Castle Kunětická hora – Kuňka

The late Gothic castle of the famous Pernštejn family was created by rebuilding the old fortifications at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. It was significantly damaged by the Swedish troops. Kunětická hora was closed to the public from 1973 to 1993. Today, Kunětická hora has become the cultural center of Pardubice.

Archaeological surveys date the oldest castle building on the top of Kunětická hora to the middle of the 14th century. During the Hussite wars, it became an important stronghold of the Hussite hetman Diviš Bořek of Miletínek . In 1491, the castle passed into the possession of the Pernštejn family , under whom the castle complex was fundamentally rebuilt. A massive two-towered castle with a sophisticated fortification system is created. Since the second half of the 16th century, the castle has lost its original significance, it was damaged by Swedish troops during the Thirty Years’ War. In the following centuries, the castle was threatened by stone breaking, which was stopped only at the beginning of the 20th century. At the same time, the rescue work of the Museum Association in Pardubice also began according to the project of architect Dušan Jurkovič .

Legend has it that Kunětická hora opens once a year . In its bowels you can then walk through an underground maze, which, in addition to richly decorated corridors, consists of monstrous halls with golden ceilings and walls inlaid with precious stones. Ghosts of duped monks from the nearby Opatovice monastery , which was burned down by the Hussites in 1420 , roam the magnificent labyrinth . They are looking for a treasure that they lost through their own fault.

The main palace of the Kunětická hora state castle is being renovated – the palace with the tower will not be open to the public in 2022, on the contrary, the renovated Jurkovič Palace is open.

In the castle area, various period events are held, such as a craft fair, a gathering of falconers , historical fencing and others. Wedding ceremonies, banquets and period feasts are also a matter of course. There is also an excellently equipped archery range in operation . The most successful events include the summer stage of the East Bohemian Theater in Pardubice , which stages several performances at the castle every year.

Circle Dušan Jurkovič, poet of wood

A tour of the restored, inaccessible for four decades western part of the castle, the shape of which was largely determined by the architect Dušan Jurkovič in the 1920s. The demanding renovation of this complex of buildings took place between 2018 and 2021 as part of the IROP ITI project. Part of the circuit is a modern exposition dedicated to the life and work of Dušan Jurkovič (author of Pusteven na Radhoště, the spa area in Luhačovice, the modification of the castle Nové Město nad Metují, Jurkovič’s villa in Brno and many other iconic buildings) and the fundamental reconstruction of the castle grounds, which Jurkovič led on Kunětická mountain a hundred years ago. The tour also includes a visit to the historic Jurkovič interiors of the sixth gateincluding the so-called Green and Red lounges and an ascent to the impressive viewpoint here. The circuit is only accessible with a guide. In the cellar under the building, you can occasionally walk past the exposed remains of a massive cylindrical tower from the 14th century.

Restoration of Kunětická hora– Castle palace

In this year’s stage, Kuňka is awaiting restoration work and the historic restoration of the main castle palace . The main palace with the tower, which will not be open to the public in 2022, is being restored. The project also envisages the revitalization of the natural amphitheater in the basement of the castle, which is the summer scene of, for example, the East Bohemian Theatre. It includes the repair of the stage, the modification of the surrounding areas and the overall repair of the building’s hygienic and technical background of the amphitheater. Everything should probably start in the fall of this year and end by the end of 2022 .

Operator

Castle Kunětická hora
Kunětická hora
533 52 Staré Hradiště

Tel.: +420 725 507 500

Tel.: +420 466 415 428

E-mail: kunetickahora@npu.cz

https://www.hrad-kunetickahora.cz/en

Region: Pardubice region
Region: Pardubice
Tips for a trip: Staré Hradiště and surroundings

Opening hours

April
1.4. – 30.4.
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday CLOSED
Wednesday Friday CLOSED
Saturday Sunday 10:00 – 16:00

May – August
1.5. – 31.8.
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday – Sunday 09:30 – 17:00

September
1.9. – 30.9.
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday – Friday 10:00 – 15:30
Saturday Sunday 10:00 – 16:30

October – November
1.10. – 1.11.
Monday – Friday CLOSED
Saturday Sunday 10:00 – 15:30

Note: 
Open on public holidays. Barrier-free access to the palace courtyard and with assistance to the knight’s hall. For wheelchair users, access by car is allowed up to the castle gate. The cash desk closes half an hour before the end of opening hours.

Admission Fees

Duration

1.5 hours