The Czech Republic

Size:	78 864 km2
Population:	10 300 000
Capital city:	Prague (Praha)
Establishment:	the republic
Official language:	czech
Currency:	1 Czech crown (Kc)=100 hallers
Nationalities:	Czech (8.4 million), Moravian (1.4 million) Slovak (300 000), Polish (60 000), Gypsies (33 000)
Principal religion:	Rome-catholic (39%)

Location:

The Czech Republic is situated in the heart of Europe, and borders with Slovakia, Austria, Germany and Poland. The Czech Republic consists of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia.

History:

• 40 - 10 000 B. C. - first people - Celtic
• 620s A. D. - first formation of state (Samo's Empire)
• 1. 1. 1993 - the rise of the Czech Republic

Czech best:

• the longest river - Vltava (433 km)
• the biggest lake - The Black Lake (Cerne jezero, 0.18 km²)
• the biggest pond - Rozmberk (4,89 km²)
• the biggest barrier - Lipno (48,7 km²)
• next sea - Balt sea
• the highest mountain - Snezka (1602 m above sea level)
• the biggest city - Prague (about 1 200 000 people)
• the bights national park - Sumava (685 km2)

The Czech Republic UNESCO sights:

• 1992 - Historic Centre of Prague
• 1992 - Historic Centre of Cesky Krumlov
• 1992 - Historic Centre of Telc
• 1994 - Pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk at Zelena Hora
• 1995 - Historical Town Centre of Kutna hora
• 1996 - Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape
• 1998 - Holasovice Historical Village Reservation
• 1998 - Gardens and Castle at Kromeríz
• 1999 - Litomysl Castle
• 2000 - Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc
• 2001 - Tugendhat Villa in Brno

State festivals in the Czech Republic:

• 1^st January - Day of renewal of the independent Czech Republic
• 1^st May - Day of Work
• 8^th May - The end of WW II. (1945)
• 5^th June - Day of Constantine and Method
• 6^th June - Day of Jan Hus (1415)
• 28^th September - Day of Czech statesmanship
• 28^th October - The Independence of the State of Czechoslovakia (1918)
• 17^th November - Day of Students' fight for freedom (1989)