Updated: 10.06.2020
The Czech Republic Summary
Capital city: Prague
Historical territories: Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia
Population: 10,6 million
Currency: koruna česká Kč (CZK - Czech crown) and haléř h (heller or haller)
Universities: Charles University, VUT, SLU
State system: parliamentary, constitutional, democratic republic since 1918
Head of state: the President
Power: executive - the government and the President, legislative - the Parliament, judicial - courts
Flag: white top, red bottom, blue triangle
Anthem: Kde domov můj
Geography: Krkonoše, Jeseníky, Moravský Kras, České Švýcarsko
Highest mountain: Sněžka 1602m
Rivers: Labe, Vltava, Morava, Opava
Sights: Karlštejn castle, Macocha in the Moravian Karst, spa town Karlovy Vary, historical city Olomouc, historical town Kroměříž, Hluboká chateau, national park České Švýcarsko, Říp hill, mining town Kutná Hora
Fact: the Přemysl Dynasty was the only Czech ruling family
it is called the Heart of Europe
The Czech Republic is situated in Central Europe. It borders with Germany to the west, Poland to the north, Slovakia to the east and Austria to the south. It consists of three historical territories, Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia and has the population of about 10,6 million people. The currency is the Czech crown, symbolized as Kč.
The capital and most populous city is Prague with more than 1,3 million inhabitants. Other important cities include Brno, Olomouc, Ostrava and Opava. There are many universities, the most famous is Charles University, founded by Charles IV in 1348. The Czech Republic has a very specific culture and history and is called the Heart of Europe.
Politically, it is a pluralist multi-party representative democracy, a constitutional, parliamentary republic. The current head of state is President Miloš Zeman. The Parliament is bicameral, with the Chamber of Deputies (Poslanecká sněmovna) and the Senate. The Government is lead by the Prime Minister (Premiér) and it is responsible to the Chamber of Deputies. The Baroque castle in Lány is the official summer residence of the President since 1921, it is located west of Prague, near Kladno.
The climate is temperate, with warm summers and cold, cloudy and snowy winters. The temperature differences are relatively high, because it is a landlocked country. The weather has changed significantly in the last two decades because of global warming and the country suffers from significant decrease of rain. Important rivers are Labe, Vltava, Opava and Morava. The biggest lake is Černé jezero in Šumava and there are many dams too, the most important are Orlík, Lipno, Dalešice, Nechranice and Slezská Harta. The most important mountain ranges are Krkonoše, Jeseníky, Šumava and Beskydy. The CR has four National Parks and 25 Protected Landscape Areas. The highest mountain is Sněžka with 1602 metres, situated in Krkonoše.
Typical Czech holidays commemorate national events and Christmas and Easter are celebrated by very specific customs. In the Czech Republic, presents are brought by Ježíšek and opened on Christmas Eve, after dinner. On Easter Monday morning, boys go door to door and whip girls with pomlázka and girls give them ribbons and special decorated eggs called kraslice.
The Czech Republic is a developed country with an export-oriented economy based in services, manufacturing and innovation. Leading industry companies are Škoda Auto, ČEZ Group and Agrofert. The country has two nuclear power plants, Dukovany and Temelín, and exports electrical energy.
Czechs are well known for drinking beer and breweries exist in the country since 993AD. One of the most famous Czech meals is vepřo knedlo zelo, which consists of roast pork, bread dumplings and white sour cabbage. Czech people famous abroad are Václav Havel, Madeleine Albright (born as Marie Jana Körbelová), Antonín Dvořák, Miloš Forman and Jaromír Jágr. Important historical figures include Karel IV, Jan Amos Komenský and Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.
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