The Czech Republic- Places of Interest, EU
- Europe
- inland country, “the heart of Europe”
- 79 000 km2, hilly landscape
- Neighbours: Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Poland
- Capital: Prague -1,3 mil
- parliamentary republic → the formal head - president, the head of executive power -
prime minister, parliament: House of Deputies + Senate → legislative
- currency: Czech crown
- since January 1993 → Czechoslovakia split in two sovereign republics
- Population: 10,7 mil
- EU, United Nations, NATO
- anthem = Kde domov můj (composed by František Škroup, lyrics by Josef Kajetán Tyl)
- 3 main regions: Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia
- 14 regions including Prague
GEOGRAPHY
- Continental and oceanic climate, no access to the sea
- Rivers: Elbe (Labe), Vltava, Morava, Ohře (KV), (Lipno, Orlík, Slapy)
- Glacial lakes- Černé and Čertovo in the Šumava mountains
- The terrain is rather hilly- Krušné mountains, Šumava – west; Jizerské and Orlické
mountains – border with Poland; Beskydy, Jeseníky- Moravia
- The land is very fertile- sugar beet, sweet corn, fruit, vegetables, potatoes
- along the borders - mountains, south Moravia - lowlands (agriculture), middle -
highlands, around Prague – lowlands
- 4 NP: Giant Mountains, Podyjí, Šumava, Bohemian Switzerland
- highest peak: Sněžka (1603 m)
ABOUT CR
- Industrial country
- Metallurgy, metal tool industries
- Czech beer and vine
- Minerals: Black and brown coal, lignite, sand for glass
PLACES OF INTERESTS
- UNESCO: Villa Tugendhat, Prague, Kutná Hora, Kroměříž- Gardens and castle, Český
Krumlov, Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, Litomyšl Castle, Telč, Žďár nad Sázavou,
Holašovice, Olomouc, Kladruby nad Labem
- castles: Křivoklát, Karlštejn, Kost, Hluboká, Lednice
- cities: Brno (2nd biggest), Karlovy Vary (spa town), Ostrava (black coal mining), Pilsen
(beer)
South Moravia
- Villa Tugendhat (UNESCO)
- Brno
- Špilberg castle
- Moravian Wine Trail
- Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, Garden of Europe
Pardubice Region
- Velké Pardubická – annual steeplechase horse race
- Gingerbread production
- stands on the river Elbe → the Elbe lowlands are very fertile (agricultural production
prevails sugar beet, cereals, oilseed, fruit, … are grown here)
- Pardubice city = important role as a centre of industry and transport
- the most significant town = Litomyšl
→ renaissance Chateau comlex (included on the UNESCO Word Heritage Site)
Karlovy Vary Region
- Karlovy vary international film festival
- Spa towns, Hot springs, therapeutic treatments (others: Marian baths, František´s
baths)
The Pilsen region
- production of alcoholic drinks – Bohemia Sekt (Starý Plzenec), Pilsner Urquell beer
- kaolin mining → used in manifacture of porcelaine
- Josef Skupa created his puppets Hurvínek and Spejbl in Pilsen
- highway D5 leads through the region (easiest way to Germany)
- lot of companies are headquarted here (Škoda Plzeň)
- Radyně Castle in Starý Plzenec – builded by Charles the IV. to oversee important trade
routes
EU
- Joined: May 1st, 2004
- 27 members
- significant step in post-communist transition
- EU membership has provided access to the single market, leading to economic
growth, improved infrastructure, and increased foreign investment.
- Czech is an official language of the EU – As one of the 24 official languages
- Czech students have the right to study at EU universities – Through programs like
Erasmus+
- Anthem of the Eu: Ninth Symphony - Ludwig van Beethoven – The ‘’Ode to Joy’’;
- Centre: Strasbourg (European parliament), Brussel
- no visas for work abroad
- CR also in Schengen area
- being part of EU has advantages and disadvantages
