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Czech Republic Overview | Brief History | Physical Characteristics | Weather Guide
Principal Cities | Official Language | Culture | Facts for the Traveler
Transportation Information | Restaurants | Attractions | Activities
Helpful Tips and Reminders | Panoramic Map
Asia Travel | Czech Republic | Czech Republic Map
Czech
people are descended from Slavic tribes who arrived in Bohemia and Moravia
in the 5th century AD. The Czechs are the country's dominant ethnic group,
representing about 94 percent of the population; Slovaks account for about
3 percent; and Poles, Germans, Roma (Gypsies), and Hungarians comprise
most of the remainder.
Czech
Republic was ruled by a Communist regime from 1948 to 1989 . In November
1989 the Communist government was ousted and Czechoslovakia again became
a democratic state. The new state, a democratic republic known as Czechoslovakia,
was broken up during World War II, but was reestablished at the end
of the war in 1945. . During the early 1990s, political and economic
conflicts developed between the Czechs and Slovaks, and leaders of both
groups decided to dissolve the republic. In January 1993 Czechoslovakia
was replaced by two independent states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
distance from east to west is about 490 km (about 305 mi), and the maximum
distance from north to south is about 280 km (about 175 mi). The Czech
Republic contains two main regions—Bohemia, located in the west,
and Moravia, located in the east. Part of the region of Silesia occupies
the north-central section of the country.
The
Czech Republic has a humid, continental climate, with cold winters and
warm summers. The average temperature range in Prague is -5° C (22°
F) to 0° C (33° F) in January and 12° C (53° F) to 23°
C (74° F) in July. Temperatures generally decrease with increasing
altitude. Prague receives an average of 530 mm (21 in) of precipitation
annually. Precipitation is generally heaviest during the summer months.
Czech
Republic Culture
The
prime attraction of Czech Republic is its physical face. The city centre
is a haphazard museum of 900 years' of architecture - Romanesque, Gothic,
Renaissance, Baroque, 19th-century revivals of all of them, and Art
Nouveau - amazingly undisturbed by the 20th century. This historical
core of the city - Hradcany (the Castle District) and Mala Strana (the
Small Quarter) west of the river, Stare Mesto (the Old Town) and Vaclavske
namesti (Wenceslas Square) to the east, and Charles Bridge in between
- covers about 3 sq km and is pedestrian-friendly, so you needn't go
at break-neck speed to discover its most famous attractions. 
You'll
have to travel further afield to visit Nove Mesto (New Town), with its
shops, cafés, museums and theatres; Vysehrad, where mythical
Prague was born; and Holesovice, Smichov, Troja and Vinohrady. At least
a dozen medieval chateaux and castles are only a day-trip away.
The
Czech Republic's rolling hills and low mountains are perfect for hearty
hiking, especially in the Sumava of western and southern Bohemia and
the Krkonose mountains in northern Bohemia. Climbers should head to
the Sandstone Rocks of the Labe in northern Bohemia and cavers should
check out the Moravian Karst area north of Brno. The prime boating river
is the scenic but unfortunately polluted Sazava.
Downhill
skiing is plentiful, popular and relatively cheap in the Czech Republic,
though facilities are not up to Western European standards and queues
are long. Hired gear is generally of poor quality, so it's best to bring
your own equipment. The country's best downhill skiing can be found
at Spindleruv mlyn in the Krkonose between January and early April;
Sumava has the best cross-country skiing trails.
Disclaimer:
Although we've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate
as possible, we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience
sustained by any person resulting from information published on this
site. We encourage you to verify any critical information with the relevant
authorities before you travel. This includes information on visa requirements,
health and safety, customs, and transportation.
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