The Czech republic

outline: – basic information

– geography

– history

– industry

– places of interest

– my view,  my opinion

The Czech republic is a state in Central Europe. It occupies an area of 78 864 sq km and has about 10 million people. The capital is Prague, situated in the centre of Bohemia. The currency is the Czech crown.

Our country is a member of NATO and EU.

Geography:

The Czech republic has borders with Germany, Poland, the Slovakian republic and Hungary. The area of the Czech republic is divided into 3 parts: Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia. Bohemia is surrounded by the ring of mountains – the Šumava range, the Czech Forest, the Ore Mountains, the Jizerské Mountains, the Giant Mountains and the Eagle Mountains. Moravia is protected on the west by the Bohemian-Moravian Highland, and on the north by the ranges of Jeseníky and Beskydy. Big rivers are the Vltava, the Elbe (flowing into the North sea), the Odra (flowing into the Baltic sea), and the Morava (flowing into the Danube and thence into the Baltic sea). Fertile lowlands can be found in valleys of these rivers. The climate is continental.

History:

• the 7^th century: Slavonic tribes, Sámo’s Empire
• the 9^th century: Great Moravian Empire (centre of the Slavonic culture; 863 – missionaries Konstantin and Methodius brought alphabet and Christianity)
• the 10^th: state centre transferred to the Czech lands, the Přemyslid’s dynasty
• the 14^th: the Luxembourg dynasty (Charles IV.; the Czech Kingdom became the centre of the Holy Roman Empire)
• the 15^th: Jan Hus & the Hussite Movement; Jiří z Poděbrad, the Jagiellonian dynasty
• the 16^th century: the Habsburgs (1526-1918; germanization, re-catholicization)
• the 18^th and the 19^th: National Revival
• 1914 – 1918: World War I.
• 28^th October 1918: the Independence of the Czechoslovakian republic
• 1939 – 1945: World War II.
• 1948 – 17^th November 1989: totalitarian state, directed by the Soviet Union (1968 – Prague Spring – the invasion of the Soviet army and normalization, the Velvet revolution)
• 1^st January 1993: the splitting of the republic (the Czech republic, Slovakian)
• 1999 – became a member of NATO
• 2004 – became a member of EU

Industry:

The most significant raw material is coal. Black coal and anthracite are to be found mainly in the Ostrava Coal Basin and in the area of Kladno. There are also minor deposits of iron ore, uranium, oil, etc. The rich deposits of kaolin and clay are important for the ceramics and glass industries as well as abundant quarries of stone and limestone for the building industry.

The Czech republic is famous for its glass, crystal, beer and ceramic.

The automotive industry has a long tradition here, it is represented by Śkoda Auto, which is situated in Mladá Boleslav.

Places of interest:

Prague is the most lucrative place for tourists, thousand of people visit this city for its sights. The other city, which has beautiful sights, is Kutná Hora.

Many people from the nearby states visit spas in Karlovy Vary, where every year the movie festival takes place. The north of the Czech Republic is abundant on spas.

Our country has 4 national parks.  The Šumava Range and the Giant Mountains have gorgeous scenery. The Giant Mountains are also attraction for confessor of winter sports.

Our republic has also many castles (Karlštejn, Křivoklát, Bezděs,…) and natural phenomena (the Czech Karst, Macocha Abyss).