Pardubice

Pardubice (German: Pardubitz) is a city of about 96,000 inhabitants in the Eastern Bohemia region of the Czech Republic on the Elbe (called Labe). Pardubice is 104 km (64.6 miles) east of Prague.

The city was founded around 1340 but there was a monastery since the early 13th century.

Pardubice is an important industrial city: there is a chemical factory Synthesia (manufacturer of Semtex, a plastic explosive), an oil refinery Paramo, a heavy machinery factory and an electronic equipment plant.

Since 1874, there is a famous horse race Great Pardubice Steeplechase (Velka pardubicka) (http://www.pardubice-racecourse.cz/) every fall (usually mid-October). This horse race has a bad reputation, as almost every year horses die. The Czech Open Chess Tournament [?] is the biggest in Europe, with in the main groups about 1200 players from all over the world, and many side-events such as a team championship and Go-tournament.

Pardubice has an antique centre square and old city, with many restaurants that stay open until late in the evening. Because of the painted façades of the houses, the saying goes 'Es glänzt wie in Pardubice". There is an old Tower and an recently renovated Castle.

Pardubice is currently a seat of Pardubicky kraj (Pardubice Region), one of 15 regions of the Czech Republic.

Arnost of Pardubice was the first archibishop here.