Chrudim combines the medieval layout of its historic centre with a puppet theatre tradition, also reflected in a festival associated with the town since 1951. Its attractions range from the historic preservation zone to the Singltrek trail in Cyklopark Podhůra.
The Town’s History in the Centre
Chrudim’s urban historic preservation zone was designated in 1990. It preserves the medieval layout of the historic centre, listed buildings and old fortifications. A prominent landmark is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary: it has Gothic origins and Romanesque foundations, and was remodelled in the Neo-Gothic style in the mid-19th century. The townscape thus brings together different periods of architecture, without reducing its history to a single era.
On Resselovo náměstí, surrounded by old town houses, stands the richly sculpted Baroque Column of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The historic access route to the Upper Gate is also still reflected in the name and course of Široké schody: the steps lead towards Kateřinské předměstí. The Upper Gate consisted of a system of four separate gates. The square, column and stairway each offer a different glimpse into Chrudim’s historic layout and fortifications.
Puppet Theatre and Exhibitions
The Puppet Theatre Museum is housed in Mydlářovský House, considered one of the most important Renaissance monuments in eastern Bohemia. The museum has around 50,000 exhibits. It is also associated with Loutkářská Chrudim, the international amateur puppet theatre festival, which has been linked to the town since 1951. Here, puppet theatre is represented both as a subject of the collection and through a long-standing connection with the town.
The permanent exhibition Magical World of Puppets features puppets used by travelling puppeteers, variety puppets and family puppet theatres. In the exhibition and its play area, visitors can try manipulating certain types of puppet for themselves. Another way to explore is through the activities in the “Labyrinth of Chrudim Legends”, a children’s trail in the former crypt of the Museum of Baroque Sculpture. Euphoria of Ornament presents posters by Alfons Mucha. The presentation is designed for a calm, individual visit and may develop further.
Renaissance Buildings and Regional Domestic Culture
The Chrudim Regional Museum is housed in a Neo-Renaissance-style building erected in the town centre in 1897–1898. Its exhibition of folk furniture focuses on regional domestic culture: it features the furnishings of a dining room based on a design by architect Jan Koula from 1900, as well as regionally typical painted furniture from the late 19th century. The different dates give the furniture display its own historical context.
Mydlář House is also a Renaissance building, but its architecture sets it apart in a different way: it has an arcaded loggia, rich sculptural decoration and an unusual tower reminiscent of a minaret. Along with Mydlářovský House, which houses the Puppet Theatre Museum, it shows how varied Renaissance buildings in Chrudim can be.
Events, Getting Around and Cycling
The Letní barokní scéna takes place regularly in Chrudim in mid-August. The programme includes Baroque music concerts, a garden party, acrobatic performances and special guided tours. The specific programme may vary from one edition to the next. The tourist information centre provides information about the town’s history, offers city tours and gives details about train, bus and local transport departures, among other services.
For cyclists, the Singltrek trail in Cyklopark Podhůra offers a different kind of activity from the museums and historic buildings. The circular route is 1.7 kilometres long, is one-way and runs through woodland. It is intended for moderately advanced riders. Its length, route design and target group make it easy to see this activity as a separate focus alongside Chrudim’s cultural attractions.
Discover more destinations: Žlebské Chvalovice, Čankovice, Luže-Domanice, Hroubovice, Svratouch, Skalice, Hošťalovice, Slatinany.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Chrudim.
