The Czech Republic is located in central Europe and is bordered by Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria. The capital of the Czech Republic is Prague, which is also its largest city. Its official motto is “Pravda vitezi” which translates to “Truth prevails” in English. The Czech Republic covers an area of approximately 30,450 square miles with a population of about 10.5 million. The weather is generally temperate and the four seasons occur in equal durations.

History

The Czech Republic was originally part of Czechoslovakia, an independent republic that was created in 1918 after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1989, Czechoslovakia’s communist government was overthrown in the “Velvet Revolution”. This event paved the way for the division of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and became a member of the European Union in 2004. Additionally, the country currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union through June of 2009.

Culture and Sightseeing

Sports are a big part of Czech culture, with football (soccer) and ice hockey being the most popular. The performing arts are also popular and they are well supported by multiple theaters. Visitors can attend opera and ballet performances at the National Theatre or attend a performance at the Estates Theatre, which was home to the premiere of Mozart’s legendary opera “Don Giovanni”. The Czech Republic is also home to 11 UNESCO world heritage sites. These include the Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk, the Holy Trinity Column at Olomouc and the Historic Centre of Prague among others.

Eat & Drink

Czech cuisine is noted for its variety of meat dishes. Cheese is a popular ingredient in snack dishes and can be served fried, marinated or spread on bread in combination with various other ingredients. Beer is extremely popular and beer drinking is a prominent part of Czech culture. Some breweries even hold beer festivals during the summer that include beer tasting sessions, competitions and concert performances. There are many pubs in the Czech Republic that serve only one brand of beer, which is designated on a sign hanging outside.