Czech Republic - Country Profile

Introduction

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe bordering with Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria. According to its area it is roughly comparable with Ireland or Austria.

The capital is Prague. Nowadays, the country is officially divided into 14 regions on the NUTS III level.

For more information and statistical data, please, see following pages.

The Czech Republic has much to offer: rich historical heritage, architectural treasures which have earned a place on UNESCO's world culture heritage list, natural beauties, rich culinary tradition or famous Czech beer.

The country has also significantly contributed to European culture. The works of Czech composers are known worldwide, as well as books of famous writers or works of painters. The country has produced names like Jan Amos Komenský, Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Leoš Janáček, Franz Kafka, Karel Čapek or Alfons Mucha. It is also well known for its successful sportsmen and women.

For statistical data, please, see a table below.

A Brief History
First independent state in Bohemia, which is one of 3 historic countries of Czech state, emerged in the 9th century under the rule of Premyslid dynasty. The power of Bohemian Kingdom reached its peak in the 14th century, during the reign of King Charles IV. This sovereign founded the oldest university in Central Europe, called Charles University, situated in Prague.

In 15th century a reform Hussite movement was formed, which fought against corruption of the Catholic Church. Members of movement called themselves according to preacher Jan Hus, who was ultimately burnt at the stake in Constance in 1414.

In 1526, the Czech Kingdom became the part of the Catholic Habsburg Empire.
The national awareness of Czechs culminated in the 1848 revolutions. However, the independent state emerged after the end of WWI. In 1918 Czechs created together with Slovaks the democratic federal state of Czechoslovakia. Under the leadership of President Tomas Garrigue Masaryk the state developed into a liberal democracy.

After the Munich Accord, the Nazi army occupied the Czech area and created protectorate dependent on German realm.

Communist Party seized power in the coup d'etat of 1948. In 1968 the armies of the Soviet Union and other countries of Warsaw Pact invaded the country and ended the attempt of the reform politicians to create socialism with a human face.

The Communist regime collapsed, after 40 years of dictatorship, under pressure from massive demonstrations in November 1989. The peaceful Velvet Revolution enabled a re-emergency of democratic tradition of the country. Playwright and dissident Václav Havel was elected President of Czechoslovakia in December 1989 and the first democratic election was held in June 1990.

The country entered the way of economic and political transformation. Nowadays the Czech Republic is a democratic country with stable business and political climate.

In June 2003 Václav Klaus was elected President and Czech citizens have approved in referendum country's EU-accession.

Useful links:

Czech country profile on BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1108489.stm

Czech history on the website of Radio Praha

http://www.radio.cz/en/html/cesko.html

Czech Republic - Official Website:

www.czech.cz

Country profile on Europa.eu.int
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/czech/index.htm

The Czech government online
http://www.vlada.cz/