Gingerbread, horse racing, maybe a silhouette of the castle from a train window. But on one wall on the first floor of that castle, a painted woman standing on a sphere has been smiling at visitors for almost half a millennium. The semi-nude Fortuna Volubilis, meaning Fickle Fortune, in the Vojtěch Hall is considered the first nude in the history of Bohemian painting. When you're thinking about what's worth seeing in Pardubice, this is the answer your search engine won't easily offer. And all it takes is walking through the castle gate to find yourself in a place unlike any other in Bohemia.

In the following guide we'll go through the best of what's happening at the castle and its surroundings at the turn of summer 2026: Renaissance halls with paintings older than most European castles, a five-day open air festival, a midnight fire show and a quiet museum programme for those arriving outside the main week. No filler, with real dates and links to specific events.

What's worth seeing in Pardubice first: the record-breaking castle

A Renaissance palace hidden behind massive ramparts, home to the East Bohemian Museum. It's a reason to visit in itself, before any programme even begins.

Let's start with what makes Pardubice Castle exceptional. The estate was purchased in 1491 by the wealthy Moravian magnate Vilém of Pernštejn, who transformed a Gothic fort into a comfortable residence and surrounded it with a fortification system. The earthen ramparts reach as high as the first floor of the castle and, together with the wide moat that could be quickly flooded with water when needed, form a showcase of the peak of fortification technology from the first half of the 16th century. The trick sounds simple, but was exceptional for its time: the combination of an impregnable fortress with a comfortable aristocratic residence is unique in the Bohemian lands and can be seen only in Pardubice.

A curiosity most passers-by miss: thanks to the massive ramparts, the castle grounds cover almost the same area as the entire historic town centre. Today the ramparts make for a pleasant park and entertainment for children. In their greenery you'll find, alongside rest areas, the castle's animals: peacocks, goats and squirrels. The castle is also home to a museum that has plenty to show throughout the year. And if you're planning a trip independently of the festival, take a look at our events calendar, where smaller museum programmes also appear.

Renaissance paintings worth craning your neck for

The Knights' Halls are now a separate tour circuit and their wall paintings are among the most precious things the Pernštejns left behind in Bohemia.

After a two-year renovation the halls have reopened to the public. The Vojtěch Hall, the Mázhaus and the Pillar Hall now take visitors to Renaissance wall paintings that have no equal in Central Europe in terms of their scope and state of preservation. That's not a museum advertising line but a fact underlined by historians too. The Vojtěch Hall is dominated by a biblical scene: the painting of Samson and Delilah is dated 1532 and is the oldest known Renaissance wall painting in Bohemia.

The best detail, however, lies in how unusual the whole thing is. In the Mázhaus hangs a large allegory of Law and Grace. It was commissioned by Jan of Pernštejn, who at the time led the Bohemian neo-Utraquist nobility aligned with the Lutheran Reformation, so a large religious painting in the representative rooms of his residence was an open declaration of Protestantism. And why is it a world-class rarity? Historian Petr Vorel sums it up by noting that similar motifs are known from period sources as small-format paintings. In Pardubice, however, he says it is essentially the only case within Renaissance Europe where a patron commissioned such subjects on a vast surface of many square metres as wall paintings. That settles the question of whether it's worth visiting outside the festival.

Pernštejnlove: five evenings of theatre under the stars

An open air theatre festival that every summer turns the castle's courtyards and ramparts into one big stage. In 2026 it runs from 28 July to 1 August.

This is the heart of the city's summer culture. Festival Pernštejnlove 2026 takes place at the East Bohemian Museum in Pardubice and is a five-day open air showcase from 28 July to 1 August 2026, this year its eleventh edition, focusing on performances about love, passion and relationships. The programme is among the most varied in the event's history. It offers five days of outdoor theatre, ten companies from across the country, a music programme, a midnight show and the popular Blind Date. Performances take place in several locations simultaneously: on the large and small courtyards, in a big top on the castle ramparts and in the outer bailey, where a supporting music programme runs throughout.

This is no newcomer without an audience. Pernštejnlove has been held in Pardubice since 2016 and has built a loyal following over that time. The dramaturgy holds to one theme - love and relationships in all their forms - and mixes genres with gusto. The festival consistently focuses on productions about love, relationships, passion and human weakness, blending comedies, original projects, stand-up and more substantial dramatic titles from both professional and amateur stages. Those who enjoy theatre in general will find more stages and tips in our theatre section.

How the festival week peaks: from cabaret to midnight fire

The opening night belongs to Divadlo Tramtarie from Olomouc, mid-week brings a fire night, and on Saturday the festival bids farewell with a cult comedy. Three evenings stand out.

Opening night always has its own magic, the courtyard coming alive for the first time of the season. The festival opens on Tuesday 28 July with Divadlo Tramtarie from Olomouc performing Kabaret nahatý Shakespeare 2, which dissects Shakespeare's comedies with wit and humour through songs, sketches and gags. Divadlo Tramtarie belongs at this festival almost like part of the furniture. It is an independent professional theatre that started operating in 2004 and has built a stable position in the cultural landscape over the years. And it's not a one-sided love affair - the organisers themselves admit that the Pernštejnlove audience simply loves this theatre.

Anyone looking for an experience that can't be replicated at home in front of the TV should head for Friday night. Ikigai is performed on 31 July in the small courtyard. The Friday festival night closes with the special performance Ikigai, a nocturnal spectacle combining fire dance, light effects, martial energy and live calligraphy. And one more reason to stay up: entry to this midnight show is free.

The whole festival then crosses the finish line a day later. M*A*S*H is performed on 1 August and is the full stop after five days. The festival closes with the cult M*A*S*H, the story of doctors in a Korean field hospital who survive the absurdity of war through dark humour and martinis. And because the programme thinks of families too, Saturday starts differently from how it ends. Saturday morning belongs to the fairy tale Bába a holub for children aged six and over. Among the special formats, one tried-and-tested highlight is worth mentioning: Blind Date, where the audience doesn't know in advance what they're going to see, is being held at Pernštejnlove for the seventh time.

When the theatre falls silent: cannons, the museum collection and architecture

The castle is alive outside the festival week too. In August there will be a cannon firing demonstration and an event dedicated to architecture; in July a smaller museum programme about the collection.

Not everyone will arrive right at the turn of July and August, and that's perfectly fine. Cannon Firing at the Pernštejn Cannons 2026 is on the programme on 5 August and is exactly the kind of event that lights up children's eyes and reminds adults what those massive ramparts were actually for. The fortifications are, after all, what put the castle on the historical map: the ramparts are among the best-preserved fortifications of their kind in the Czech Republic.

Those arriving earlier can start with the collection. On 14 July a smaller event begins: What Has Found Its Way into the Museum Collection?, which shows how a museum depot actually gets filled. And those who prefer architecture to gunpowder should keep 22 August free for the event Architecture in the Service of Pardubice Telegraphy. It fits into the broader story of a city that deserves a walk beyond the castle. Not far from the Old Town stands the Automatic Mills, one of the most valuable examples of modern architecture in Pardubice, built in 1910 for the Winternitz brothers to a design by architect Josef Gočár. And the city centre is also dominated by the East Bohemian Theatre, one of the oldest permanent stages in Bohemia, whose Art Nouveau building was constructed between 1906 and 1909 to a design by Antonín Balšánek. You have plenty to fill a whole day.

Practical tips: how to plan your trip

Get tickets for Pernštejnlove through the festival's official channels - the programme is out, so keep an eye on the weather. The castle is a few minutes from the city centre.

The festival is organised by the East Bohemian Museum in Pardubice, which presents the programme every summer against the backdrop of the castle. Current prices, exact times for individual performances and ticket sales details can be found on the festival's official website and on the museum's pages; the programme is fine-tuned right up to the last moment and the allocation of stages may also change. Given how quickly the courtyard fills up, booking in advance pays off far more than betting on last-minute availability.

A few logistical notes. The festival is open air, so bring something to put over your shoulders - evenings on a stone courtyard can get chilly. The fire show Ikigai and many of the concerts in the outer bailey are free, so even on a smaller budget you can soak up the atmosphere. And if after a Pardubice evening you feel like more music, browse the upcoming concerts across the Czech Republic. Whether you're figuring out what's worth seeing in Pardubice with children or without, the castle has something for both: Renaissance halls by day and theatre under the stars by night.

Frequently asked questions

When does the Pernštejnlove 2026 festival take place?

The eleventh edition runs from 28 July to 1 August 2026 in the grounds of Pardubice Castle. Performances take place on the large and small courtyards, in a big top on the castle ramparts and in the outer bailey, where a supporting music programme runs throughout.

How much do tickets cost and where can I buy them?

Current prices and ticket sales details can be found on the festival's official website and on the East Bohemian Museum's pages. Bear in mind that individual performances are sold separately and the midnight fire show Ikigai is usually free.

Is there a programme at the castle for families with children?

Yes. The festival caters for younger audiences too: Saturday morning belongs to the fairy tale Bába a holub for children aged six and over. Outside the festival, children will enjoy the cannon firing demonstration on 5 August and the animals in the greenery on the ramparts.

Is it worth visiting the castle outside the festival week?

Absolutely. The Knights' Halls are accessible as a separate tour circuit and take visitors to Renaissance paintings that have no equal in Central Europe in terms of their scope and state of preservation. In August, cannon firing and an architecture event are added to the mix.

How do I get to the castle?

The castle stands right in the centre of Pardubice, a few minutes' walk from the historic core and the main square. The city is easy to reach by train, and the station is within reach of the castle by public transport.

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