What is the correct name of the Czech Republic? Official country name: Czech Republic. Middle Ages and Modern Times

We are all well acquainted with the countries next to the Czech Republic. After all, it borders on Poland and Germany, Slovakia and Austria. Such a favorable geographical position at the crossroads of trade routes from Europe to Asia, mild climate and abundance of mineral springs gave the Czech Republic a great chance for prosperity. Every year, millions of tourists from all over the world flock here to improve their health at balneological resorts, admire the unique architecture of the country and its ancient castles.

The Czechs are a highly cultured and educated nation. After all, they passed with dignity the difficult period that came after the collapse of the socialist camp. What is the Czech Republic rightfully proud of today? The economy of the country in the first place, which is in second place among the states of Eastern Europe.

Travelers

The country of the Czech Republic in the tourist market is conditionally divided into three areas: balneological, ski and sightseeing holidays. Fans of a wide cultural program are invited to visit Pilsen, Brno, Cesky Krumlov, Ostrava and, of course, Prague.

Those who want to improve their health go to the west of the country. It is here that the main resorts are concentrated, such as Marianske Lazne, Karlovy Vary, and also Kynzvart. For a ski holiday, the Czech Republic offers its eastern territories. Here, on the border with Poland, there are such resorts as Harrachov, Rokytnice nad Izerou and Vitkovice.

In this amazing country, more than two and a half thousand medieval castles, striking with their unique architecture, have survived to this day. And it is not surprising that artists and romantics, lovers of antiquity and connoisseurs of beauty love to visit the Czech Republic. Having arrived in the country only once, it is impossible to cover the huge number of attractions available on its territory. That is why many tourists come back here again and again.

What else attracts travelers to the Czech Republic? Description of the country is impossible without a story about the original and delicious national cuisine. a gourmet expanse that makes people forget about diets and about their waist for a while.

The Czech Republic is also a true heaven on earth for beer lovers. The recipes and traditions of making this drink, represented by a huge number of different varieties, are carefully preserved here.

Geography

The country of the Czech Republic in the north has 658 km of borders with Poland, in the northwest, in the west with Germany - 646 km, in the east with Slovakia - 214 km, in the south with Austria - 362 km. Thus, the length of all the borders of this state is 1880 km.
The territory of the Czech Republic has a very diverse landscape. Thus, the area of Bohemia in the west is located in the basin of such rivers as the Vltava and Laba. It is surrounded by low mountains.

The eastern part of the Czech Republic is the territory of Moravia. It also has a hilly surface. This area is located in the basin of the Moravia River. The Czech Republic has no access to the seas. However, all its rivers rush towards them. They flow into the Black, Baltic or North Seas.

The highest mountains of the country are located in its northern part. They are called Kokonoshi. The highest mountain is Sněžka. It rises above sea level at 1600 m.

You can find the Czech Republic on the world map at the coordinates 49 degrees 45 seconds north latitude and 15 degrees 30 seconds east longitude. This is the very heart of Europe. In order to be convinced of this, it is enough to visit the site located between the cities of Pilsen and Cheb. It is here that a memorial sign is installed, on which there is an inscription "Center of Europe".

The territory of the country is 78,866 square kilometers. It ranks 115th in the world. Two percent of this territory is a water surface.

Climate

Czech Republic - a country with an amazing here is quite mild. It is very hot in this area only during one week of the year. The country pleases with comfortable weather in all seasons. In summer, the average temperature is set within twenty degrees, and in winter the thermometer practically does not fall below minus 3. Such an ideal climate is created by continental and maritime influences. Reduces the negative impact of winds mountainous environment.

Administrative division

On the map of the country, you can see thirteen regions, or territories. The main administrative center of the country is its capital - the city of Prague.

What areas (territories) are part of this European state? Their list includes the following:

Central Bohemian.
Pilsensky.
South Bohemian.
Karlovy Vary.
Ustetsky.
Karlovehradec.
Liberetsky.
South Moravian.
Slomoutsky.
Pardubice.
Moravskosilevsky.
Zlinsky.
Vysochina.

Story

The territory of the Czech Republic has been inhabited by people since the Stone Age. The very first mentions of this country were found in chronicles dating back to the 9th century. During this period, the territory of the Czech Republic was under the control of the Přemyslid princes.

The second name of these lands is Bohemia. It came from an ancient Celtic tribe that inhabited the territories located in modern North Bohemia. After them, these lands were mastered by the Germanic tribes - the Marcomanni, who were replaced by the Slavs in the 5th century. The latter were the ancestors of modern Czechs.

This Slavic state reached its heyday by the beginning of the 11th century. During this period, it was called Great Moravia and had an impressive territory, which included the current lands of Slovakia, Bohemia, as well as part of Hungary and Austria.

Interestingly, there is no historical information about which city was the capital of this state and why it collapsed. Most likely, the reason for this was the numerous internecine wars. It is known that Great Moravia was a Christian country, and its baptizers were the apostles Methodius and Cyril (just like in Rus').

In the 17th century The Czech kingdom became part of Austria-Hungary, and after its collapse in 1928, Subcarpathian Rus, Slovakia and the Czech Republic united. These countries became known as Czechoslovakia. In 1939, the country was occupied by the troops of Nazi Germany. Liberation came only at the end of World War II, when Soviet soldiers entered Czechoslovakia. After that, the country entered the socialist community.

However, in the late 1980s, mass demonstrations and protests swept Czechoslovakia. All of them resulted in the so-called Velvet Revolution. This was followed by a massive strike, which resulted in regime change. The country was headed by a former dissident, playwright Vaclav Havel.

On January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia was peacefully divided into two states. Two republics were formed on its territory - Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The history of the country after that began to form independently. So, in 1999 the state became a member of NATO, and in 2004 - a member of the EU. Since 2007, the Czech Republic has been participating in the Schengen Agreement, that is, a person who has a visa of this country can travel throughout Europe without any obstacles.

Political structure

The country of the Czech Republic is a state with a representative democracy. Under such a political regime, the people are the main source of power, but various representative bodies are delegated to govern the state. The Czech Republic is a parliamentary republic. Its executive power is the president and the government. The latter, in turn, answers to the Chamber of Deputies.

The head of the Czech state is the president. Starting from 01/27/2013 and up to the present day, this post has been occupied by Milos Zeman. He replaced Vaclav Klaus.

Milos Zeman is one of the brightest figures in European politics. Such an opinion about him has developed due to the tough personal position of the leader of the Czech Republic and ambiguous statements. It is worth saying that the current president of the Czech Republic, unlike most European politicians, supports Russia's actions in many areas. Opinion often goes against the statements of Brussels. And his position is quite firm.

As for the Czech parliament, it is bicameral. It consists of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The Chamber of Deputies is supported by the work of two hundred of its members, who are elected by the people once every four years. There is also the principle of proportional representation. One-third of the Senate is renewed once every two years. At the same time, each of the 81 senators is given a six-year mandate.

The Constitutional Court is the guarantor of the basic rights of the Czech people. It consists of 15 judges who are empowered to overturn laws that are contrary to the country's constitution.

Population

The Czech Republic is now included in the list of densely populated countries. According to the latest statistics, its population is slightly more than 10 million people. A tenth of them live in the capital of the state - Prague. The rest of the population, as in most European countries, is predominantly concentrated in other cities.

For several years in a row, the Czech Republic has seen a steady increase in the rate of natural population growth. This is due to a decrease in mortality and an increase in the birth rate. In addition to natural growth, there is an influx of emigrants. It also increases the population of this European state.

Official language

Throughout the centuries-old history of the Czech Republic, various peoples and tribes have lived on its territory. However, today 95% of the population are Czechs. They keep their own national traditions. Knowledge of historical roots, which the Czech Republic can rightfully be proud of, is also highly respected and respected. The language of the country is Czech. It is spoken by the people of this state, despite its multinational composition, represented by Poles and Slovaks, gypsies, Germans and Jews. Of course, they are all a minority, but they are full citizens of the country.

To date, the population of the Czech Republic uses the three most common groups of dialects for communication. Here people speak East Moravian, Middle Moravian and Czech. The state language of the country was able to survive centuries of decline and Germanization. Its revival occurred in the 18th century as a literary one. But then Czech began to penetrate more and more into the lives of ordinary people, turning into everyday language.

Today, the state language of the country is heard on the streets of its cities. At the same time, young people speak English well, and the older generation can easily switch to German.

City of Prague

The largest metropolis and the most popular tourist center in Europe is the capital of the Czech Republic. More than 6 million travelers visit Prague every year. Everyone who understands architecture and appreciates the taste of beer strives to get to this friendly and elegant city.

Since ancient times, Prague has been considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. And this is confirmed by its names. So, this amazing city is sometimes referred to as “golden Prague” or “city of a hundred spiers”, as well as “stone dream”.

The capital of the Czech Republic is cobbled narrow streets, Charles Bridge, amazing in its beauty, as well as a huge number of different attractions.

The exact date of the foundation of Prague is unknown. However, already in the 15th century, chronicles mention fairs that took place at the confluence of the Vltava and Berounka rivers. The formation of the Prague Castle took place in the 9th century. In the next century, Prague received the status of the capital of the Czech kingdom. The city received its rapid development in the 12th century, becoming the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

During the Second World War, Prague was occupied by the Germans. However, fortunately, the hostilities carried out on its territory did not lead to the destruction of unique historical structures.

In the post-war years, the metro appeared in the capital of the Czech Republic. Construction of new neighborhoods proceeded at a rapid pace.

After the victory of the Velvet Revolution, Prague became one of the most popular European cities for tourists. Its historical center is recognized as a UNESCO heritage.

Today, the population of the capital of the Czech Republic is more than 1.3 million people who live in 15 districts, numbered depending on their distance from the center. On the map, they can be seen arranged clockwise.

A country's economy

The basis of the national economy of the Czech Republic is mechanical engineering and electronics, the food industry and ferrous metallurgy, the service sector and construction. The Czech Republic is one of the most successful post-communist states to date.

The characteristics of the country in economic terms testify to the success and stability of its national economy. After the Velvet Revolution, the Czech Republic inherited from Czechoslovakia energy inefficient and non-environmental industries. In those years, ferrous metallurgy, working on imported raw materials, as well as the military industry and mechanical engineering, occupied too much of the production sector.

As for foreign trade, it was mainly focused on the needs of the USSR, which to a large extent held back the growth of the country's economy.

After independence, the government of the Czech Republic made some significant changes. It abolished the centralized regulation of prices, introduced the freedom of private enterprise, abolished the monopoly of state foreign trade, carried out privatization and reconstruction of property. Thanks to the influx of foreign investments, the Czech Republic carried out the modernization and restructuring of the industry in the shortest possible time, and also developed the necessary auxiliary and technical infrastructures.

Today, the Czech Republic is experiencing rapid GDP growth. This is due to the growth of the industrial sector and the reduction in the share of ferrous metallurgy and industries intended for military structures. When the share of the automotive industry and the production of electrical products increases. This allowed the Czech Republic to reach a positive foreign trade balance. Success became possible even despite the rapid rise in prices for gas and oil imported into the country.

It is worth saying that the size of foreign trade per capita in the country is very high and is ahead of such countries as Great Britain and Japan, Italy and France.

§ 3. Formation of the Czech state

As a result of the collapse of the Great Moravian association, an alliance of Czech tribes emerged from it, which later became the basis on which the Czech pre-feudal state arose. The territory inhabited by Czech tribes was a quadrangle bounded by the Bohemian Forest, the Ore, or Ore, Mountains, the Sudetes and the Giant Mountains (Giant Mountains) and the Bohemian-Moravian Heights. It was irrigated by the Laba River and its main tributaries, the Vltava and Ogra.

The Czech tribes, like other Slavic peoples, lived in a tribal system, but in the 9th-10th centuries. the tribal system was already in a state of decay. This was connected with the development of productive forces, mainly with the success of agriculture.

Significant material values were concentrated in the hands of tribal elders. Owning slaves (youths), the tribal nobility had the opportunity to cultivate land plots that were outside the territory, which was considered the property of the clan. The new conditions contributed to the economic strengthening and increase in the political significance of the tribal nobility. She became the force that led the life of her tribe. In the IX-X centuries. the descendants of the tribal nobility were called princes, zhupans and governors. In connection with the disintegration of the tribal system, the right of ownership of real estate and the instruments of production is being strengthened. In contrast to the tribal nobility, who sought to secure individual plots for individual use, the bulk of the population continued to maintain collective ownership of the land. The clan was divided into separate large consanguineous families - zadrugi. From the composition of the latter, individual members stood out, who organized their own economy. In the future, these individual farms formed a community - a brand. The land continued to be in common ownership of the community, but the cultivated plots were gradually transferred to individual use. The wastelands continued to be in common ownership. These forms of land ownership continued until the thirteenth century.

Traces of the tribal system were preserved for a long time in Czech customary law. The community paid for the head of the murdered found on its territory, if the culprit was not found. She took part in the search for criminals in the so-called vault. The collective oath at the trial was also an indicator of the remnants of the tribal system. On the territory of tribal associations there were "grads" - political, military and trade centers, to which the nearest settlements gravitated. The territory of tribal unions was divided into separate urban areas - zhups. These territorial associations were already political associations. Among them, the leading place belonged to the Czech territorial-political association, as it occupied the central part of the territory and was located at the intersection of the most important land river routes.

By the middle of the X century. the most important of the cities of this association, Prague, on the Vltava River, was in the possession of the Přemyslids. They united under their rule separate Czech tribes living west of the Laba River. The eastern part of the territory, inhabited by Czech tribes, belonged to the Slavnikov family. Their political center was Libice.

The growth of the political influence of both cities was determined by their economic importance. Trade routes crossed in Prague, passing through the central part of the territory from north to south and from west to east, in the Black Sea and the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov. The main trade route to the northeast to the Polish lands passed through Libice, and from there to Kievan Rus and the trade route to Hungary, Pannonia and the Balkans. The city of Libice was a serious economic and political rival of Prague. The Slavnikov clan was a strong opponent of the Přemyslids. The possessions of the Slavniks extended west of the Vltava and cut off the trade routes going to the Czech Republic from the Danube. The long struggle between the two political centers ended in the victory of the Prague prince, who united most of the tribes under his rule and had significant material resources.

The unification of the Czech tribes led to the fact that the elders of individual tribes - voivodes and župans - had to recognize the authority of the central voivode or prince (dux). But it was a long and complicated historical process. Although the Czech prince managed to subjugate other tribes, but initially his power over them was not great. The governors of individual tribes did not want to recognize the power of the central prince. The Czech state was born in the struggle of the prince with the governors and tribal nobility. The struggle was tense, and it took a lot of effort to break the resistance of the governors and the nobility of individual tribes. In addition, the internal struggle in the Czech principality itself weakened the power of the central prince, strengthening the position of his opponents. The intervention of German feudal lords in the internal affairs of the Czech Republic also delayed the unification of the Czech tribes into one state. The first historically known prince was Burivoy from the Přemyslid family (874–879). Together with his wife Lyudmila Buriva, he converted to Christianity in the capital of Moravia, Velehrad. Already under the grandson of Burivoy - Wenceslas (923-935), the situation in the Czech Republic became tense. Under him, the influence of the German clergy increased, which, as in Moravia, began a struggle against the Slavic Church. Wenceslas supported the Catholic clergy, which occupied a dominant position in the country. The victory of the Catholic Church over the Slavic Church strengthened the position of the social leaders. However, the dominance of the Latin language in writing delayed the development of writing in the Czech language for a long time.

The German feudal lords vigilantly followed the internal situation in the country in order to subjugate the Czech Republic to their power. When Wenceslas was in a fight with Radislav, the prince of the Zlichan tribe, who relied on German feudal lords, King Henry I took advantage of this to invade the Czech Republic. He went all the way to Prague. Wenceslas was forced to make an agreement with Henry, recognized himself as a vassal of the king and pledged to pay tribute. The governors and Lechs took advantage of the difficult external situation and raised an uprising against Wenceslas. The uprising was pacified, but Wenceslas himself soon died at the hands of his brother Boleslav, prince of the Pshovan tribe. Bolesław I (935–967) waged an unsuccessful war with Otto I for many years for independence. The common threat from the Magyars brought Bolesław I closer to the empire. The united German-Czech army in 955 defeated the Magyars in the battle on the Lech River, and thus the Czech Republic was freed from the threat of the Magyar invasion. After the defeat of the Magyars, Moravia with part of Silesia, in the upper reaches of the Oder, and Krakow was annexed to the Czech Republic. Boleslav got the opportunity to control the trade routes that passed through Libice. In order to strengthen the foreign policy position of the Czech Republic, Boleslav became close to the Polish prince Mieszko (960–992) and married his daughter Dubravka to him.

Boleslav laid a solid foundation for the Czech state. In this regard, Boleslav is the successor of the traditions of the Great Moravian princes Rostislav and Svyatopolk. His power extended to all Czech tribes, with the exception of the possession of Slavnik, with its center in Libice. The victories cost Boleslav great efforts, and he was not shy in choosing means. No wonder he got the nickname "Cruel" (Ukrutny).

Boleslav took vigorous measures to strengthen his country. Most of the Czech nobility was interested in strengthening their economic position and therefore supported Boleslav and his unifying policy. The material resources that Boleslav had at his disposal allowed him to maintain a squad, which he used to fight the Germans and Magyars, and with its help he subjugated the recalcitrant tribes. Only one prince of Libice, Radislav Slavnik, had not yet submitted to the prince and continued to fight against the unifying policy of the Czech princes. Relations between the princes of Prague and Libice became especially aggravated under Boleslav II the Pious (967–999). In order to free the Czech Church from subordination to the highest German Catholic hierarchy, Bolesław II achieved the establishment of a separate bishopric in Prague, which remained in canonical dependence on the Archbishop of Mainz. The establishment of a bishopric in Prague strengthened Boleslav's position, since the power of the Prague bishop extended to the whole of Bohemia. This dealt a political blow to Slavnik and his family. In order to stop the further strengthening of the power of the Prague prince, Slavnik achieved the appointment of his son Vojtech as the bishop of Prague under the name of Adalbert. The policy of the new bishop undermined the authority of the princely power. Clashes broke out between Boleslav II and Vojtech. In the end, the Prague bishop was forced to leave the see. Under the auspices of the Polish prince, Vojtech went to the Prussians to spread Christianity among them, but was killed by them in 997 during his missionary work. Bolesław II emerged victorious in the fight against Prince Radisław Slavnik of Libice and his sons. Although the Libice prince relied on the German emperor Otto III, the latter could not provide him with significant assistance. In 995, Boleslav occupied the capital of Slavnikov - Libice. During the capture of Libice, the entire male and female population was killed. The entire family of Slavnikov was destroyed. Their lands and property were confiscated in favor of the Czech prince. Thus, the East Bohemian lands passed into the hands of the Přemyslids, and all the Czech lands were united under the rule of one prince. This is how the Czech state was created.

The chronicler Kozma of Prague approves of the personality and work of Boleslav II. “This prince,” says Kozma, “was a Christian husband, father of orphans, protector of widows, comforter of those who weep, patron of clerics and wanderers, founder of the churches of God. Under him, no one received either a spiritual or a secular position for money. And in battles he was the bravest, he treated the vanquished mercifully, but most of all he valued calm and peace. He had a lot of wealth and military weapons. Already by this time, Prague had become a major center of international trade, about which the Arab traveler Ibrahim Ibn-Yakub, who visited the Czech Republic under Boleslav I, wrote as follows: “The city of Fraga (Prague) is built of stone and lime, and it is the richest of the cities in trade. Rus' and the Slavs come to him from Krakow (Krakow) with goods, and Muslims and Jews and Turks come to him from the countries of the Turks, as well as with goods and Byzantine calicos, and take out flour, tin and various trifles from them. Their country is the best of the countries of the north and the richest in life supplies. And in the city of Prague, saddles and bridles and shields are made for use in their countries. After the death of Boleslav II, the young Czech state had to endure deep internal and external upheavals. Against Boleslav III, nicknamed the Red (999-1003), the tribal nobility rose up, not wanting to come to terms with the loss of their independence. At the head of the tribal nobility was the Vrshovich family. Boleslav III was forced to flee to Germany. The temporary victory of the tribal nobility was associated with its support by the Polish prince Boleslav I the Brave (992–1025). The latter, taking advantage of internal complications in the Czech Republic, captured the beautiful Czech capital, and then Moravia, Krakow and Silesia.

In order to keep Bohemia under his rule, Bolesław I the Brave helped Bolesław III in his struggle against the brothers Jaromir and Oldřich; with his assistance, Boleslav III returned to Prague and brutally cracked down on his opponents. Then the hostile to Boleslav III Lehi and lords also turned to the Polish prince for help. Boleslav III, during a meeting with Boleslav I the Brave, was treacherously captured and blinded, and then put in a Polish fortress, where he was kept until his death. Boleslav I the Brave went to Prague, and "the beautiful Czech country became a province of the Principality of Poland, cheerful Prague the capital of Boleslav." However, Prague did not long remain under the rule of the Polish prince. Emperor Henry II, fearing his strengthening, assisted Oldrich and Jaromir in the return of Prague. However, Moravia and Silesia remained with Bolesław I the Brave. Only in 1021 Moravia was freed from the power of Poland, and Oldrich (1012–1034) gave it to his son Bretislav as an inheritance.

Under Bretislav (1034–1055), the Czech state was strengthened. The resistance of the feudal nobility was broken. Nevertheless, the external position of the Czech Republic remained extremely tense. Bretislav was not alien to the idea of uniting the Slavic peoples under his rule, like Boleslav I the Brave. Therefore, Bretislav, taking advantage of the feudal struggle that began after the death of the Polish prince Mieszko II (1025–1034), son of Boleslav I the Brave, captured Krakow in Lesser Poland and Gniezno in Greater Poland.

The extension of Bretislav's power to Poland strengthened the external position of the Czech Republic in relation to the German Empire, which continued to be the main enemy of the Czech state. The German emperor did not want to allow the strengthening of the Czech Republic. To this end, Henry III in 1040 undertook a campaign against the Czech Republic, which ended in failure. The Emperor was defeated at the Battle of Domazlice, in Western Bohemia. The following year, Henry III undertook a new campaign, which ended successfully, and Bretislav was forced to recognize the fief dependence of the Czech Republic on the empire. With the help of this diplomatic act, the Czech lands remained under the rule of Bretislav.

But Bretislav failed to unite all the Czech lands under his rule. He owned only part of Moravia. The region on the left bank of the Danube, up to the lower reaches of the Morava River, went to Bavaria. Ethnically and linguistically related to the Czechs, the Slovaks fell under the rule of the Magyars.

From the book History. Russian history. Grade 11. Deep level. Part 1 author Volobuev Oleg Vladimirovich

§ 28. Formation of a union state

From the book World History. Volume 2. Middle Ages by Yeager Oscar

From the book The Birth of Rus' author Rybakov Boris Alexandrovich

FORMATION OF THE STATE OF Rus' Abundant material from diverse sources convinces us that the East Slavic statehood matured in the south, in the rich and fertile forest-steppe zone of the Middle Dnieper. Here, thousands of years before Kievan Rus, it was known

From the book History of the Middle Ages. Volume 1 [In two volumes. Under the general editorship of S. D. Skazkin] author Skazkin Sergey Danilovich

Formation of the Early Sodal State The Hungarian tribes, who roamed the southern Russian steppes, crossed the Carpathians at the end of the 9th century and began to settle in the Middle Danube. Throughout the X century. Hungarians master this territory. Favorable living conditions contributed to their

From the book Secret Front. Memoirs of a political intelligence officer of the Third Reich. 1938-1945 author Höttl Wilhelm

CHAPTER 7 THE CRUSHING OF THE CZECH STATE Czechoslovakia occupies a special place in a number of countries that Hitler occupied after carrying out corresponding subversive activities among national minorities. Three million Germans lived there along the Sudetenland, and it

author Platonov Sergey Fyodorovich

Formation of the Kievan state § 6. Annalistic legend about the calling of the Varangian princes. How and when the state life began among the Russian Slavs, our ancestors did not remember. When they became interested in the past, they began to collect and write down the stories that passed between them.

From the book Unified textbook of the history of Russia from ancient times to 1917. With a preface by Nikolai Starikov author Platonov Sergey Fyodorovich

Formation of the Great Russian state § 46. Grand Duke Ivan III Vasilyevich; the significance of his work. The successor of Vasily the Dark was his eldest son Ivan Vasilyevich. The blind father made him his co-ruler and, during his lifetime, gave him the title of Grand Duke.

From the book Ancient Russian History to the Mongol Yoke. Volume 1 author Pogodin Mikhail Petrovich

FORMATION OF THE STATE And the state, like all beings in the world, begins with inconspicuous points. For a long, long time, through a strong magnifying glass, you have to look at the ugly, heterogeneous heap of the earth, people and their actions, at this human chaos, in order to finally catch in

From the book Ancient Rus'. 4th–12th centuries author Team of authors

Formation of the state Gradually scattered tribes of the Eastern Slavs are united. The Old Russian state appears, which went down in history under the names "Rus", "Kievan Rus".

From the book Domestic History (until 1917) author Dvornichenko Andrey Yurievich

§ 3. Formation of the Russian state During the reign of Ivan III Vasilyevich (1462-1505) and his son Vasily III Ivanovich (1505-1533), what is traditionally and reasonably called "the formation of a single state" in historical literature takes place. Indeed, one can say

From the book History of the Far East. East and Southeast Asia author Crofts Alfred

EDUCATION FOR THE STATE Two decades after the beginning of the Meiji era, several hundred Japanese were simultaneously enrolled in American schools, they studied all areas of knowledge. Boys from wealthy families could afford ten years of study abroad, and even

From the book General History of State and Law. Volume 1 author Omelchenko Oleg Anatolievich

§ 9.3. Formation of the Athenian state More developed than Sparta, in socio-economic terms, was the second of the largest ancient Greek states of Athens (Attica Peninsula), which soon subordinated the rest of Hellas to its influence. Classic way of formation

From the book Slavic Encyclopedia author Artemov Vladislav Vladimirovich

From the book World History. Volume 3 Age of Iron author Badak Alexander Nikolaevich

Formation of the state In ancient India, the process of formation of the state was long. Gradually, the tribal aristocracy turned into the top of the emerging early class states, which took shape on a tribal basis. Increasing power of tribal leaders

From the book Domestic History. Crib author Barysheva Anna Dmitrievna

1 FORMATION OF THE OLD RUSSIAN STATE At present, two main versions about the origin of the East Slavic state retain their influence in historical science. The first was called Norman. Its essence is as follows: the Russian state

From the book History author Plavinsky Nikolai Alexandrovich

Useful information for tourists about the Czech Republic, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, the currency of the Czech Republic, the cuisine, the features of visa and customs restrictions of the Czech Republic.

Geography of the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a state in Central Europe. It borders with Poland, Germany, Austria and Slovakia. The landscape of the country is dominated by highlands and low mountains - the Czech Massif, bordered by the Šumava ridges, the Czech Forest, the Krkonoše and the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. The largest river is the Vltava, 440 km long.

State

State structure

Democratic Republic. The head of state is the president. The legislature is a bicameral parliament (the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies).

Language

Official language: Czech

German, English, French and Russian are widely spoken.

Religion

Catholics (39%), Protestants (5%), Orthodox (3%), atheists and others.

Currency

International name: CZK

The Czech crown is equal to 100 hellers. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 crowns and coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 crowns, as well as 50, 20 and 10 hellers. The import of goods worth no more than 3000 kroons is allowed.

In private exchange offices take a commission of up to 10%. In hotels, the commission is reduced to 5%. In banks, the commission is 2%. When exchanging currency at central exchange offices, you will need a passport, according to which a receipt is issued, which is necessary for a reverse currency exchange when leaving the country.

Banks, hotels, large shops and restaurants accept Eurocheques and credit cards. In the cities there are a lot of ATMs where you can get Czech crowns with credit cards at any time. Traveler's checks are cashed at major tourist centers and most banks.

History of the Czech Republic

In the 9th century, the Czechs converted to Christianity and around 900 founded the Kingdom of Bohemia. In the second half of the 14th century, Bohemia reached its peak under King Charles 1 (aka Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV). At the beginning of the 15th century, the state was shaken by the “Hussite Wars”, whose leader, Jan Hus, fought both against the Catholic Church and against German dominance in the authorities. However, the Hussites were defeated, and in 1620 Bohemia and Moravia were declared provinces of the Habsburg Empire.

The First World War gave impetus to the national liberation movement and after the war, on October 18, 1918, the Republic of Czechoslovakia was proclaimed in Prague. During the interwar period, Czechoslovakia became one of the most developed countries in Eastern Europe. In 1938, Germany occupied the Sudetenland, and later Bohemia and Moravia, declaring them a German protectorate.

In 1945, Czechoslovakia was restored to its former borders (with the exception of the eastern region of Ruthenia, annexed to the Soviet Union). In 1990, the country was renamed the Czech and Slovak Federative Republics, but even then the trend towards the separation of the country intensified and on January 1, 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia became independent states. The Czech Republic is a member of the UN, GATT, WHO, an associate member of the EU.

In the 9th century, the Czechs converted to Christianity and around 900 founded the kingdom of Bohemia. In the second half of the 14th century, Bohemia reached its peak under King Charles 1 (aka Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV). At the beginning of the 15th century, the state was shaken by the “Hussite Wars”, whose leader, Jan Hus, fought both against the Catholic Church and against German dominance in the authorities. However, the Hussites were defeated, and in 1620 Bohemia and Moravia were declared provinces of the Habsburg Empire....

Popular Attractions

Czech Republic Tourism

Where to stay

The Czech Republic attracts tourists from all over the world with its famous balneological resorts, ancient cities, some of which are considered the most beautiful and romantic in the world, as well as good service in hotels. In this country you can find accommodation for every taste.

The classification of hotels here is the same as in other European countries - from one to five stars. The rank of the hotel must be confirmed every four years, so you can be sure that the service and star rating match. In addition, each hotel also has a corresponding designation indicating the type of accommodation - hotel, boarding house, etc.

In the Czech Republic, you will find fashionable hotels of one of the world's chains (Marriott, Hilton, Ibis), and hotels located in ancient castles and palaces, and private boarding houses, and hostels, and youth hotels. The cost of living depends both on the level of services provided and on the location relative to historical monuments and the city center.

Students and those tourists who prefer a budget vacation option can stay in a boarding house or guest house. Here you will be offered a comfortable stay - cozy clean rooms without frills, a private bathroom, breakfast. In addition, you can rent an apartment or stay in a private house. In the Czech Republic, during the summer holidays, you can stay in one of the student hostels. Less comfortable, but also the cheapest rooms are in former workers' hostels with a shared bathroom.

There are about 200 modern and well-equipped campsites in the Czech Republic. Here you can spend the night in a tent or a house, use running water, electricity, laundry services. On the territory of some there are also bars, shops.

For those who prefer unity with nature and a leisurely family vacation, accommodation is offered on one of the many farms, historic estates, and converted mills.

Popular hotels

Excursions and attractions in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. This is a country with a rich centuries-old history, ancient traditions and many interesting sights. Here you will find charming medieval towns, beautiful old castles, magnificent natural landscapes, famous mineral springs and, of course, traditional Czech cuisine and beer.

The heart of the country, its pearl and favorite place for tourists, of course, is its capital - an unusually beautiful city of Prague, spread out on picturesque hills, on the banks of the Vltava River. Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, which is simply impossible not to fall in love at first sight. It seems that time has no power over this magical city ... Its narrow cobbled streets, where the spirit of medieval Prague is so keenly felt, unique architectural structures that perfectly illustrate the culture and history of the city, as well as the cordiality and hospitality of the locals attract a huge number of tourists from all over peace. The main historical and architectural landmark of Prague is considered to be the majestic Prague Castle and, located on its territory, St. Vitus Cathedral is one of the best examples of the Gothic style in Europe. You should definitely visit the Tyn Church, Charles Bridge, the Old Town Hall on the square of the same name, Vysehrad, the Old Royal Palace, the Strahov Monastery, the Loreta Monastery, Wenceslas Square, the National Museum and take a walk along the famous Golden Lane (Golden Street). No less interesting are the Troja Castle, the Belvedere Royal Summer Palace, the Anezsky Monastery, the Basilica of St. George (George), the Maisel Synagogue, the Dancing House and the Prague Zoo (one of the largest in Europe). However, it is impossible to list all the sights of Prague, but you should definitely see them with your own eyes.

In the vicinity of the capital, the most interesting places are the Gothic Imperial Karlštejn Castle, located in an amazingly picturesque place on a huge rock above the Berounka River, the hunting castle of Czech kings Křivoklát, Konopiste Castle and the beautiful medieval town of Kutna Hora with a lot of attractions and its main shrine - St. Barbarians. On the outskirts of Kutná Hora, in the town of Sedlec, it is worth visiting the Chapel of All Saints or the so-called “Kostinitsa”, the impressive and somewhat frightening interior of which is made of human bones. Not far from Prague (only 65 km) is one of the most picturesque places in the Czech Republic - Makhovoe Lake.

The Czech Republic is famous for its huge number of beautiful old castles. Among the most famous and impressive masterpieces of medieval architecture (besides those mentioned above) are the castles of Orlik, Český Sternberg, Hluboka nad Vltavou, Zvikov, Detenice, Spilberk, Melnik, Kost, Sychrov, Žleby, Dobříš Palace and Krumlov Castle. Of particular interest are also the Lednice Castle and the Feldsberg Palace, combined into a single "Lednice-Valdice Cultural Complex" - a masterpiece of huge park design (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List).

The most famous resort in the Czech Republic, of course, is Karlovy Vary. The healing properties of the hot mineral springs of this resort have been legendary for centuries. In addition, it is a very beautiful and green city. The Teplice balneological resort (one of the oldest resorts in the Czech Republic), as well as the resorts of Marianske Lazne, Frantiskovy Lazne, Jáchymov, Bechyne, Jeseník, Podebrady, Luhacovice, etc. are especially popular. Winter sports enthusiasts should visit Harrachov, Spindleruv Mlyn and Pec pod Snezkou.

You will also find a lot of interesting sights in such beautiful Czech cities as Brno, Pilsen, Pardubice, Olomouc, Tabor and Liberec. Especially popular among nature lovers are the Czech Paradise reserves (the ruins of the Trosky fortress and the Kost castle are located on its territory), Bohemian Switzerland and the Moravian Karst.

Tips

In restaurants, tips do not exceed 10% of the total order value. So much for the taxi driver and the guide.

Visa

Office Hours

Grocery stores are open from 6 am. Department stores are open from 9 am to 6 pm on weekdays, and on Saturday until 1 pm Banks are open on weekdays from 9 am to 2 pm. Exchange offices are open until 18-20 hours, some work around the clock.

Museums and historical sites are closed to visitors on Monday and the day following holidays. Most finish work at 18:00, ticket sales stop an hour before closing. The Jewish Museum in Prague is closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.

Purchases

It is possible to recover VAT, which is 25% on most consumer goods (on services, gasoline and food products - 5%).

It is possible to get a discount on the purchased goods in the amount of VAT (up to 22%), subject to purchase from one seller within one day in the amount of 2.5 thousand kroons. The tourist must personally export the purchased goods outside the Czech Republic no later than 60 days from the date of purchase, having received a confirmation mark on the form of the document attached to the sales receipt. The right to a VAT refund is valid for 3 months, starting from the end of the calendar month in which the purchase was made. The quantity of goods must not exceed personal needs, and the goods themselves must be intended exclusively for personal consumption. VAT refunds are not made for food products, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, gasoline, etc.

Souvenirs

Tourists bring from the Czech Republic: alcoholic drinks, beer and beer glasses, the famous Becherovka and Slivovitz tinctures, absinthe; Czech waffles with different fillings; Bohemian crystal (vases, glasses, chandeliers); jewelry made of silver and garnet. The most unusual souvenir from Karlovy Vary is a salt rose. It is lowered into a spring, and, saturated with salts, it turns to stone. You can also buy jars of aromatic bath salts.

It is better to make purchases in stores and keep a sales receipt until you pass customs control.

Emergency Phones

Police - 156
Ambulance - 155
Fire protection - 150

National features of the Czech Republic. Traditions

In the Czech Republic, since January 1, 2006, it is forbidden to smoke at bus stops, as well as in public places, if they are not equipped with isolated places for smokers. Violators of the ban face a fine of 1,000 crowns ($41.90).

Questions and opinions about the Czech Republic

Karlovy Vary - Question-Answer

Yachimov - Question-Answer

Question answer

Cesky Krumlov - Q&A

Parliamentary republic The president
Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus
Jan Fischer Territory
Total
% water surface 114th in the world
78,866 km²
2 Population
Total ()
Density 79th in the world
10 403 100 people
129 people/km² GDP
total()
Per capita 41st in the world
211.698 billion
20 606 Currency Czech crown
(CZK, code 203) Internet domain Telephone code +420 Timezone UTC+1

Story

The Czech lands have been known since the end of the 9th century, when they were united by the Přemyslids. The Kingdom of Bohemia had considerable power, but religious conflicts (the Hussite Wars in the 15th century and the Thirty Years' War in the 17th century) devastated it. It later came under the influence of the Habsburgs and became part of Austria-Hungary.

As a consequence of the collapse of this state after the First World War, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Subcarpathian Rus united and formed the independent Republic of Czechoslovakia in 1918. This country had a large enough ethnic German minority that was the reason for the disbandment of Czechoslovakia when Germany secured the annexation of the Sudetenland as a result of the Munich Agreement of 1938, which led to the secession of Slovakia. The remaining Czech state was occupied by Germany in the (Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia).

Sights of the Czech Republic

Main article: Sights of the Czech Republic

Political structure

Main article: Political structure of the Czech Republic

According to the Constitution, the Czech Republic is a parliamentary democracy. The head of state (president) is indirectly elected every five years by parliament. The President is given special powers: to propose judges to the Constitutional Court, to dissolve parliament under certain conditions, to veto laws. He also appoints the prime minister, who sets the direction of domestic and foreign policy, as well as other members of the government cabinet on the advice of the prime minister.

Among all the post-communist states, the Czech Republic has one of the most stable and successful economic systems. Its basis is industry (mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and electronics, chemistry, food industry and ferrous metallurgy) and the service sector. The share of agriculture and forestry, as well as the mining industry, is insignificant and continues to decrease.

The monetary unit of the Czech Republic is the kroon (1 kroon = 100 hellers), which has been fully convertible since 1995. Unlike almost all other post-communist countries, the Czech Republic managed to avoid hyperinflation and sharp devaluations of the national currency. After some weakening of the crown in the late 90s. to date, its rate relative to the main world currencies has increased markedly.

Following the initial difficulties caused by the collapse of the CMEA, the division of the country and the change in the structure of the economy, and the subsequent growth of the Czech economy in 1997-1998. experienced a certain crisis, from which it began to emerge only from mid-1999. The result was an increase in foreign debt and a jump in unemployment. The crisis phenomena were overcome by increasing exports to market economy countries, primarily the European Union (and within its framework - Germany), attracting foreign investment and increasing domestic consumption. After joining the EU in May 2004, the economic growth of the Czech Republic accelerated markedly and, despite the largely populist economic policies of several governments of the Social Democrats, reached 6-7% per year. The share of industry in GDP, which reached 62% by 1990, having decreased by half at first, is now growing and reaches 38%, which is a rather rare occurrence among developed countries. Ferrous metallurgy and the military industry have lost their importance due to the automotive and electrical industries, thanks to the development of which the Czech Republic has had a positive foreign trade balance since 2004, despite the rapid rise in prices for imported energy carriers (oil and gas). In terms of foreign trade per capita, the country is one of the leaders, ahead of such countries as Japan, Great Britain, France or Italy.

Population

The building of the Consulate General in St. Petersburg

The basis of the population of the Czech Republic (95%) are ethnic Czechs and speakers of the Czech language, belonging to the group of West Slavic languages. Foreigners make up about 4% of the country's population. Among immigrants, the largest diaspora in the Czech Republic is Ukrainians, who at the end of 2007 lived in the country 126,500. In second place are Slovaks (67,880), many of whom, after the separation in 1993, remained in the Czech Republic and make up approximately 2% of the population. On the third - citizens of Vietnam (51,000). They are followed by citizens of Russia (23,300) and Poland (20,600). Other ethnic groups include Germans, Gypsies, Hungarians and Jews. The border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia is open to citizens of the former Czechoslovakia.

According to the language, the Czechs belong to the West Slavic peoples. The language of central Bohemia was put at the basis of the early works of Czech writing of the 13th-14th centuries. But as the influence in the country of the Catholic Church, German feudal lords and the patriciate of cities increased, the Czech language began to be subjected to oppression in favor of the German and Latin languages. But during the period of the Hussite wars, literacy and the literary Czech language became widespread among the masses. Then came the two-century decline of Czech culture under the rule of the Habsburgs, who pursued a policy of Germanizing the subject Slavic peoples (by the middle of the 19th century, 15% of the population spoke Czech, and the possibility of taking one of the Slavic languages, in particular the Russian literary language, was considered as a literary language). The Czech language began to revive only at the end of the 18th century, its basis was the literary language of the 16th century, which explains the presence of many archaisms in the modern Czech language, in contrast to the living spoken language. The spoken language is divided into several groups of dialects: Czech, Middle Moravian and East Moravian.

The Czech Republic is one of the densely populated states. The average population density is 130 people. per 1 sq. km. The distribution of the population on the territory of the republic is relatively even. The most densely populated are the areas of large urban agglomerations - Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Pilsen (up to 250 people per 1 sq. km). The regions of Cesky Krumlov and Prachatice have the minimum population density (about 37 people per 1 sq. km). As of 1991, there were 5,479 settlements in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic belongs to highly urbanized countries: about 71% of the population lives in cities and towns, while more than 50% live in cities with a population of over 20 thousand inhabitants, the share of the rural population continues to decline. The only metropolis in the Czech Republic is Prague, which has a permanent population of 1,188,000 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2006; the population of Prague has been slowly decreasing since 1985). As of 2006, the Czech Republic has 5 cities with a population of more than 100,000 inhabitants (Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Pilsen, Olomouc), 17 cities with a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants, and 44 cities with a population of more than 20,000 inhabitants.

The total population of the Czech Republic, having reached a post-war maximum in 1991 - 10,302 thousand people - then slowly decreased until 2003, when it amounted to just over 10,200 thousand people, but since then there has been a slight increase to 10,280 thousand pers. - mainly due to an increase in the flow of migrants (primarily from Ukraine, Slovakia, Vietnam, Russia, Poland and the countries of the former Yugoslavia). Natural population growth was negative in the period 1994-2005, in 2006 there is some positive growth due to an increase in the birth rate and a decrease in mortality. At the same time, the level of female fertility is still deeply insufficient for the reproduction of the population (about 1.2 children per 1 woman of reproductive age). In recent years, the Czech Republic has become one of the states with the lowest level of infant mortality (less than 4 per 1,000 births). Since 1990, there has been a steady decline in the number of abortions and induced abortions in the Czech Republic.

Most of the population - 71.2% - is in the productive age (from 15 to 65 years), while 14.4% of Czech citizens are under 15 years old, and 14.5% are over 65 years old. In the productive age, the number of men slightly exceeds the number of women, but in the post-productive age, women noticeably prevail (for every two women there is one man). The average age of the population of the Czech Republic is 39.3 years (women - 41.1 years, men - 37.5 years). Average life expectancy is 72.9 years for men and 79.7 years for women (as of 2006).

The majority of the adult population is married, although the proportion of singles is relatively high, with one in five men and one in eight women unmarried. Currently, men marry at 28 years old, women - at 26 years old, which is close to the European trend (for comparison: in 1993 these figures were 23 and 19 years, respectively). The first child appears in the family most often within 6 months after the wedding. Czech families are characterized by a high divorce rate. Currently, almost every second marriage ends in divorce, as a result of which almost 80% of all children under the age of 15 live in single-parent families. The average family size has decreased over the past 30 years from 3.5 to 2.2 people.

The economically active population is 51.5% of the total. A specific feature of the Czech Republic among other countries is the high level of employment of women, who make up about 48% of the total economically active population. Most women work in the service industries - health care, education, trade and catering. Most women work out of economic necessity in order to maintain the family's standard of living. The unemployment rate is 7.3% (November 2006), which is more than in 1990-1997. (3-5%), but noticeably less than in 1999-2004. (up to 10.5%).

A significant part of Czechs lives outside the Czech Republic - in Austria, Germany, USA, Canada, Australia and other countries. This is the result of economic migration in search of work, which took on noticeable proportions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and political emigration after the political upheaval of 1948 and the occupation of 1968.

Illiteracy in the Czech Republic is practically absent (occasionally found among older Roma). A high level of literacy was typical of Czechs even during the First Republic (1918-1938): at that time, about 95% of all residents had a basic education. In recent years, the level of education has increased markedly. Every third economically active resident of the Czech Republic has completed secondary education (corresponding to the level of 12-13 years of education), and every tenth citizen of the Czech Republic has or is receiving higher education. A typical worker has at least a secondary vocational training. The high qualification of Czech workers is one of the main advantages of the Czech economy. So far, the country lags behind the most developed European countries in terms of the proportion of the population with completed secondary and higher education.

culture

Orlik Castle

Main article: Culture of the Czech Republic

Famous people of the Czech Republic
Music of the Czech Republic
Cinema of the Czech Republic
Literature of the Czech Republic

Humanitarian organizations

Czech Red Cross(Czech. Český červený kříž, English Czech Red Cross)

The Czech Red Cross (ČKK) is a humanitarian organization operating throughout the Czech Republic. In its activities, the ChKK concentrates on humanitarian issues and the provision of medical and social assistance to the population.

Currently, the number of members of the ChKK reaches 70381 people working in 1712 local organizations.

The Czech Red Cross is the only internationally recognized National Red Cross Society in the Czech Republic that is recognized by the state. In accordance with the Geneva Conventions, the CHKK provides assistance and support to the medical service of the armed forces.

The status of the ČKK and its objectives are regulated by the Law on the Protection of the Emblem and Name of the Czech Red Cross and on the Czechoslovak Red Cross (Act No. 126/1992).

On August 26, 1993, the ChKK was recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and on October 25, 1993 admitted to membership in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The Czech Red Cross continues the activities of its predecessors - the Patriotic Society for Aid of the Czechoslovak Kingdom (Czech. "Vlastenecký pomocný spolek pro Království české", English. "Patriotic Society for Aid in the Czech Kingdom.") (founded on September 5, 1868) and the Czechoslovak Red Cross (founded February 6, 1919).

As an independent organization of the ChKK, after the division of the Czechoslovak Red Cross, it was registered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Czech Republic on June 10, 1993 (Ministerstvo vnitra ČR dne 10. 6. 1993 pod čj. VS / 1-20998 / 93-R)

Notes

Links

Information

Official portal of the Czech Republic (Russian) (Czech) (English) (German) (French) (Spanish)
Official portal of the Government of the Czech Republic (Czech)
Official website of the President of the Czech Republic (Czech) (English)
Official website of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic (Czech) (English)
Official website of the Senate of the Czech Republic (Czech) (English)
Train and bus timetables (Czech) (English) (German)
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Moscow (Russian) (English)

A few years ago, Prague earned the right to be called the center of European shopping. Local shops offer clothes and shoes at quite reasonable prices, even in the city center. On Wenceslas Square in the Czech capital, tourists will find dozens of shops with a varied assortment at affordable prices. Fans of designer clothes and luxury brands will be able to dress up on Paris Street. It is very profitable to find yourself in the Czech Republic during seasonal sales, prices are reduced by 2-3 times.

Goods from the Czech Republic are brought in a wide variety, first of all, of course, beer and the famous Becherovka and Slivovitz liqueurs, absinthe. Indispensable souvenirs - beer mugs of various shapes and sizes. The unique Bohemian crystal is in constant demand. Those with a sweet tooth stock up on delicious Czech waffles with fillings. Jewelery lovers will find beautiful pieces of silver and garnet here. When buying a magnificent Czech pomegranate, be sure to have a certificate confirming its authenticity.

Tourists are happy to buy ceramics, porcelain, lace. Fashionistas and fashionistas will not ignore the hats of the Tonak factory, which have been sewn here since the end of the 16th century. Many people buy here exact copies of headdresses of famous personalities, for example, Winston Churchill.

Ladies will not be able to pass by the amazing costume jewelry of the Preciosa factory, which is considered elite.

Children will be happy with a variety of toys - puppets, porcelain dolls in national clothes, and a plush mole, a famous cartoon character, will be especially delighted.

Women who want to get pregnant buy a figurine of baby Jesus, called Ezulatko, it will help a woman fulfill her dream and protect her child.

Healing salts are brought from Karlovy Vary, and romantics - an unusual and original souvenir - a salt rose soaked in salts of mineral waters and frozen forever. At the resorts, you can buy medical cosmetics and original utensils for drinking mineral water from the springs.

When purchasing expensive items, do not forget to keep receipts until customs control - they will prove that you do not export antiques.

A nice bonus - if you purchased goods for more than 100 € in stores with the Tax-free system, you will be refunded up to 25% of the purchase price, do not forget to fill out the necessary documents.

Kitchen

Beer is the hallmark of the Czech Republic. Sophisticated beer connoisseurs enjoy it in drinking establishments near breweries, for example, in Pilsen, Prague and Budjewice, and in the villages of Velkopopovice and Krušovice. In addition to breweries, many restaurants can also boast of brewing beer.

From May 16 to June 1, Prague becomes the Mecca of beer lovers, they come here for the beer festival. At this time, you can get acquainted with the taste and intoxicating qualities of more than 70 varieties of beer. The Czechs claim that their beer is as healing as their legendary mineral springs, and they drink it in impressive mugs at any time of the day.

Each type of beer has its own characteristic taste, so it is very difficult to single out any one that is best.

In ancient times, brewers settled at a distance of at least a mile from each other so as not to compete with each other. And if the public issued a verdict that some brewer had bad beer, then he was subjected to physical punishment and a serious fine. Thanks to such harsh measures, Czech beer has always been of excellent quality.

Beer in the Czech Republic is always served chilled to 6-10 degrees, it is believed that it is at this temperature that the intoxicating drink is tastier and more aromatic. The most common and famous varieties of Czech beer are Urgent Pilsner, Gambrinus, Staropramen, Krusovuce, Ferdinand. But in every institution they will consider it an honor to give the guest a taste of a unique variety prepared only here: nettle, cherry, wheat and even coffee beer.

Beer in the Czech Republic is not just a drink. It is used in the preparation of many dishes, soups, dough is kneaded on it and sauces are made from it.

The popularity of the Becherovka liqueur, infused with 42 herbs, has long gone beyond the borders of the Czech Republic. The liquor is named after the pharmacist Josef Becher, who created this drink in 1805 for medicinal purposes for use in diseases of the stomach. But the unique soft taste of the liquor was appreciated not only by the sick, and soon the drink became very popular. In its manufacture, only Karlovy Vary water is used.

The most popular spirits are plum vodka and 72% wormwood flavored absinthe.

Czech cuisine is quite diverse and has absorbed both elements of common European cuisine and national features. Tourists' favorite national dishes are goulash, fried sausages, onion or garlic stew, roast goose, meat rolls, sweet palachinka pancakes stuffed with chocolate mousse or jam. We also recommend trying stewed cabbage soup, soup baked in a loaf of bread, beef goulash with dumplings and the famous apple strudel. And with beer, take the famous bacon!

Czech cuisine is known for its flour products, especially dumplings. Dumplings can serve both as a side dish and as a separate dish stuffed with minced meat or jam. A popular Czech dish is pork with stewed cabbage and dumplings.

There is a funny attraction in Prague - a statue of two pissing men. Computer-controlled water jets bring out the phrases of famous Praguers.
The famous polka dance is not of Polish, but of Czech origin. The name is derived from the Czech word for "half", as the musical time signature of the dance is 2/4.
In Prague, you can take a walk along the Royal Way - here the Czech kings went "to work" and back.
Czech grammar is considered the most difficult in the world.
The highest point in the Czech Republic is Mount Sněžka with a height of 1602 meters.
The Czech Republic has the highest level of beer consumption per capita - 160 liters per person per year.
Prague Castle is the largest castle in the world.
Every year in June, from the 19th to the 21st, in the small town of Cesky Krumlov, a real carnival takes place in honor of the Five-petalled Rose, at which time the city plunges into the real era of the Middle Ages. From all over the country, historical costumes are brought here, in which all the townspeople dress up, from young to old. Tourists can also take part in costume events, torchlight processions, and buy unique souvenirs at the fair.

Information for tourists

To visit the Czech Republic you need a Schengen visa.

The country's currency is the Czech crown.

Grocery stores are open from 6 am, universal - from 9. Banks are open only on weekdays, and exchange offices are open daily.

Historical sites and museums are closed to the public on Mondays and the days following the holidays.

Czech time is 2 hours behind Moscow time.

Important - smoking is prohibited at bus stops and in public places in the country. The fine for violating the prohibition is 42 €.

When visiting cafes, bars and restaurants, it is customary to leave the same tip as elsewhere in Europe - no more than 10%.

You can import into the country no more than 200 cigarettes, a liter of strong alcohol and 2 liters of wine, no more than 50 ml of perfume or 250 ml of toilet water, medicines for personal consumption.

The Czech Republic is a completely safe country, the law and order in which is provided by numerous police officers. But, as in any major tourist centers, no one is immune from the theft of a wallet or valuables, so be vigilant.

Most of the streets in the historic centers are paved with paving stones, so it's wise to stock up on comfortable, low-heeled shoes.

When exploring cities on your own, be sure to purchase a map - not all buildings have numbers, and the map will allow you not to get lost and find the sights you need.

Transport

Intercity bus service is developed in the country. Bus passengers are required to wear seat belts.

There is also an extensive network of railways in the country; all major cities can be reached by train or train. 50% discount on children's ticket.

Drivers with international driving license and over 21 years of age can rent a car. You need to pay a deposit for the car. Remember to use your seat belts and turn on your headlights during the daytime.

You can travel around the cities by public transport, which runs exactly on schedule. Prague has a metro. When traveling by taxi, it is advisable to agree on a price with the driver in advance, in order to avoid mutual misunderstanding at the end of the route.

Hotels

Czech hotel service complies with European standards, its level is directly related to the category of the hotel. The rooms of hotels with one or two stars do not have bathrooms, they are shared by several rooms. Regardless of the category and size of the hotel, for breakfast you will always have muesli, coffee, tea, bagels with butter, cheese and several types of sausage.

Each hotel must confirm its rank once every 4 years, so hotel owners take care of the appropriate quality.

In the Czech Republic, there are fashionable hotels of world hotel chains, and youth hotels, and hostels, and private boarding houses, shelter can be found for any income, most importantly, in the midst of the tourist season, take care of accommodation in advance.

Lovers of antiquity can stay in romantic castle hotels with their ponds, gardens, royal rooms for the newlyweds. But the pleasure is not cheap - from 300 €.

In Prague, the cost of hotels is directly proportional to their proximity or distance from the center of the Czech capital.

There are more than 200 modern and well-equipped campsites at the disposal of travelers by car, with running water, electricity, and laundry on their territory.

Holidays

The most “main” holiday in the Czech Republic is Christmas, and the most fun and noisy holiday is Shrovetide (in the rural outback it is jointly celebrated by all the villagers). The holiday of the end of harvesting is called Dozhinok. In the south of Moravia, the beginning of autumn fishing is celebrated in numerous ponds, many of which are over 400 years old.

Public holidays include:

January 1 - New Year.
Good Friday.
Easter Monday.
May 1 - Labor Day (in the Czech Republic this day is called the "holiday of love").
May 8 - Day of the liberation of the Czech Republic from fascism.
July 5 - Day of the Slavic Apostles Cyril and Methodius.
July 6 - Memorial Day of Jan Hus.
October 28 - Independence Day. On this day in 1918, the Czechoslovak Republic was proclaimed in Prague.
December 25 and 26 - Christmas; on these days, shops are closed (and on December 24, on Christmas Eve, they are open only until 14.00).

How to get there

Several Aeroflot and Czech Airlines planes fly from Russia to the Czech Republic every day from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod. Yekaterinburg and other large cities. The most popular arrival cities are Prague, Brno, Karlovy Vary. Every day a train leaves for the Czech Republic from the Belorussky railway station in Moscow, the journey takes 32 hours.