Pardubice

Pardubice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈpardubɪtsɛ] ; German: Pardubitz) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 93,000 inhabitants. It is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and is located at the confluence of the Elbe and Chrudimka rivers. Pardubice is known as a centre of industry, with dominant industries being the chemical industry, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. The city is also well known for its sporting events, which include the Velká pardubická (a cross-country steeplechase), the Golden Helmet of Pardubice in motorcycle racing, and the Czech Open international chess and board games festival. Among the most important owners of Pardubice were the Pernštejn family, during whose rule from 1491 to 1560 the city developed and gained importance. The historic centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument reservation. There are five significant monuments protected as national cultural monuments, including the Pardubice Castle and Pardubice Crematorium.