November 2013
Pardubice is a town in eastern Bohemia, near the border with Moravia. About 100 thousand people.
There's a specific atmosphere in towns like this - they're all quite grey and boring, but cozy. And you very quickly go through them - you walk through the center and that's it. However, this doesn't mean the town is bad, just you need to learn more about Czech culture to understand this :)
This is, by the way, the university we went to for an open day in Olomouc - they also have a branch in Pardubice, so we looked at the town by occasion.
In Pardubice there are trolleybuses, unlike most Czech towns where only trams. It's nothing special - even I was in trolleybuses.
Graffiti here is everywhere - well, I told you, in Czechia this is a problem. But the solution is slowly being sought - many cities are starting to prohibit spraying, starting to use protection on walls, and even implement prevention among youth. But Czechs won't accept this, and so far they've achieved only that graffiti started to look a little neater, while houses look even sadder. Overall - still sticking up a middle finger to cleanliness.
Main square and Christmas preparations. Beautiful, but empty - probably everyone was at work.
Empty square, grey sky. I love this atmosphere.
Actually, some interesting thing - there were elections in the country. In Russia, politicians' portraits are hung on every corner, here - one plywood board on the square, where everyone's registered. Calm elections, without dirt and noise.
In center are mainly quite old, cozy houses. Probably some elite.
Bit away from the center are more modern houses. Architecture is more characteristic for the last century - even communist past is visible, block houses, everything's rough, but quite functional.
Narrow passages, a little dirty - nothing special, normal Czech town.
And yes, one of the first Christmas trees. Decorated in quite modest style - that fits the overall idea of the town.
Plague column.
Cathedral. In center - this is generally normal, every Czech town must have one.
Some house.
Some passage.
Back to the historical center. This is some house, looked very sad, dark. But Czechs love their architectural heritage - even the gates are used.
Another square, also something political. Billboards are visible with candidates.
Church.
From inside.
This seems to be a town hall or some cultural object. Generally everything's tied to the square, all life there.
Another view of the square. Wooden stalls are already being assembled for Christmas, in a month everything here will be very beautiful!
Little fountain, quite modest. It exists, why not.
And we walked to the railway station - decided to walk around the town a bit more.
If not to judge strictly, the town is quite OK. Industrial, very modern, but at the same time preserves architecture. Nothing particularly good or bad, just Czech town, a bit grey, but with its own character.
And about the graffiti I said right :)
Here's Pardubice. Definitely deserves a visit.