Favorably sitting in the center of the old Great Moravia, the old Slavonic heritage began to be influenced by Catholicism when 500 years later a first monastery was built there in about 1250 AD. The city was founded in 1340 and in 1491 was purchased by the Czech nobleman Wiilliam of Perstejn.  With the development of interconnecting railway lines in the 1840s, Pardubice was destined to become a thriving industrial center.   Since 1874 the Great Pardubice Steeplechase has become a major horse race in Europe. And all the while, back to old Great Moravia, the bees have been producing great honey for the Gingerbread of the Czechs "Gingerbread Town": Pardubice.