Czech Republic – basic info
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- Aktualizováno 13. 12. 2011 22:32
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The Czech Republic lies in Central Europe – it is called The Heart of Europe. It is an inland country. Czech Republic has four neighbour states: Poland, Austria, Slovakia and Germany. The country consists of three main regions: Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia.
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Nicknames for Prague have included “Prague – Mother of Cities”, “City of a Hundred Spires” or “Golden City”.
Prague view from Gunpowder tower.
The Prague Castle, an ancient symbol of the Czech lands, is the most significant Czech monument and one of the most important cultural institutions in the Czech Republic. The Prague Castle was most likely founded in around 880 by Prince Bořivoj of the Premyslid Dynasty (Přemyslovci). It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Prague Castle is the largest coherent castle complex
in the world, with an area of almost 70,000 m². [Photo: Stefan Bauer]
St. Vitus Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Prague, and the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. The full name of the cathedral is St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral. Located within Prague Castle and containing the tombs of many Bohemian kings.
St. Vitus Cathedral is an excellent example of Gothic
architecture and is the biggest and most
important church in the country.
The most important king was Charles IV from the House of Luxembourg, who ruled in the 14th century. During his reign (among others) the Prague University was founded and Prague New Town was built. Czechs call him the “Father of the Country”.
Master Theodoric of Prague:
Charles IV kneeling before Madonna
– fragment of votive picture
of Archbishop John Ocko
of Vlasim (c. 1370)
John Amos Comenius (1592–1670) was a Czech teacher, educator, and writer. He served as the last bishop of Unity of the Brethren, and became a religious refugee. He was one of the earliest champions of universal education, a concept eventually set forth in his book Didactica Magna.
Known today as the “Father of Modern
Education”, Comenius pioneered
modern educational methods.
The Head of state is the President. The current President of Czech Republic is Václav Klaus.
Václav Klaus is the second President of the Czech Republic
(since 2003, reelected 2008).
The Czech Republic doesn´t have any seacoast, but it has many rivers. The largest river is the Elbe.
The Elbe Canyon between Děčín and Hřensko
represents a unique natural formation.
South Bohemia is known for its large and numerous ponds. Also several glacial lakes can be found in the Šumava National Park. Best known are Černé jezero (Black Lake) and Čertovo jezero (Devils Lake).
Černé jezero (Black Lake) is one of five glacial lakes
on the Czech side of Šumava Mountains.
The highest mountain in the Czech Republic is Sněžka (1602 m). It is a mountain on the border between the Czech Republic and Poland in the Krkonoše mountains (a.k.a. Giant Mountains).
Sněžka seen from west.
Czech traditional food is pork with dumplings and sauerkraut.
Pork with dumplings and sauerkraut.