SPECIAL EXHIBITION: The Pernstein Women and Europe

The Pernstein Women and Europe explores how noblewomen of the Pernstein family shaped the cultural identity of Early Modern Europe. Through richly detailed panels, historical narratives, and period imagery, the exhibition highlights the last generation of this influential Czech aristocratic family and their far‑reaching connections across the continent. Drawing on research by historian Pavel Marek and developed by the East Bohemian Museum in Pardubice, the exhibition reveals how these women served as cultural intermediaries—linking the Czech lands with Italy, the Pyrenees, and other European regions. Their lives illuminate the movement of ideas, fashion, foodways, and artistic traditions that helped shape Europe’s emerging cultural identity. Presented as a traveling panel exhibition, The Pernstein Women and Europe commemorates 500 years of the Renaissance in Bohemia and offers visitors a vivid look at the role of noblewomen in the formation of Europe’s shared cultural heritage. This exhibition was created by the East Bohemia Museum in Pardubice in collaboration with the University of Pardubice.