Czech Republic Map

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country situated in Central Europe. It covers a total area of 30,450 square miles and the estimated population is 10,562,214. It is ranked as the third-most peaceful country in Europe.

The Czech Republic is bordered by Poland to the north-east, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south and Germany to the west and north-west.Prague is the national capital and is situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river. It has been the political, cultural and economic center of central Europe.

Czech Republic was initially known as Bohemia in the late ninth century. By the twelfth century, the principality of Bohemia was proclaimed as the Kingdom within the Holy Roman Empire. Years later in the nineteenth century, the Roman Empire collapsed and Czech Republic passed into the hands of the Austrian Empire and later Austria-Hungary. An absolute monarchy was established in the state by 1848.

Following the First World War, Czechoslovakia was formed as a separate state on October 28, 1918. The newly formed state adhered to the Communist doctrines. It was only in 1989, with the onset of the Velvet Revolution that democracy was established. On January 1, 1993, the country split into two parts: independent Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Today, the Czech Republic is a multi-party parliamentary representative democratic republic. The Prime Minister is the head of the government while the President is the formal head of the state with limited specific powers.

The Czech Republic is a developed, high-income economy. Principal industries are heavy and general machine-building, iron and steel, metal-working, electronics, textiles, glass, and pharmaceuticals. The major trading partners are Germany, Slovakia, Poland, France, Austria and Italy.

Religious places, historical sites, museums, and other destinations make Czech Republic one of the major tourist hot-spots in Europe. The capital city, Prague boasts of some of the most beautiful places in the world. It is known as the "Jewel in the Crown" of Europe. The Ore Mountains located at the border between German Saxony and Bohemia are a popular destination for rock climbers. Karlstejn Castle, Kutna Hora, Cesky Krumlov, and Lednice are the major tourist destinations in the country.




Last Update On : January 15, 2013