Kladruby nad Labem

Lore & Background

The first written mention of Kladruby nad Labem is from 1295, when it was a property of the Premonstratensian monastery at Litomyšl. During the second half of the 14th century, it came into the possession of the Cistercian Sedlec Abbey near Kutná Hora. In 1491, the village was acquired by the Pernštejn family, and Vilém II of Pernštejn took control in 1500, already owning large parts of the Pardubice region.

Kladruby remained in possession of the Pernštejn family until 1560, when it was purchased by Emperor Ferdinand I from his master of the horse, Jaroslav of Pernštejn. In 1579, Emperor Rudolf II established the Imperial Stud at Kladruby, from which Spanish-blood horses were bred for ceremonial purposes. Following the fall of Austria-Hungary in 1918, the stud farm at Kladruby came under state administration.

Reader's Guide

Kladruby nad Labem is significant as the historic center for breeding the Kladruber horse, a breed developed for ceremonial carriage use. The Imperial Stud, established in 1579, and the surrounding landscape were uniquely designed in the 16th and 17th centuries to effectively breed and train these horses.

In 2019, the Landscape for Breeding and Training of Ceremonial Carriage Horses at Kladruby nad Labem was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing the area as an outstanding example of the ferme ornée style of landscape architecture made popular in the 18th century. The site includes the villages of Kladruby nad Labem and Selmice, the Imperial Stud Farm, and surrounding farmsteads, gardens, pastures, and watercourses. Notable individuals associated with the municipality include horse rider Gottlieb Polak and child psychologist Zdeněk Matějček.

Did You Know?

• The name Kladruby is derived from 'kláda' (log) and 'rubat' (to chop), referring to settlements where lumberjacks lived.
• The municipality has no railways or major roads running through it.