trade fairs.

The city is also a centre of Czech industry and research, home to chemical plants, universities, and a growing innovation ecosystem. This makes it ideal for B2B networking, science and engineering symposia, and startup exchanges, especially for events seeking collaboration across academia and industry.

Culinary culture is strong, with a local emphasis on gingerbread-making, regional liqueurs, and Czech-Moravian fusion cuisine, easily incorporated into incentive dinners or market-style receptions. The historic main square, with its clock tower and colorful façades, lends itself to public events, parades, or open-air performances.

Pardubice is best suited for sports and equestrian events, industrial symposia, creative sector forums, and destination cultural festivals. It offers a well-rounded, mid-sized urban setting that’s both unpretentious and event-savvy, with room for innovation amid centuries of tradition.