East Bohemia

This is where Bohemia’s so-called ‘golden land’ begins, an area which includes the most fertile parts of the Elbe plains. This is a land of sun-kissed meadows and rivers, old canals and lakes, gingerbread and thoroughbreds.

Pardubice, the region’s centre, has horses on its coat of arms and the local racecourse has held the Velká pardubická steeplechase for over a hundred years. At nearby Kladruby nad Labem you’ll find the famous stud farm, whose charges have pulled royal carriages around the world for centuries. And Pardubice isn’t the only place perfumed with the aroma of gingerbread – you can also get a nostril-full at the exhibition of old skills and crafts at the castle atop Mount Kunětická, where, surrounded by fairytale forests, you’ll find the Gingerbread Kingdom and a museum and shop dedicated to this local delicacy.

Pardubice – This town is famous for the production of traditional gingerbread. The Renaissance chateau is home to a gallery and the East Bohemian Museum containing exhibitions of weapons, modern glass, postcards and period playthings.

Velká Pardubická Steeplechase – This horserace is the oldest on the Continent and the second oldest in the world after the Grand National (held in Liverpool) with a tradition going back to 1874. The course is 6.9km long and one of the jumps is the infamous Taxis Ditch.

Chateau and stud farm at Kladruby nad Labem – The oldest stud farm in the world was established here in 1579 by Emperor Rudolf II. The farm’s celebrated Starokladrubský horses can be found at royal courts around the globe, as this is the only species bred specially for ceremonial and representative use by crowned heads of the world.

Highlands region open-air museum of architecture – At this open-air museum in Veselý Kopec visitors can look forward to seeing examples of folk architecture from the Žďárské Hills and the Železné Mountains, as well as a fruit drying plant, a fully functional bread oven and events which allow you to sample dishes made using some very old recipes indeed.

Chateau in Litomyšl – This Renaissance chateau sporting wonderful sgraffito decoration is set in a large park and is the work of several Italian master builders. The building is a UNESCO world cultural heritage site and a fine example of a central European residence from the time of the Renaissance.