Czech Republic

Location:
situated in the heart of Europe, in Central Europe
borders on Germany in the west, Poland in the north, Slovakia in the east,
Austria in the south
the landscape is varied the country is surrounded by a ring of mountains (the
umava range, the Czech Forest, the Ore Mountains, the Jizersk Mountains,
the Giant Mountains, the Eagle Mountains, the Jesenky, and the Beskydy)
the highest mountain Snka 1602 m
Consists of: Bohemia (Prague), Moravia (Brno) and Silesia (Ostrava)
Population: about 10 million inhabitants
Capital: Prague
Rivers: the Vltava River, the Elbe River, the Oder River, the Morava River
Climate: moderate, continental
Government:
president MIlo Zeman
prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka
parliament
Currency: 1 Czech crown = 100 hellers
Flag: 3 colours (blue triangle, 2 stripes - 1 red and 1 white)
Economy: traditionally industrial country
mainly engineering, chemical industry, food industry, textile industry,
metallurgy
agriculture also developed
export cars, energy, wood, glass, china, pottery, guns
People: of Slavonic origin
Official language: Czech = Slavonic language related to Slovak, Russian, Polish or
Bulgarian
Public holidays:
1st May Labour Day (also LoversDay)
8th May end of 2nd World War
5th July Cyril and Methodius, missionaries, came in 862 from Thessaloniki in
Greece and brought Slavonic language and writing to our country
6th July Jan Hus/John Huss professor, dean and rector of Charles
University, critic of the church, burnt at stake in Constance in 1415
28th September St. Wenceslas Day, patron saint of Czechs
Mgr. Jana Umshausov

28th September establishment of the independent Czechoslovak Republic,

the first president T.G. Masaryk
17th November Velvet Revolution, students demonstrations, end of
totalitarianism

1st January 1993 splitting of the republic, 2 new states appeared = the Czech
Republic and the Slovak Republic
Prague
the capital of the Czech republic, the seat of the President, government and
parliament
the political, economic and cultural centre of the country
spreads on both banks of the Vltava River
more than 1 mil. inhabitants
The legend connects the foundation of Prague with Princess Libue of the Pemyslid
dynasty, who prophesied the future glory of Prague.
Important sights:
the Prague castle the seat of the President
St. Vitus Cathedral Gothic
Golden Lane tiny houses with coloured facades from the 16 th century
Strahov Monastery, founded in the 12th c., now Museum of Czech Literature +
Petn Observation Tower, a copy of the Eiffel Tower
The Lesser Town (Mal Strana) crooked streets, stylish taverns, ancient
houses and palaces, romantic gardens
St. Nicholas Church Baroque
Charles Bridge from 14th century, favourite place for walks and tourist
attractions, decorated with 30 sculptures mainly of Baroque origin + Bridge
Towers
Old Town Square + old Town Hall with its astrological clock
Tn Church
Bethlehem Chapel where Jan Hus preached
Jewish Town synagogues, Jewish cemetery
Wenceslas Square - full of boutiques, shops, hotels, banks, department
stores, restaurants, cafs, theatres and cinemas + St. Wenceslas Memorial a
popular meeting point
the National Theatre a Neo-Renaissance building
Vyehrad a former seat of Czech princes
Charles University the oldest university in Central and Eastern Europe,
founded by Charles IV.
ADD:
1) Which other places in the Czech Republic would you recommend to foreign
tourists to visit and why?
2) What is your favourite place in the Czech Republic and why?
3) What could Czech people be proud of?
4) What are they good at?
5) What should we learn from foreign people?

Mgr. Jana Umshausov

6) Tell something about the place YOU live in. What is worth seeing there?

Mgr. Jana Umshausov