Guide

Generally

In general

The Czech Republic (Česká republika or Česko), a member state of the European Union (since May 1, 2004), is a landlocked country in Central Europe.

The country is composed of two entire historic regions, Bohemia and Moravia, parts of Silesia and small sections of historic Lower Austria

Religion (2002):

  • atheist (59.8%)
  • Roman Catholic (19.2%)
  • Protestant (4.6%)
  • Orthodox (3%)
  • other (13.4%)

Flag:

Coat of arms:

Motto:

Pravda vítězí
(English: "Truth prevails")

National Anthem:

Kde domov můj (Where is my home?) was written by the composer František Škroup and the dramatist Josef Kajetán Tyl as a part of the comedy Fidlovačka aneb žádný hněv a žádná rvačka (Fidlovačka, or no anger and no brawl). It was performed for the first time in the Stavovské Divadlo (Estates Theatre) in Prague on December 21, 1834. The song originally had more stanzas, but only the first is officially the anthem and the rest is forgotten.

1.

Kde domov můj, kde domov můj?

Voda hučí po lučinách,

bory šumí po skalinách,

v sadě skví se jara květ,

zemský ráj to na pohled,

A to je ta krásná země,

země česká, domov můj,

země česká, domov můj.

2.

Kde domov můj kde domov můj?

V kraji znáš-li bohumilém

duše útlé v těle čilém

mysl jasnou vznik a zdar

a tu sílu vzdoru zmar

to je Čechů slavné plémě

mezi Čechy domov můj

mezi Čechy domov můj!

(text of national anthem is only first strophe)

English translation

1

Where is my home, where is my home?

Water roars across the meadows,

Pinewoods rustle among crags,

The garden is glorious with spring blossom,

Paradise on earth it is to see.

And this is that beautiful land,

The Czech land, my home,

The Czech land, my home.

2

Where is my home, where is my home?

If, in a heavenly land, you have met

Tender souls in agile frames,

Of clear mind, vigorous and prospering,

And with a strength that frustrates all defiance,

That is the glorious race of Czechs,

Among Czechs (is) my home,

Among Czechs, my home.

Here you can listen to the National Anthemn by Castle Guard and Police of the Czech republic

Area:

  • Total: 78,866 km² 
  • Water: 2.0%

Population:

  • 10 220 000 inhabitants (2005)
  • density: 130/km² 

Contemporary president:

         Václav Klaus

 

Geography

The Czech Republic, as a part of Middle Europe, is squeezed between Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland. The country is bordered by the mountains. Its area is almost 79.000 sq. km (30.000 sq. miles), as same size as the island of Ireland. The highest point is Snezka, 1602 m (5222 ft).

 

 

Karlovy Vary

Couat of arms:

Population:  51 537 inhabitants (2005)

Area: 59 km²

Founded: 1370s

  • Carlsbad (Karlovy Vary) is the largest and best-known bath resort in the Czech Republic.
  • The town is located not far off the Czech-German border on the international road E48, 60 km from border town Schirnding. The distance between Carlsbad and Prague, the Czech capital, is 125 km. Carlsbad can be reached via train through border crossing Schirnding - Cheb, or through Johanngeorgenstadt.
  • Rivers Teplá, Ohře and Rolava run through the town.
  • The altitude of Carlsbad is 370 m above the sea level and surrounding hills reach up to 644 m.
  • The climate is foothills.

 

People

There are about  10 million people in the Czech Republic (1.3 million in Prague). Most of them are Czechs and they speak Czech language. They tend to be polite, mild-mannered with a good sense of humor, not incline to argue or fight. They are intelligent, creative, well educated and can be quite conservative. If you are invited into home, you will find them friendly and very hospitable (do bring flowers for your host and remember to remove your shoes when you enter the house). The largest Church is Roman Catholic one but Czechs are mostly atheists, because of the systematic oppression of religion during Communism.

Climate

Czech is four seasoned country with a continental climate. The summers tend to be sunny and quite hot, the winters cold, spring and fall mild but changeable. Weather forecast is available at CNN or BBC! There is a nice weather from May through September.

Month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Temperature [C]

-5

0

8

12

19

22

25

24

19

12

5

0

Temperature [F]

28

37

46

54

66

72

77

75

66

54

41

32

Rainfall [mm]

20

20

25

40

60

70

65

55

40

25

25

20

Humidity [%]

70

63

57

49

49

48

51

49

57

63

78

81

 

Time Zone

Czech Republic included Prague is on Central European Time (GMT +1) as well as Berlin, Bonn, Budapest, Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Warsaw and the others. It is:

· 1 hour ahead of England

· 6 hours ahead of New York

· 9 hours ahead of Los Angeles

· 7 hours behind Singapore

· 8 hours behind Tokyo

· 10 hours behind Sydney

 

Crime

Violent crime is rare by the standards of western Europe or the United States, but there is a great deal of theft. Lock your car and put your valuables in the hotel. Be alert to the danger of pickpockets in crowded places, particularly on trams and metro. Prague is plagued with unscrupulous cabbies. Hailing a taxi on the street is inviting trouble. It is better to use underground, trams or buses which are the quickest and safest to use.

 

Public Holidays

1. 1. New Year and Restitution of independent Czech republic (separation from the union with Slovak country)

1. 5. Labor Day

1. 8. Day of the Victory (End of 2nd World War)

5. 7. Day of St. Ciryl and St. Method (translated Bible into the Old Slavonic language)

6. 7. Burning of Master Jah Hus (John Huss) - religious thinker, philosopher and reformer, master at the Charles University. The Roman Catholic Church considered his teachings heractical so they let him to be burnt.

28. 9. Day of the Czech Nationhood (St. Wencel´s Day = patron the saint of the Czech Republic)

28. 10. Estabilishment of Independent Czechoslovakian country (1918)

17. 11. Day of Student´s Fights for the Freedom and Democracy (the beginning of Velvet Revolution)

24. 12. Christmas Eve

25. 12. Christmas Day

26. 12. Boxing Day (St. Stephen´s Day)

Easter holidays are non-stationary (beginning by 1st Sunday after the 1st spring full moon)

We have also significant days but there are not silent hours.