Czech Republic

TheCzech Republic,also known asCzechia,and historically known asBohemia,is alandlocked countryinCentral Europe. The country is bordered byAustriato the south,Germanyto the west,Polandto the northeast, andSlovakiato the southeast.The Czech Republic has a hilly landscape that covers an area of 78,871 square kilometers (30,452 sq mi) with a mostly temperatecontinentalandoceanic climate. The capital and largest city isPrague; other major cities and urban areas includeBrno,Ostrava,PlzeňandLiberec.
TheDuchy of Bohemiawas founded in the late 9th century underGreat Moravia. It was formally recognized as anImperial Estateof theHoly Roman Empirein 1002 and becamea kingdomin 1198.Following theBattle of Mohácsin 1526, all of theLands of the Bohemian Crownwere gradually integrated into theHabsburg monarchy. Nearly a hundred years later, theProtestantBohemian Revoltled to theThirty Years' War. After theBattle of White Mountain, the Habsburgs consolidated their rule. With the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, the Crown lands became part of theAustrian Empire.
In the 19th century, theCzech landsbecame more industrialized; further, in 1918, most of the country became part of theFirst Czechoslovak Republicfollowing the collapse ofAustria-HungaryafterWorld War I.Czechoslovakia was the only country in Central and Eastern Europe to remain aparliamentary democracyduring the entirety of theinterwar period.After theMunich Agreementin 1938,Nazi Germanysystematicallytook controlover the Czech lands.Czechoslovakiawas restored in 1945 and three years later became anEastern Bloccommuniststate following acoup d'étatin 1948. Attempts to liberalize the government and economy were suppressed by aSoviet-led invasion of the country during thePrague Springin 1968. In November 1989, theVelvet Revolutionended communist rule in the country and restoreddemocracy. On 31 December 1992,Czechoslovakia was peacefully dissolved, with its constituent states becoming the independent states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The Czech Republic is aunitaryparliamentary republicanddeveloped countrywith anadvanced,high-incomesocial market economy. It is awelfare statewith aEuropean social model,universal health careandfree-tuitionuniversity education. It ranks 32nd in theHuman Development Index. The Czech Republic is a member of theUnited Nations,NATO, theEuropean Union, theOECD, theOSCE, theCouncil of Europeand theVisegrád Group.
The traditional English name "Bohemia" derives fromLatinBoiohaemum, which means "home of theBoii" (aGallictribe). The current English name ultimately comes from the Czech wordČech.The name comes from the Slavic tribe (Czech:Češi, Čechové) and, according to legend, their leaderČech, who brought them to Bohemia, to settle onŘípMountain. The etymology of the wordČechis uncertain, but according to the most common derivation can be traced back to theProto-Slavicroot*čel-, meaning "member of the people; kinsman", thus making itcognateto the Czech wordčlověk(a person).
The country has been traditionally divided into three lands, namelyBohemia(Čechy) in the west,Moravia(Morava) in the east, andCzech Silesia(Slezsko; the smaller, south-eastern part of historicalSilesia, most of which is located within modern Poland) in the northeast.Known as thelands of the Bohemian Crownsince the 14th century, a number of other names for the country have been used, includingCzech/Bohemian lands,Bohemian Crown,Czechia,and thelands of the Crown ofSaint Wenceslaus. When the country regained its independence after the dissolution of theAustro-Hungarian empirein 1918, the new name ofCzechoslovakiawas coined to reflect the union of the Czech and Slovak nations within one country.
After Czechoslovakia dissolved on the last day of 1992,Českowas adopted as the Czech short name for the new state and theMinistry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech RepublicrecommendedCzechiafor the English-language equivalent.This form was not widely adopted at the time, leading to the long nameCzech Republicbeing used in English in nearly all circumstances. The Czech governmentdirected use ofCzechiaas the official English short name in 2016.The short name has been listed by theUnited Nationsand is used by other organizations such as theEuropean Union,NATO,theCIA,Google Maps,and theEuropean Broadcasting Union.In 2022, the AmericanAP Stylebookstated in its entry on the country that "both [Czechia and the Czech Republic] are acceptable. The shorter name Czechia is preferred by the Czech government. If using Czechia, clarify in the story that the country is more widely known in English as the Czech Republic."
Archaeologists have found evidence of prehistoric human settlements in the area, dating back to thePaleolithicera.
In theclassical era, as a result of the 3rd century BCCelticmigrations, Bohemia became associated with theBoii.The Boii founded anoppidumnear the site of modern Prague.Later in the 1st century, the Germanic tribes of theMarcomanniandQuadisettled there.
Slavsfrom theBlack Sea–Carpathianregion settled in the area (their migration was pushed by an invasion of peoples fromSiberiaand Eastern Europe into their area:Huns,Avars,BulgarsandMagyars).In the sixth century, the Huns had moved westwards into Bohemia, Moravia, and some of present-day Austria and Germany.
During the 7th century, the Frankish merchantSamo, supporting the Slavs fighting against nearby settledAvars,became the ruler of the first documented Slavic state in Central Europe,Samo's Empire. The principality ofGreat Moravia, controlled byMoymir dynasty, arose in the 8th century.It reached its zenith in the 9th (during the reign ofSvatopluk I of Moravia), holding off the influence of the Franks. Great Moravia was Christianized, with a role being played by theByzantinemission ofCyril and Methodius. They codified theOld Church Slavoniclanguage, the first literary and liturgical language of theSlavs, and theGlagolitic script.
TheDuchy of Bohemiaemerged in the late 9th century when it was unified by thePřemyslid dynasty. Bohemia was from 1002 until 1806 anImperial Estateof theHoly Roman Empire.
In 1212,Přemysl Ottokar Iextracted theGolden Bull of Sicilyfrom the emperor, confirming Ottokar and his descendants' royal status; theDuchyof Bohemia was raised to aKingdom.German immigrantssettled in the Bohemian periphery in the 13th century.TheMongolsin theinvasion of Europecarried their raids intoMoraviabut were defensively defeated atOlomouc.
After a series of dynastic wars, theHouse of Luxembourggained the Bohemian throne.
Efforts for areform of the church in Bohemiastarted already in the late 14th century.Jan Hus' followers seceded from some practices of theRoman Churchand in theHussite Wars(1419–1434) defeated five crusades organized against them bySigismund. During the next two centuries, 90% of the population in Bohemia and Moravia were consideredHussites. The pacifist thinkerPetr Chelčickýinspired the movement of theMoravian Brethren(by the middle of the 15th century) that completely separated from the Roman Catholic Church.
On 21 December 1421,Jan Žižka, a successful military commander and mercenary, led his group of forces in theBattle of Kutná Hora, resulting in a victory for the Hussites. He is honoured to this day as anational hero.
After 1526, Bohemia came increasingly underHabsburgcontrol as the Habsburgs became first the elected and then in 1627 the hereditary rulers of Bohemia. Between 1583 and 1611 Prague was the official seat of the Holy Roman EmperorRudolf IIand his court.
TheDefenestration of Pragueand subsequent revolt against the Habsburgs in 1618 marked the start of theThirty Years' War. In 1620, the rebellion in Bohemia was crushed at theBattle of White Mountainand the ties between Bohemia and the Habsburgs' hereditary lands in Austria were strengthened. The leaders of theBohemian Revoltwereexecuted in 1621. The nobility and the middle class Protestants had to either convert to Catholicism or leave the country.
The following era of 1620 to the late 18th century became known as the "Dark Age". During the Thirty Years' War, the population of theCzech landsdeclined by a third through the expulsion of Czech Protestants as well as due to the war, disease andfamine.The Habsburgs prohibited all Christian confessions other thanCatholicism.The flowering ofBaroque cultureshows the ambiguity of this historical period.Ottoman TurksandTatarsinvaded Moravia in 1663.In 1679–1680 the Czech lands faced theGreat Plague of Viennaand an uprising of serfs.
There were peasant uprisings influenced by famine.Serfdomwas abolished between 1781 and 1848. Several battles of theNapoleonic Warstook place on the current territory of the Czech Republic.
The end of theHoly Roman Empirein 1806 led to degradation of the political status of Bohemia which lost its position of anelectorateof the Holy Roman Empire as well as its own political representation in theImperial Diet.Bohemian lands became part of theAustrian Empire. During the 18th and 19th century theCzech National Revivalbegan its rise, with the purpose to reviveCzech language, culture, and national identity. TheRevolution of 1848in Prague, striving for liberal reforms and autonomy of the Bohemian Crown within the Austrian Empire, was suppressed.
It seemed that some concessions would be made also to Bohemia, but in the end, the EmperorFranz Joseph Iaffected a compromise with Hungary only. TheAustro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867and the never realized coronation of Franz Joseph as King of Bohemia led to a disappointment of some Czech politicians.The Bohemian Crown lands became part of the so-calledCisleithania.
The Czech Social Democratic and progressive politicians started the fight for universal suffrage. The first elections underuniversal male suffragewere held in 1907.
In 1918, during the collapse of theHabsburg monarchyat the end of World War I, the independent republic ofCzechoslovakia, which joined the winning Allied powers, was created, withTomáš Garrigue Masarykin the lead.This new country incorporated theBohemian Crown.
TheFirst Czechoslovak Republiccomprised only 27% of the population of the former Austria-Hungary, but nearly 80% of the industry, which enabled it to compete with Western industrial states.In 1929 compared to 1913, the gross domestic product increased by 52% and industrial production by 41%. In 1938 Czechoslovakia held 10th place in the world industrial production.Czechoslovakia was the only country in Central and Eastern Europe to remain a liberal democracy throughout the entire 
interwar period.Although the First Czechoslovak Republic was aunitary state, it provided certain rights to its minorities, the largest beingGermans(23.6% in 1921), Hungarians (5.6%) and Ukrainians (3.5%).
Western Czechoslovakia wasoccupied by Nazi Germany, which placed most of the region into theProtectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The Protectorate was proclaimed part of the Third Reich, and the president and prime minister were subordinated to Nazi Germany'sReichsprotektor.One Nazi concentration campwas located within the Czech territory atTerezín, north of Prague. The vast majority of the Protectorate's Jews were murdered inNazi-run concentration camps. The NaziGeneralplan Ostcalled for the extermination, expulsion,Germanizationor enslavement of most or all Czechs for the purpose of providing moreliving spacefor the German people.There wasCzechoslovak resistance to Nazi occupationas well as reprisals against the Czechoslovaks for their anti-Nazi resistance. The German occupation ended on 9 May 1945, with the arrival of the Soviet and American armies and thePrague uprising.Most of Czechoslovakia's German-speakers were forcibly expelled from the country, first as a result of local acts of violence and then under the aegis of an "organized transfer" confirmed by the Soviet Union, the United States, and Great Britain at thePotsdam Conference.
In the1946 elections, theCommunist Partygained 38%of the votes and became the largest party in the Czechoslovak parliament, formed a coalition with other parties, and consolidated power. Acoup d'étatcame in 1948 and a single-party government was formed. For thenext 41 years, the Czechoslovak Communist state conformed toEastern Bloceconomic and political features.ThePrague Springpolitical liberalization was stopped by the 1968Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. Analysts believe that the invasion caused the communist movement to fracture, ultimately leading to the Revolutions of 1989.
In November 1989, Czechoslovakia again became a liberal democracy through theVelvet Revolution. However, Slovak national aspirations strengthened (Hyphen War) and on 31 December 1992, thecountry peacefully splitinto the independentcountriesof the Czech Republic andSlovakia. Both countries went through economic reforms andprivatizations, with the intention of creating amarket economy, as they have been trying to do since 1990, when Czechs and Slovaks still shared the common state. This process was largely successful; in 2006 the Czech Republic was recognized by the World Bank as a "developed country",and in 2009 theHuman Development Indexranked it as a nation of "Very High Human Development".
From 1991, the Czech Republic, originally as part of Czechoslovakia and since 1993 in its own right, has been a member of theVisegrád Groupand from 1995, theOECD. The Czech Republic joinedNATOon 12 March 1999 and theEuropean Unionon 1 May 2004. On 21 December 2007 the Czech Republic joined theSchengen Area.
Until 2017, either the centre-leftCzech Social Democratic Partyor the centre-rightCivic Democratic Partyled the governments of the Czech Republic. In October 2017, the populist movementANO 2011, led by the country's second-richest man,Andrej Babiš, won theelectionswith three times more votes than its closest rival, the Civic Democrats.In December 2017, Czech presidentMiloš Zemanappointed Andrej Babiš as the new prime minister.
In the2021 elections,ANO 2011was narrowly defeated andPetr Fialabecame the new prime minister.He formed a government coalition of the allianceSPOLU(Civic Democratic Party,KDU-ČSLandTOP 09) and the alliance ofPirates and Mayors. In January 2023, retired generalPetr Pavelwon thepresidential election, becoming new Czech president to succeed Miloš Zeman.Following the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country took in half a millionUkrainian refugees, the largest number per capita in the world.
The Czech Republic lies mostly between latitudes48°and51° Nand longitudes12°and19° E.
Bohemia, to the west, consists of a basin drained by theElbe(Czech:Labe) and theVltavarivers, surrounded by mostly low mountains, such as theKrkonošerange of theSudetes. The highest point in the country,Sněžkaat 1,603 m (5,259 ft), is located here. Moravia, the eastern part of the country, is also hilly. It is drained mainly by theMorava River, but it also contains the source of theOderRiver (Czech:Odra).
Water from the Czech Republic flows to three different seas: theNorth Sea,Baltic Sea, andBlack Sea. The Czech Republic also leases theMoldauhafen, a 30,000-square-meter (7.4-acre)lotin the middle of theHamburgDocks, which was awarded to Czechoslovakia by Article 363 of theTreaty of Versailles, to allow the landlocked country a place where goods transported down river could be transferred to seagoing ships. The territory reverts to Germany in 2028.
Phytogeographically, the Czech Republic belongs to the Central European province of theCircumboreal Region, within theBoreal Kingdom. According to theWorld Wide Fund for Nature, the territory of the Czech Republic can be subdivided into fourecoregions: theWestern European broadleaf forests,Central European mixed forests,Pannonian mixed forests, andCarpathian montane conifer forests.
There are fournational parksin the Czech Republic. The oldest isKrkonoše National Park(Biosphere Reserve), and the others areŠumava National Park(Biosphere Reserve),Podyjí National Park, andBohemian Switzerland.
The three historical lands of the Czech Republic (formerly some countries of the Bohemian Crown) correspond with the river basins of the Elbe and the Vltava basin for Bohemia, the Morava one for Moravia, and the Oder river basin for Czech Silesia (in terms of the Czech territory).
The Czech Republic has a temperate climate, situated in the transition zone between theoceanicandcontinental climatetypes, with warm summers and cold, cloudy and snowy winters. The temperature difference between summer and winter is due to the landlocked geographical position.
Temperatures vary depending on the elevation. In general, at higher altitudes, the temperatures decrease andprecipitationincreases. The wettest area in the Czech Republic is found aroundBílý PotokinJizera Mountainsand the driest region is theLouny Districtto the northwest ofPrague. Another factor is the distribution of the mountains.
At the highest peak ofSněžka(1,603 m or 5,259 ft), the average temperature is −0.4 °C (31 °F), whereas in the lowlands of theSouth Moravian Region, the average temperature is as high as 10 °C (50 °F). The country's capital, Prague, has a similar average temperature, although this is influenced by urban factors.
The coldest month is usually January, followed by February and December. During these months, there issnowin the mountains and sometimes in the cities and lowlands. During March, April, and May, the temperature usually increases, especially during April, when the temperature and weather tends to vary during the day. Spring is also characterized by higher water levels in the rivers, due to melting snow with occasional flooding.
The warmest month of the year is July, followed by August and June. On average, summer temperatures are about 20–30 °C (36–54 °F) higher than during winter. Summer is also characterized by rain and storms.
Autumn generally begins in September, which is still warm and dry. During October, temperatures usually fall below 15 °C (59 °F) or 10 °C (50 °F) anddeciduoustrees begin to shed their leaves. By the end of November, temperatures usually range around the freezing point.
The coldest temperature ever measured was inLitvínovicenearČeské Budějovicein 1929, at −42.2 °C (−44.0 °F) and the hottest measured, was at 40.4 °C (104.7 °F) inDobřichovicein 2012.
Mostrainfalls during the summer. Sporadic rainfall is throughout the year (in Prague, the average number of days per month experiencing at least 0.1 mm (0.0039 in) of rain varies from 12 in September and October to 16 in November) but concentrated rainfall (days with more than 10 mm (0.39 in) per day) are more frequent in the months of May to August (average around two such days per month).Severethunderstorms, producing damaging straight-line winds,hail, and occasionaltornadoesoccur, especially during the summer period.
As of 2020, the Czech Republic ranks as the 21st most environmentally conscious country in the world inEnvironmental Performance Index.It had a 2018Forest Landscape Integrity Indexmean score of 1.71/10, ranking it 160th globally out of 172 countries.The Czech Republic has four National Parks (Šumava National Park,Krkonoše National Park,České Švýcarsko National Park,Podyjí National Park) and 25 Protected Landscape Areas. The fauna of the Czech Republic includes a wide variety ofanimalspecies. Some species (especiallyendangeredones) are bred inreserves. Among the rare animals are, for example, eagles, ospreys, bustards, and storks.
The Czech Republic is a pluralist multi-partyparliamentaryrepresentative democracy. TheParliament(Parlament České republiky) is bicameral, with theChamber of Deputies(Czech:Poslanecká sněmovna, 200 members) and theSenate(Czech:Senát, 81 members).Themembers of the Chamber of Deputiesare elected for a four-year term byproportional representation, with a 5%election threshold. There are 14 voting districts, identical to the country's administrative regions. The Chamber of Deputies, the successor to theCzech National Council, has the powers and responsibilities of the now defunct federal parliament of the former Czechoslovakia. The members of the Senate are elected in single-seatconstituenciesby two-roundrunoff votingfor a six-year term, with one-third elected every even year in the autumn. This arrangement is modeled on theU.S. Senate, but each constituency is roughly the same size and the voting system used is a two-round runoff.
The president is a formal head of state with limited and specific powers, who appoints the prime minister, as well the other members of the cabinet on a proposal by the prime minister. From 1993 until 2012, thePresident of the Czech Republicwas selected by a joint session of the parliament for a five-year term, with no more than two consecutive terms (Václav HavelandVáclav Klauswere both elected twice). Since 2013, the president has been elected directly.Some commentators have argued that, with the introduction of direct election of the President, the Czech Republic has moved away from the parliamentary system and towards asemi-presidentialone.TheGovernment's exercise of executive power derives from theConstitution. The members of the government are thePrime Minister, Deputy prime ministers and other ministers. The Government is responsible to theChamber of Deputies.ThePrime Ministeris the head of government and wields powers such as the right to set the agenda for most foreign and domestic policy and choose government ministers.
The Czech Republic is aunitary state,with acivil law systembased on the continental type, rooted in Germanic legal culture. The basis of the legal system is theConstitution of the Czech Republicadopted in 1993.ThePenal Codeis effective from 2010. A newCivil codebecame effective in 2014. The court system includes district, county, and supreme courts and is divided into civil, criminal, and administrative branches. The Czech judiciary has atriumvirateof supreme courts. TheConstitutional Courtconsists of 15 constitutional judges and oversees violations of theConstitutionby either the legislature or by thegovernment.TheSupreme Courtis formed of 67 judges and is the court of highest appeal for mostlegal casesheard in the Czech Republic. TheSupreme Administrative Courtdecides on issues of procedural and administrative propriety. It also has jurisdiction over certain political matters, such as the formation and closure of political parties, jurisdictional boundaries between government entities, and the eligibility of persons to stand for public office.The Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court are both based inBrno, as is the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office.
The Czech Republic has ranked asone of the safest or most peaceful countriesfor the past few decades.It is a member of the United Nations, theEuropean Union,NATO,OECD,Council of Europeand is an observer to theOrganization of American States.The embassies of most countries with diplomatic relations with the Czech Republic are located inPrague, whileconsulatesare located across the country.
The Czech passport isrestricted by visas. According to the 2018Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index, Czech citizens have visa-free access to 173 countries, which ranks them 7th along withMaltaandNew Zealand.TheWorld Tourism Organizationranks the Czech passport 24th.The USVisa Waiver Programapplies to Czech nationals.
ThePrime MinisterandMinister of Foreign Affairshave primary roles in setting foreign policy, although thePresidentalso has influence and represents the country abroad. Membership in the European Union and NATO is central to the Czech Republic's foreign policy. TheOffice for Foreign Relations and Information(ÚZSI) serves as theforeign intelligenceagency responsible forespionageand foreign policy briefings, as well as protection of Czech Republic's embassies abroad.
The Czech Republic has ties withSlovakia,PolandandHungaryas a member of theVisegrád Group,as well as with Germany,Israel,the United Statesand theEuropean Unionand itsmembers. After 2020, relations with Asian democratic states, such asTaiwan, are being strengthened.Conversely, the Czech Republic has long had bad relations withRussia; from 2021, the Czech Republic appears on Russia's official list of enemy countries.The Czech Republic also has problematic relations withChina.
Czech officials have supported dissenters inBelarus,Moldova,MyanmarandCuba.
Famous Czech diplomats of the past includedJaroslav Lev of Rožmitál,Humprecht Jan Czernin, CountPhilip Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau,Wenzel Anton, Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg, PrinceKarl Philipp Schwarzenberg,Alois Lexa von Aehrenthal,Ottokar Czernin,Edvard Beneš,Jan Masaryk,Jiří Hájek,Jiří Dienstbier,Michael Žantovský,Petr Kolář,Alexandr Vondra, PrinceKarel SchwarzenbergandPetr Pavel.
TheCzech armed forcesconsist of theCzech Land Forces, theCzech Air Forceand of specialized support units. The armed forces are managed by theMinistry of Defence. ThePresident of the Czech RepublicisCommander-in-chiefof the armed forces. In 2004 the army transformed itself into a fully professional organization and compulsory military service was abolished. The country has been a member ofNATOsince 12 March 1999. Defence spending is approximately 1.28% of the GDP (2021).The armed forces are charged with protecting the Czech Republic and its allies, promoting global security interests, and contributing to NATO.
Currently, as a member of NATO, the Czech military are participating in theResolute SupportandKFORoperations and have soldiers inAfghanistan,Mali,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Kosovo,Egypt,IsraelandSomalia. The Czech Air Force also served in theBaltic statesandIceland.The main equipment of the Czech military includesJAS 39 Gripenmulti-role fighters,Aero L-159 Alcacombat aircraft,AH-1Z Viperattack helicopters, armored vehicles (Pandur II,BVP-2) and tanks (T-72M4CZandLeopard 2A4).
Human rights in the Czech Republic are guaranteed by theCharter of Fundamental Rights and Freedomsandinternational treatieson human rights. Nevertheless, there were cases of human rights violations such as discrimination against Roma children,for which theEuropean Commissionasked the Czech Republic to provide an explanation,or the illegal sterilization of Roma women,for which the government apologized.
People of the same sex can enter into a "registered partnership" in the Czech Republic. Conductingsame-sex marriageis not legal under current Czech law.
Since 2000, the Czech Republic has been divided intothirteen regions(Czech:kraje, singularkraj) and the capital city ofPrague. Every region has its own elected regional assembly and a regional governor. In Prague, the assembly and presidential powers are executed by the city council and the mayor.
The older seventy-sixdistricts(okresy, singularokres) including three "statutory cities" (without Prague, which had special status) lost most of their importance in 1999 in an administrative reform; they remain as territorial divisions and seats of various branches of state administration.
The smallest administrative units areobce(municipalities). As of 2021, the Czech Republic is divided into 6,254 municipalities. Cities and towns are also municipalities. The capital city of Prague is a region and municipality at the same time.
The Czech Republic has adeveloped,high-incomeexport-orientedsocial market economybased in services, manufacturing and innovation, that maintains awelfare stateand theEuropean social model.The Czech Republic participates in theEuropean Single Marketas a member of theEuropean Unionand is therefore a part of theeconomy of the European Union, but uses its own currency, theCzech koruna, instead of theeuro. It has a per capita GDP rate that is 91% of the EU averageand is a member of theOECD.Monetary policyis conducted by theCzech National Bank, whose independence is guaranteed by theConstitution. The Czech Republic ranks 12th in theUNinequality-adjusted human developmentand 24th inWorld Bank Human Capital Index. It was described byThe Guardianas "one of Europe's most flourishing economies".
As of 2023, the country'sGDP per capitaatpurchasing power parityis $51,329and $29,856 atnominal value.According to Allianz A.G., in 2018 the country was an MWC (mean wealth country), ranking 26th in net financial assets.The country experienced a 4.5%GDP growthin 2017.The 2016unemploymentrate was the lowest in the EU at 2.4%,and the 2016 poverty rate was the second lowest of OECD members.Czech Republic ranks 27th in the 2021Index of Economic Freedom,30th in the 2024Global Innovation Index,29th in theGlobal Competitiveness Report,and 25th in theGlobal Enabling Trade Report.The Czech Republic has a diverse economy thatranks 7thin the 2016Economic Complexity Index.The industrial sector accounts for 37.5% of the economy, while services account for 60% and agriculture for 2.5%.The largest trading partner for both export and import isGermanyand the EU in general. Dividends worth CZK 270 billion were paid to theforeign ownersof Czech companies in 2017, which has become a political issue.The country has been a member of theSchengen Areasince 1 May 2004, having abolished border controls, completely opening its borders with all of its neighbors on 21 December 2007.
In 2018thelargest companiesby revenue in the Czech Republic were: automobile manufacturerŠkoda Auto, utility companyČEZ Group, conglomerateAgrofert, energy trading companyEPH, oil processing companyUnipetrol, electronics manufacturerFoxconn CZand steel producerMoravia Steel.Other Czech transportation companies include:Škoda Transportation(tramways, trolleybuses, metro),Tatra(heavy trucks, the second oldest car maker in the world),Avia(medium trucks),KarosaandSOR Libchavy(buses),Aero Vodochody(military aircraft),Let Kunovice(civil aircraft),Zetor(tractors),Jawa Moto(motorcycles) andČezeta(electric scooters).
Škoda Transportation is the fourth largesttramproducer in the world; nearly one third of all trams in the world come from Czech factories.The Czech Republic is also the world's largestvinyl recordsmanufacturer, withGZ Mediaproducing about 6 million pieces annually inLoděnice.Česká zbrojovkais among the ten largestfirearmsproducers in the world and five who produce automatic weapons.
In thefood industry, Czech companies includeAgrofert,KofolaandHamé.
Production of Czech electricity exceeds consumption by about 10TWhper year, the excess being exported.Nuclear powerpresently provides about 30 percent of the total power needs, its share is projected to increase to 40 percent. In 2005, 65.4 percent of electricity was produced by steam and combustion power plants (mostly coal); 30 percent by nuclear plants; and 4.6 percent came from renewable sources, including hydropower. The largest Czech power resource isTemelín Nuclear Power Station, with another nuclear power plant inDukovany.
The Czech Republic is reducing its dependence on highly polluting low-gradebrown coalas a source of energy. Natural gas is purchased fromNorwegiancompanies and as liquefied gas LNG from theNetherlandsandBelgium. In the past, three-quarters of gas supplies came fromRussia, but after the start of the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the government gradually stopped these supplies.Gas consumption (approx. 100 TWh in 2003–2005) is almost double electricity consumption. South Moravia has smalloil and gas deposits.
As of 2020,the road network in the Czech Republic is 55,768.3 kilometers (34,652.82 mi) long, out of which 1,276.4 km (793.1 mi) are motorways.Thespeed limitis 50 km/h (31 mph) within towns, 90 km/h (56 mph) outside of towns and 130 km/h (81 mph) on motorways.
The Czech Republic has one of thedensest rail networks in the world. As of 2020,the country has 9,542 kilometers (5,929 mi) of lines. Of that number, 3,236 km (2,011 mi) is electrified, 7,503 km (4,662 mi) are single-line tracks and 2,040 km (1,270 mi) are double and multiple-line tracks.The length of tracks is 15,360 km (9,540 mi), out of which 6,917 km (4,298 mi) is electrified.
České dráhy(the Czech Railways) is the main railway operator in the country, with about 180 million passengers carried yearly. Maximum speed is limited to 160 km/h (99 mph).
Václav Havel Airportin Prague is the main international airport in the country. In 2019, it handled 17.8 million passengers.In total, the Czech Republic has91 airports, six of which provide international air services. The public international airports are inBrno,Karlovy Vary,Mnichovo Hradiště,Mošnov(nearOstrava),Pardubiceand Prague.The non-public international airports capable of handling airliners are inKunoviceandVodochody.
Russia (via pipelines through Ukraine) and, to a lesser extent, Norway (via pipelines through Germany) supply the Czech Republic with liquid and natural gas.
The Czech Republic ranks in the top 10 countries worldwide with the fastest average internet speed.By the beginning of 2008, there were over 800 mostly localWISPs,with about 350,000 subscribers in 2007. Plans based on eitherGPRS,EDGE,UMTSorCDMA2000are being offered by all three mobile phone operators (T-Mobile,O2,Vodafone) and internet provider U:fon. Government-ownedČeský Telecomslowed down broadband penetration. At the beginning of 2004,local-loop unbundlingbegan and alternative operators started to offerADSLand alsoSDSL. This and later privatization of Český Telecom helped drive down prices.
On 1 July 2006, Český Telecom was acquired by globalized company (Spain-owned) Telefónica group and adopted the new nameTelefónica O2 Czech Republic. As of 2017, VDSL and ADSL2+ are offered in variants, with download speeds of up to 50 Mbit/s and upload speeds of up to 5 Mbit/s. Cable internet is gaining more popularity with its higher download speeds ranging from 50 Mbit/s to 1 Gbit/s.
Twocomputer securitycompanies,AvastandAVG, were founded in the Czech Republic. In 2016, Avast led byPavel Baudišbought rival AVG forUS$1.3 billion, together at the time, these companies had a user base of about 400 million people and 40% of the consumer market outside of China.Avast is the leading provider of antivirus software, with a 20.5% market share.
Pragueis the fifth most visited city in Europe after London, Paris, Istanbul and Rome.In 2001, the total earnings from tourism reached 118 billionCZK, making up 5.5% of the country'sGNPand 9% of its overall export earnings. The industry employs more than 110,000 people – over 1% of the population.Guidebooks and tourists reporting overcharging by taxi drivers and pickpocketing problems talk mainly about Prague, though the situation has improved recently.Since 2005, Prague's mayor,Pavel Bém, has worked to improve this reputation by cracking down on petty crimeand, aside from these problems, Prague is a "safe" city.The Czech Republic's crime rate is described by the United States State department as "low".
The Czech Republic boasts17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 3 of them being transnational. As of 2024, further 13 sites are on the tentative list.
Architectural heritage is an object of interest to visitors – it includescastles and châteauxfrom different historical epochs, namelyKarlštejnCastle,Český Krumlovand theLednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape. There are 12cathedralsand 15 churches elevated to the rank ofbasilicaby the Pope, as well as many monasteries.
Away from the towns, areas such asBohemian Paradise,Bohemian Forestand theGiant Mountainsattract visitors seeking outdoor pursuits.
The country is also known for its variousmuseums,puppetryandmarionetteexhibitions that take part within larger puppetfestivals, andbeer festivals.Aquapalace PragueinČestliceis the largestwater parkin the country.
The Czech lands have a long and well-documented history of scientific innovation.Today, the Czech Republic has a highly sophisticated, developed, high-performing, innovation-oriented scientific community supported by the government,industry,and leadinguniversities.Czech scientists are embedded members of the global scientific community.They contribute annually to multiple international academic journals and collaborate with their colleagues across boundaries and fields.The Czech Republic was ranked 24th in theGlobal Innovation Indexin 2020 and 2021, up from 26th in 2019.
Historically, the Czech lands, especiallyPrague, have been the seat of scientific discovery going back to early modern times, includingTycho Brahe,Nicolaus Copernicus, andJohannes Kepler. In 1784 the scientific community was first formally organized under the charter of theRoyal Czech Society of Sciences. Currently, this organization is known as theCzech Academy of Sciences.Similarly, the Czech lands have a well-established history of scientists,including Nobel laureates biochemistsGertyandCarl Ferdinand Cori, chemistsJaroslav Heyrovský(inventor ofpolarography,electroanalytical chemistryand recipient of the Nobel Prize) andOtto Wichterle(chemistsresponsible for the invention of the moderncontact lensand silon-synthetic fiber), physicistsErnst Mach(physicist and critic of Newton's theories of space and time, foreshadowing Einstein's theory of relativity) andPeter Grünberg, physiologistJan Evangelista Purkyněand chemistAntonín Holý(scientist and chemist, in 2009 was involved in creation of the most effective drug in the treatment of AIDS),.Sigmund Freud, the founder ofpsychoanalysis, was born inPříbor,Gregor Mendel, the founder ofgenetics, was born inHynčiceand spent most of his life inBrno,logician and mathematicianKurt Gödelwas born in Brno.
Other famous Czech scientists include:Stanislav Brebera(inventor of theplastic explosiveSemtex),Václav Prokop Diviš(inventor of the first groundedlightning rod),Jakub Husník(improved the process ofphotolithography),Jan Janský(serologist and neurologist, discovered theABO blood groups),Karel Klíč(painter and photographer, inventor of thephotogravure),František Křižík(electrical engineer, inventor of thearc lamp),Jan Marek Marci(mathematician, physicist and imperial physician, one of the founders ofspectroscopy),Vladimír Remek(the first person outside of the Soviet Union and the United States to go into space),Jakub Kryštof Rad(inventor ofsugarcubes),Josef Ressel(inventor of thescrew propellerandmodern compass).
Historically, most scientific research was recorded in Latin, but from the 18th century onwards increasingly in German and Czech, archived in libraries supported and managed by religious groups and other denominations as evidenced by historical locations of international renown and heritage such as theStrahov Monasteryand theClementinuminPrague. Increasingly, Czech scientists publish their work and that of their history in English.
The current important scientific institution is the already mentionedAcademy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, theCEITECInstitute inBrnoor theHiLASEandEli Beamlinescenters with the most powerful laser in the world inDolní Břežany. Prague is the seat of the administrative center of the GSA Agency operating the European navigation systemGalileoand theEuropean Union Agency for the Space Programme.
Thetotal fertility rate(TFR) in 2020 was estimated at 1.71 children per woman, which is below the replacement rate of 2.1.The Czech Republic's population has an average age of 43.3 years.The life expectancy in 2021 was estimated to be 79.5 years (76.55 years male, 82.61 years female).About 77,000 people immigrate to the Czech Republic annually.Vietnameseimmigrants began settling in the country during the Communist period, when they were invited asguest workersby the Czechoslovak government.In 2009, there were about 70,000 Vietnamese in the Czech Republic.Most decide to stay in the country permanently.
According to results of the 2021 census, the majority of the inhabitants of the Czech Republic areCzechs(57.3%), followed byMoravians(3.4%),Slovaks(0.9%),Ukrainians(0.7%),Viets(0.3%),Poles(0.3%),Russians(0.2%),Silesians(0.1%) andGermans(0.1%). Another 4.0% declared combination of two nationalities (3.6% combination of Czech and other nationality). As the 'nationality' was an optional item, a number of people left this field blank (31.6%).According to some estimates, there are about 250,000Romani peoplein the Czech Republic.ThePolish minorityresides mainly in theTrans-Olzaregion.
There were 658,564 foreigners residing in the country in 2021,according to theCzech Statistical Office, with the largest groups beingUkrainian(22%),Slovak(22%),Vietnamese(12%),Russian(7%) andGerman(4%). Most of the foreign population lives in Prague (37.3%) and Central Bohemia Region (13.2%).
TheJewishpopulation of Bohemia and Moravia, 118,000 according to the 1930 census, was nearly annihilated by the Nazi Germans duringthe Holocaust.There were approximately 3,900 Jews in the Czech Republic in 2021.The former Czech prime minister,Jan Fischer, is of Jewish faith.
Nationality of residents, who answered the question in the Census 2021:
About 75%to 79%of residents of the Czech Republic do not declare having any religion or faith in surveys, and the proportion of convincedatheists(30%) is the third highest in the world behind those ofChina(47%) andJapan(31%).TheCzech peoplehave been historically characterized as "tolerant and even indifferent towards religion".The religious identity of the country has changed drastically since the first half of the 20th century, when more than 90% ofCzechswere Christians.
Christianization in the 9th and 10th centuries introducedChristianity. After theBohemian Reformation, most Czechs becamefollowersofJan Hus,Petr Chelčickýand other regionalProtestant Reformers.TaboritesandUtraquistswereHussitegroups. Towards the end of theHussite Wars, the Utraquists changed sides and allied with the Roman Catholic Church. Following the joint Utraquist—Roman Catholic victory, Utraquism was accepted as a distinct form of Christianity to be practiced inBohemiaby the Roman Catholic Church while all remaining Hussite groups were prohibited. After theReformation, some Bohemians went with theteachings of Martin Luther, especiallySudeten Germans. In the wake of the Reformation, Utraquist Hussites took a renewed increasinglyanti-Catholicstance, while some of the defeated Hussite factions were revived. After theHabsburgsregained control of Bohemia, the whole population was forcibly converted to Roman Catholicism—even the Utraquist Hussites. Going forward, Czechs have become more wary and pessimistic of religion as such. A history of resistance to the Roman Catholic Church followed. It suffered a schism with the neo-HussiteCzechoslovak Hussite Churchin 1920, lost the bulk of its adherents during the Communist era and continues to lose in the modern, ongoingsecularization. Protestantism never recovered after theCounter-Reformationwas introduced by theAustrian Habsburgsin 1620. Prior to the Holocaust, the Czech Republic had a sizable Jewish community of around 100,000. There are many historically important and culturally relevant Synagogues in the Czech Republic such as Europe's oldest active Synagogue,The Old New Synagogueand the second largest Synagogue in Europe, theGreat Synagogue (Plzeň). The Holocaust decimated Czech Jewry and the Jewish population as of 2021 is 3,900.
According to the 2011 census, 34% of the population stated they had no religion, 10.3% were Roman Catholic, 0.8% wereProtestant(0.5%Czech Brethrenand 0.4%Hussite),and 9% followed other forms of religion both denominational or not (of which 863 people answered they arePagan). 45% of the population did not answer the question about religion.From 1991 to 2001 and further to 2011 the adherence to Roman Catholicism decreased from 39% to 27% and then to 10%; Protestantism similarly declined from 3.7% to 2% and then to 0.8%.The Muslim population is estimated to be 20,000 representing 0.2% of the population.
The proportion of religious believers varies significantly across the country, from 55% inZlín Regionto 16% inÚstí nad Labem Region.
Education in the Czech Republic is compulsory for nine years and citizens have access to afree-tuitionuniversity education, while the average number of years of education is 13.1.Additionally, the Czech Republic has a "relatively equal" educational system in comparison with other countries in Europe.Founded in 1348,Charles Universitywas the first university inCentral Europe. Other major universities in the country areMasaryk University,Czech Technical University,Palacký University,Academy of Performing ArtsandUniversity of Economics.
TheProgramme for International Student Assessment, coordinated by theOECD, currently ranks the Czech education system as the 15th most successful in the world, higher than the OECD average.The UNEducation Indexranks the Czech Republic 10th as of 2013(positioned behindDenmarkand ahead ofSouth Korea).
Health care in the Czech Republic is similar in quality to that of other developed nations. The Czechuniversal health caresystem is based on acompulsory insurance model, withfee-for-servicecare funded by mandatory employment-related insurance plans.According to the 2016Euro health consumer index, a comparison ofhealthcare in Europe, the Czech healthcare is 13th, ranked behindSwedenand two positions ahead of theUnited Kingdom.
Venus of Dolní Věstoniceis an important example of prehistoric art unearthed in the Czech Republic.Theodoric of Praguewas a painter in the Gothic era who decorated the castleKarlštejn. In the Baroque era, there were paintersWenceslaus Hollar,Jan Kupecký,Karel Škréta,Anton Raphael MengsandPetr Brandland sculptorsMatthias BraunandFerdinand Brokoff.
In the first half of the 19th century,Josef Mánesjoined the romantic movement. In the second half the so-called "National Theatre generation" rose to prominence: sculptorJosef Václav Myslbekand paintersMikoláš Aleš,Václav Brožík,Vojtěch HynaisandJulius Mařák. At the end of the century cameArt Nouveau, withAlfons Muchabecoming its main representative. He is known for his Art Nouveau posters and a cycle of 20 large canvases namedthe Slav Epic, which depicts the history of Czechs and otherSlavs. As of 2012, it can be seen in the Veletržní Palace of theNational Gallery in Prague, which manages the largest collection of art in the Czech Republic.Max Švabinskýwas another Art Nouveau painter.
The 20th century brought anavant-garderevolution, represented in the Czech lands mainly by expressionists and cubists:Josef Čapek,Emil Filla,Bohumil KubištaorJan Zrzavý. Surrealism emerged particularly through the work ofToyen,Josef ŠímaandKarel Teige. In the world, however, the most well-known Czech avant-garde artist might beFrantišek Kupka, a pioneer of abstract painting. Illustrators and cartoonists to gain fame in the first half of the 20th century includeJosef Lada,Zdeněk BurianorEmil Orlík. Art photography became a new field represented byFrantišek Drtikol,Josef Sudek, laterJan SaudekandJosef Koudelka.
The Czech Republic is also known for its individually made, mouth-blown, and decoratedBohemian glass.
The earliest preserved stone buildings in Bohemia and Moravia date back to the time of theChristianizationin the 9th and 10th centuries. Since the Middle Ages, the Czech lands have been using the same architectural styles as most ofWesternand Central Europe. The oldest still standing churches were built in theRomanesque style. During the 13th century, it was replaced by theGothic style. In the 14th century, Emperor Charles IV invited architects from France and Germany,Matthias of ArrasandPeter Parler, to his court in Prague. During the Middle Ages, some fortified castles were built by the king and aristocracy, as well as some monasteries.
TheRenaissance stylepenetrated the Bohemian Crown in the late 15th century when the older Gothic style started to be mixed with Renaissance elements. An example of pure Renaissance architecture in Bohemia is theQueen Anne's Summer Palace, which was situated in the garden ofPrague Castle. Evidence of the general reception of the Renaissance in Bohemia, involving an influx of Italian architects, can be found in spacious chateaus with arcade courtyards and geometrically arranged gardens.Emphasis was placed on comfort, and buildings that were built for entertainment purposes also appeared.
In the 17th century, the Baroque style spread throughout the Crown of Bohemia.
In the 18th century, Bohemia produced an architectural peculiarity – theBaroque Gothic style, a synthesis of the Gothic and Baroque styles.
During the 19th century stands therevival architectural styles. Some churches were restored to their presumed medieval appearance and there were constructed buildings in theNeo-Romanesque,Neo-GothicandNeo-Renaissancestyles. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the new art style appeared in the Czech lands –Art Nouveau.
Bohemia contributed an unusual style to the world's architectural heritage when Czech architects attempted to transpose theCubismof painting and sculpture into architecture.
Between World Wars I and II,Functionalism, with its sober, progressive forms, took over as the main architectural style.
After World War II and the Communist coup in 1948, art in Czechoslovakia became Soviet-influenced. The Czechoslovak avant-garde artistic movement is known as theBrussels stylecame upin the time of political liberalization of Czechoslovakia in the 1960s.Brutalismdominated in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Czech Republic is not shying away from the more modern trends of international architecture, an example is theDancing House (Tančící dům)in Prague,Golden Angelin Prague or Congress Centre in Zlín.
The literature from the area of today's Czech Republic was mostly written in Czech, but also inLatinand German or evenOld Church Slavonic.Franz Kafka, although a competent user of Czech, wrote in his mother tongue, German.His works includeThe TrialandThe Castle.
In the second half of the 13th century, the royal court in Prague became one of the centers of GermanMinnesangand courtly literature. The Czech German-language literature can be seen in the first half of the 20th century.
Bible translationsplayed a role in the development of Czech literature. The oldest Czech translation of thePsalmsoriginated in the late 13th century and the first complete Czech translation of the Bible was finished around 1360. The first complete printed Czech Bible was published in 1488. The first complete Czech Bible translation from the original languages was published between 1579 and 1593. TheCodex Gigasfrom the 12th century is the largest extant medieval manuscript in the world.
Czech-language literature can be divided into several periods: the Middle Ages; the Hussite period; theRenaissance humanism; the Baroque period; the Enlightenment and Czech reawakening in the first half of the 19th century, modern literature in the second half of the 19th century; the avant-garde of the interwar period; the years under Communism; and the Czech Republic.
The antiwar comedy novelThe Good Soldier Švejkis the most translated Czech book in history.
The international literary award theFranz Kafka Prizeis awarded in the Czech Republic.
The Czech Republic has the densest network of libraries in Europe.
Czech literature and culture played a role on at least two occasions when Czechs lived under oppression and political activity was suppressed. On both of these occasions, in the early 19th century and then again in the 1960s, the Czechs used their cultural and literary effort to strive for political freedom, establishing a confident, politically aware nation.
The musical tradition of the Czech lands arose from the first church hymns, whose first evidence is suggested at the break of the 10th and 11th centuries. Some pieces of Czech music include two chorales, which in their time performed the function of anthems: "Lord, Have Mercy on Us" and thehymn"Saint Wenceslaus" or "Saint Wenceslaus Chorale".The authorship of the anthem "Lord, Have Mercy on Us" is ascribed by some historians toSaint Adalbert of Prague(sv.Vojtěch), bishop ofPrague, living between 956 and 997.
The wealth of musical culture lies in the classical music tradition during all historical periods, especially in theBaroque,Classicism, Romantic,modern classicalmusic and in thetraditionalfolk music of Bohemia, Moravia andSilesia. Since the early era of artificial music, Czech musicians and composers have been influenced the folk music of the region and dance.
Czech music can be considered to have been "beneficial" in both the European and worldwide context, several times co-determined or even determined a newly arriving era in musical art,above all ofClassicalera, as well as by original attitudes inBaroque,Romanticandmodern classicalmusic. Some Czech musical works areThe Bartered Bride,New World Symphony,SinfoniettaandJenůfa.
A music festival in the country isPrague Spring International Music Festivalof classical music, a permanent showcase for performing artists, symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles of the world.
The roots of Czech theatre can be found in the Middle Ages, especially in the cultural life of theGothic period. In the 19th century, the theatre played a role in the national awakening movement and later, in the 20th century, it became a part of modern European theatre art. The original Czech cultural phenomenon came into being at the end of the 1950s. This project calledLaterna magika, resulting in productions that combined theater, dance, and film in a poetic manner, considered the firstmultimedia artproject in an international context.
One drama isKarel Čapek's playR.U.R., which introduced the word "robot".
The country has a tradition ofpuppet theater. In 2016,Czech and Slovak Puppetrywas included on theUNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.
The tradition of Czech cinematography started in the second half of the 1890s. Peaks of the production in the era of silent movies include the historical dramaThe Builder of the Templeand the social and erotic dramaErotikondirected byGustav Machatý.The early Czechsound filmera was productive, above all in mainstream genres, with the comedies ofMartin FričorKarel Lamač. There were dramatic movies sought internationally.
Hermína Týrlováwas a prominent Czech animator, screenwriter, and film director. She was often called the mother of Czech animation. Over the course of her career, she produced over 60 animated children's short films using puppets and the technique of stop motion animation.
Before the German occupation, in 1933, filmmaker and animatorIrena Dodalová[cs]established the first Czech animation studio "IRE Film" with her husband Karel Dodal.
After the period of Nazi occupation and early communist official dramaturgy of socialist realism in movies at the turn of the 1940s and 1950s with fewer exceptions such asKrakatitorMen without wings(awarded byPalme d'Orin 1946), an era of the Czech film began with animated films, performed in anglophone countries under the name "The Fabulous World of Jules Verne" from 1958, which combined acted drama with animation, andJiří Trnka, the founder of the modern puppet film.This began a tradition of animated films (Moleetc.).
In the 1960s, the hallmark ofCzechoslovak New Wave's films were improviseddialogues,blackandabsurdhumor and the occupation of non-actors. Directors are trying to preserve natural atmosphere without refinement and artificial arrangement of scenes. A personality of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s with original manuscript and psychological impact isFrantišek Vláčil. Another international author isJan Švankmajer, a filmmaker and artist whose work spans several media. He is a self-labeledsurrealistknown for animations and features.
TheBarrandov Studiosin Prague are the largest film studios with film locations in the country.Filmmakers have come toPragueto shoot scenery no longer found in Berlin, Paris and Vienna. The city ofKarlovy Varywas used as a location for the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale.
TheCzech Lionis the highest Czech award for film achievement.Karlovy Vary International Film Festivalis one of the film festivals that have been given competitive status by theFIAPF. Other film festivals held in the country includeFebiofest,Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival,One World Film Festival,Zlín Film FestivalandFresh Film Festival.
Czech journalists and media enjoy a degree offreedom. There are restrictions against writing in support ofNazism, racism or violatingCzech law. The Czech press was ranked as the 40th most free press in the World Press Freedom Index byReporters Without Bordersin 2021.Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertyhas its headquarters in Prague.
Czech Televisionis the country's national public television broadcaster. It operates a number of channels, includingČT1,ČT2, and the 24-hour news channelČT24, as well as the news websitect24.cz. As of 2020, it is the most watched broadcaster, followed by the privateTV NovaandPrima TV. However, TV Nova features the most watched mainnews programandprime timeprogram.Other public media services include theCzech Radioand theCzech News Agency.
The best-selling daily national newspapers in 2020/21 areBlesk(average 703,000 daily readers),Mladá fronta DNES(average 461,000 daily readers),Právo(average 182,000 daily readers),Lidové noviny(average 163,000 daily readers) andHospodářské noviny(average 162,000 daily readers).
Most Czechs (87%) read their news online,withSeznam.cz,iDNES.cz,Novinky.cz,iPrima.czandSeznam Zprávy.czbeing the most visited as of 2021.
Czech cuisine is marked by an emphasis on meat dishes with pork, beef, and chicken. Goose, duck, rabbit, and venison are served. Fish is less common, with the occasional exception of freshtroutandcarp, which is served at Christmas.One popular Czech menu item issmažený vepřový řízek(fried breaded pork filet), served with boiled potatoes.
There is a variety of local sausages, wurst, pâtés, and smoked and cured meats. Czech desserts include a variety of whipped cream, chocolate, and fruit pastries and tarts, crêpes, creme desserts and cheese, poppy-seed-filled and other types of traditional cakes such asbuchty,koláčeandštrúdl.
Czech beerhas a history extending more than a millennium; the earliest known brewery existed in 993. Today, the Czech Republic has the highestbeer consumption per capitain the world. Thepilsnerstyle beer (pils) originated inPlzeň, where the world's first blond lagerPilsner Urquellis still produced. It has served as the inspiration for more than two-thirds of the beer produced in the world today. The city ofČeské Budějovicehas similarly lent its name to its beer, known asBudweiser Budvar.
The South Moravian region has been producingwinesince the Middle Ages; about 94% ofvineyardsin the Czech Republic are Moravian. Aside from beer,slivovitzand wine, the Czech Republic also produces twoliquors,Fernet StockandBecherovka.Kofolais a non-alcoholic domesticcolasoft drink which competes withCoca-ColaandPepsi.
The most watched and most attended sport in the Czech Republic arefootballandice hockey.The most watched sporting events are theIce hockey at the Olympic Gamesand theIce Hockey World Championships.The most popular sports in the Czech Republic according to the size of the membership base of sports clubs are: football,tennis, ice hockey,volleyball,floorball,golf,ball hockey,athletics,basketballandskiing.
The country has won 15 gold medals in theSummer Olympicsand nine in theWinter Games. (SeeOlympic history.) TheCzech ice hockey teamwon the gold medal at the1998 Winter Olympicsand has won (along with theCzechoslovakianteam) thirteen gold medals at theWorld Championships, including three straight from1999to2001.
TheŠkoda Motorsportis engaged incompetition racingsince 1901 and has gained a number of titles with various vehicles around the world.MTXautomobile company was formerly engaged in the manufacture ofracingandformulacars since 1969.
Hikingis a popular sport. The word for 'tourist' in Czech,turista, also means 'trekker' or 'hiker'. For hikers, thanks to the more than 120-year-old tradition, there is theCzech Hiking Markers Systemoftrail blazing, that has been adopted by countries worldwide. There is a network of around 40,000 km of marked short- and long-distance trails crossing the whole country and all the Czech mountains.
49°45′N15°30′E﻿ / ﻿49.750°N 15.500°E﻿ /49.750; 15.500