Státní hrad Kunětická hora
Pernštejn castle on the Kunětická hora hill above Pardubice, with the castle palace and tower, the Jurkovič exhibition and views of the surrounding plain.
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About the museum
The castle on Kunětická hora was probably founded at the end of the 13th or the beginning of the 14th century, but it was abandoned soon after 1300. In 1421 Diviš Bořek of Miletínek had a new castle built from the ruins. In 1491 Vilém of Pernštejn bought the castle and began an extensive rebuilding into a representative residence with artillery fortifications; this continued under Jan of Pernštejn until the middle of the 16th century.
After the sale to the Habsburgs in 1560 the castle began to decline, and in 1645 the Swedes captured and devastated it. In the 19th century quarrying damaged the site; in 1920 the Pardubice Museum Society bought the deserted castle. In 1923–1928 parts of the castle, including the fifth and sixth gates, were repaired to designs by the architects Dušan Jurkovič and Jan Pacl.
In 1953 the State became the owner. In 1950–1956 the walls were damaged by a planned ski-jump construction, and in 1993 the castle was reopened to the public. Since 2001 it has been a national cultural monument administered by the National Heritage Institute. Visitors can see the castle palace with its tower, the exhibition on the architect Jurkovič, the Chapel of St Catherine and the whole courtyard.
Highlights
- Basic route Hradní palác s věží (Castle Palace with Tower), with the northern wing, the Knights’ Hall and the armoury
- Dušan Jurkovič, básník dřeva (Poet of Wood) exhibition, with restored Jurkovič interiors of the sixth gate
- Chapel of St Catherine of Alexandria from the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries
- Castle on the Znělec hill, 307 m high, with a view over the Pardubice plain
- Kunětický expres (Kunětice Express), a motor train to the castle well, in the main season
Permanent exhibitions
- Hradní palác s věží – The basic route leads through the interiors of the Pernštejn castle from the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, including the northern wing, the cellars with archaeological finds, the Knights’ Hall and the armoury.
- Dušan Jurkovič, básník dřeva – The exhibition on the building history of the castle, its rescue and its reconstruction to designs by the architect Dušan Jurkovič includes the restored Jurkovič interiors of the sixth gate.
- Operated by
- Národní památkový ústav
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 180 Kč |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 140 Kčseniors over 65, young people aged 18–24 and holders of ZTP and ZTP/P cards (basic route Hradní palác s věží). |
| Children & teens | 50 Kčfree up to age 5 · Children aged 6–17 pay CZK 50; children under 5 enter free of charge. |
| Seniors | 140 KčSeniors over 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | 140 Kčcompanion free · Holders of ZTP and ZTP/P cards; the guide of a ZTP/P card holder enters free of charge. |
| Students & apprentices | 140 KčYoung people aged 18–24. |
| Groups | –Teaching supervision (1 person per 10 children) and the guide of a group of 15 or more people enter free of charge. |
| Dušan Jurkovič, básník dřeva (Poet of Wood) route – adults (45 minutes, no more than 15 people) | 140 KčSeniors, young people and holders of ZTP and ZTP/P cards: CZK 110; children aged 6–17: CZK 40; partly step-free route. |
| Chapel route (10 minutes, no more than 40 people) | 60 KčSingle price for all categories. |
| Children on Kunětická hora (route for nursery schools) | 40 KčReservation required for individuals and groups. |
The basic route Hradní palác s věží takes about 45 minutes; reservations are required only for groups. Payment is possible by card or in cash. Parking fees in the season: car CZK 60, motorcycle CZK 40, bus CZK 100 per day.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The Dušan Jurkovič, básník dřeva route is partly step-free (lift platform to the exhibition, ramp into the Green Salon in the sixth gate); the Castle Palace with Tower and Chapel routes are not step-free. A path about 700 m long, with gradients of 10–13 % in places, leads from the car park to the castle; persons with reduced mobility may, by arrangement, drive up to the castle well or to the front of the fifth gate. Guide dogs and assistance dogs may enter the tours.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
The route Děti na Kunětické hoře is intended for children from nursery schools. Children under 5 enter free of charge. The castle is about 700 m uphill; in the main season the Kunětický expres runs.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Ráby, Kunětická hora
Pardubice city bus line no. 16 runs from the railway station (terminal A, platform 2) through the centre to Dřítč; stop Ráby, Kunětická hora (on request).
By car
Paid parking · 15-min walk · 700 m to the entrance
The car park below the castle for cars, motorcycles and buses is 700 m (10–15 minutes on foot) from the entrance gate; camping in caravans is prohibited. Parking fees in the season: car CZK 60, motorcycle CZK 40, bus CZK 100 per day (cash or card).
- Accessible parking
The castle stands about 7 km north-east of Pardubice, near the D11 motorway. From Pardubice take road II/324 through Staré Hradiště to Hradiště na Písku, then continue on III/2987.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
In the courtyard there is a kiosk and a ticket office selling souvenirs, housed in a brightly coloured timber building. In the main season the Kunětický expres motor train runs from the Perníková chaloupka (Gingerbread Cottage) to the castle well.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The basic route Hradní palác s věží takes about 45 minutes; commentary on the palace courtyard is given every full hour. Selected guided tours (Jurkovič, chapel) take place at the times stated for each route. The route Děti na Kunětické hoře (Children on Kunětická hora) is intended for nursery school groups. |
