Czech Republic

Brief History

The Czech Republic was first inhabited by the Celts, who gave it the Latin name of Bohemia. In about 100 AD, the Germanic Marcomanni people conquered the area. Then the Slavic people lived in the area during the 6th century. During the 9th century, the Moravians formed the Great Moravian Empire, which included what is now the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and parts of Poland and Germany. In 950 Bohemia became a part of the Holy Roman Empire, and a succession of many kings ruled the land during this time. In the 1800s, the Austrians and the Habsburg Empire took control of the area. After WWI, the country of Czechoslovakia was formed, and at the beginning of WWII, Czechoslovakia became a part of Germany. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, restoring Czechoslovakia’s freedom. The Czechs and Slavics decided to split up the country into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

National Flag

The Czech Republic kept the design of the Czechlosovakian flag. It consists of a white stripe, a red stripe, and a blue triangle on the left-hand side.

Geography

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country located in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland, Germany, Slovakia, and Austria. The country is almost entirely surrounded by mountains, and the interior consists of low hills and plateaus.

 

World Land Mass Ranking: 118th

 

Highest Mountain: Sněžka, 1,603.3 m (5,260 ft)

 

Longest River: Elbe, 1,094 km (680 mi)

Main Languages

Czech

Czech Republic Population: 10.7 million (as of 2020)Capital City: Prague

Capital City Population: 1.3 million (as of 2019

Climate

The Czech Republic is situated between the oceanic and continental climate types and therefore has a transitional climate. The country has warm summers and cold and snowy winters––when the temperature is often below freezing.

Key People

Charles IV

Gregor Mendel

Franz Kafka

Antonín Dvořák

  • Cuisine

    Czech cuisine draws influences from surrounding countries, especially Germany. Meat is very common in the Czech Republic, along with various sauces, soups, and dumplings. Lunch is the main meal in Czechia, which usually consists of three courses. The national dish of the Czech Republic is Vepřo Knedlo Zelo, which is a trio of roasted pork, dumplings, and sauerkraut.

     

    Below is a picture of Svíčková na smetaně, a popular Czech dish.

  • Sports

    The most popular sport in The Czech Republic is ice hockey. Their national ice hockey team is one of the best in the world, regularly competing in the World Championships and the Euro Hockey Tour. Other sports that are popular in the Czech Republic include volleyball, basketball, football, skiing, and tennis. Another common sport in the country is Czech handball, which began in Prague in 1905.

  • Culture

    The Czech Republic is situated in the center of Europe, and surrounding countries have been a major influence on Czech culture. Visual art, architecture, and music are all important parts of Czech culture. Holidays, folklore, and tradition are also crucial aspects of the country’s culture. Czech people are friendly and sincere, and care about their culture and heritage.

     

    The Czech Republic is a beautiful country with wonderful people

10 facts about Czech Republic

1.The Czech Republic has the highest beer consumption in the world.

 

2. The Czech Republic has a literacy rate of 99.8%.  .

 

3. There are more than 2,000 castles in The Czech Republic.

 

4. The Czech national animal is the mythical double-tailed lion.

 

5. The Czech Republic is the sixth safest place to live on earth.

 

6. The Czech Republic’s major industries are engineering and electronics.

 

7. The average lifespan in the Czech Republic is 79 years.

 

8. “Truth Prevails” is the national motto of the Czech Republic.

 

9. The sugar cube was invented in The Czech Republic.

 

10. There are 12 UNESCO sites in THe Czech Republic.

 

Q&A Corner

1. Name a key/famous person from The Czech Republic? +
2. What is The Czech Republic’s national dish? +
3. What is the population of The Czech Republic (as of 2019)? +
4. Name a country that borders The Czech Republic? +
5. Who first inhabited The Czech Republic? +
6. What is the capital city of The Czech Republic? +
7. What is the longest river in The Czech Republic? +
8. What is one of The Czech Republic’s former names? +
9. Name a sport that is popular in The Czech Republic? +
10. What is the tallest mountain in the Czech Republic? +