Brief history of the Czech Republic. Czech Republic Titles and state symbols of the Czech Republic

Tourism plays an important role in the economy; every year Czechs earn more than 100 billion from tourists. – this is 5.5% of the country’s GDP. About 170,000 residents are employed in tourism, although this figure is clearly underestimated, because it does not include bartenders and waiters, shop assistants, and all these establishments work both for tourism and for the local population.

The Czech Republic receives about 9 million guests a year. According to statistics for 2016, German citizens are the leaders among travelers - 1,880,000. Tourists come from Slovakia (645,000), Poland (543,000), USA (511,000), Great Britain (470,000). Russians are in 6th place on this list - 406,000 tourists in 2016.

The number of tourists from China visiting the Czech Republic is growing rapidly. South Korea, Japan. Don't be surprised if by 2020 you see Chinese characters on shops and currency exchange offices in Prague.

What attracts tourists to the Czech Republic? What is the country proud of? What surprises visitors?

Firstly, historical centuries-old monuments. Although not as long as the Greek, Chinese or Egyptian, there are many monuments preserved here, and most are in excellent condition.

Having a thousand-year historical path behind it, the state is full of architecture of different styles and trends. These are more than 2 thousand castles, their ruins and palaces, among them the following are especially popular: Litomysl, Pardubice Castle, Jindrichuv Hradec, Star Summer Palace, Kromeriz Castle, Wallenstein Palace, Kinski Palace.

Religious monuments in the Czech Republic fascinate with their grandeur and unique architectural solutions. This is the Cathedral of St. Wenceslas in Olomouc, the Church of St. James the Elder, and many others scattered like pearls throughout the country. There are 11 Catholic cathedrals in the country.

Medical tourism is another strong point of the Czech tourism industry. The healing springs of Karlovy Vary are famous throughout the world. It is believed that the resort was founded here by Emperor Charles IV in 1350. Other destinations: Poděbrady, Jáchymov, peloidal springs in Bechyn and Třebon, sulfur-iron peloidal springs in Lazne Toušeni, natural warm and hot water in Teplice and several others.

The Czech Republic is one of the European “Meccas” gastronomic tourism. Beer tours are in particular demand, when tourists are taken to breweries and tastings. However, there are so many types of beer in the Czech Republic that even during the longest beer tour it would be impossible to try them all.

Gaining momentum ski holiday. Unfortunately, the country cannot boast of high mountains; in this area it is difficult for the Czechs to compete with neighboring Austria and Switzerland. There are mountains in the Czech Republic - these are the Sudeten Mountains, the highest point of the country is Mount Snezka (1602 meters). Some ski resorts are located in the Moravian hills. The most developed ski resort in the country is now Pec pod Snezkou.

The Czech Republic is a Slavic state in Central Europe. Its modern borders took shape in 1993 as a result of the so-called Velvet Divorce - the peaceful disintegration of the Federal Republic of Czechoslovakia into two states - western (Czech Republic) and eastern (Slovakia). The capital is Prague.

The main river artery of the country is the Vltava. The state borders Germany, Poland, Hungary, Austria and Slovakia. It has no access to the sea. Thanks to the large number of explored ore deposits - coal, iron, this area of ​​Europe has been the most industrially developed in all centuries. And even now it is one of the most politically stable countries in the European Union.

The area in the Vltava and Morava river basins has the most favorable natural conditions for life due to the fact that it is quite vast, but at the same time surrounded on all sides by mountains that protect it from harsh winds.

The climate is temperate continental - summers are cool and long, winters are mild and short. At the same time, the amount of snow falling in the mountains is sufficient for the operation of ski resorts.

The territory of the modern state has been inhabited since time immemorial.

1. Its first inhabitants were the Celts, then they were supplanted by West Slavic tribes, who founded the state of Great Moravia in the 10th century.
2. Since 1135, the kingdom under the name Bohemia became part of the Holy Roman Empire - the prototype of the European Union, and from 1806 to 1918 it was under the protectorate of Austria-Hungary. This greatly influenced its appearance; it is very similar to Germany, which was especially facilitated by the ruling elite. But at the level of common people, the Slavic mentality, language and way of life, including cuisine, have been preserved.

Imagine that there are only 25 cities in the country with a population of more than 40,000 people. In general, the population here is slightly more than 10 million.

Having visited this country, you will see medieval knight's castles, Gothic cathedrals with sharp spiers, vast national parks with pristine nature. You can go skiing or improve your health at balneological resorts. Everywhere you will be surrounded by unchanging German order and truly Slavic hospitality and cordiality.

The country is beautiful both in winter and summer. However, from now on you will have more opportunities to get to know the country. After all, in winter some of the ancient castles are closed, as well as tourist routes in national parks.

Planning a trip? That way!

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Cities that blow tourists' minds

It is a densely populated country with a predominantly urban population. Traveling between the main urban agglomerations, you can explore it all along the way. After all, by Russian standards, it is tiny - from Prague to the northern border is 90 kilometers, and to the southern border - 180.

Prague

Capital of the state. Located in the center of the historical region of Bohemia, on the banks of the Vltava River. It was first mentioned in chronicles of the 6th century. In the Middle Ages it competed with Paris for the title of capital of Europe. The list of its attractions is very wide; often the entire trip can be limited to getting to know Prague.

You definitely need to see Prague Castle - historical Center and the largest castle in the world. This is a complex of defensive structures, temples and administrative buildings - it houses the residence of the President of the Republic. Its architectural dominant is St. Vitus Cathedral - a pearl of European Gothic architecture, which began to be built in 1344. The center of the old town is the Old Town Square - perfect place for walks at any time of the year.

The hallmark of Prague is the 520-meter-long Charles Bridge, which connects the banks of the Vltava, as well as the Old Town and the Small Prague Castle. Construction began on it in 1347. Now it has been turned into a pedestrian zone. Souvenirs are sold there, artists work there, and amateur musicians perform.

Ceske Budejovice

Large administrative center (capital of the South Bohemian Region) and transport node 140 kilometers south of Prague. Founded in 1265 at the confluence of the Vltava and Malše rivers. The historical center of the city has the appearance of a classic European city of the 18th century.

One tower, the Iron Maiden, and part of the fortress wall have survived from the medieval fortifications. The symbol of the city is the Black Tower in the central square, decorated with the Samson fountain in the Baroque style. The writer Jaroslav Hasek lived there.

The city can be part of the so-called beer tour of the country, because it produces beer from the famous Budweiser brand. The decoration of this place is the snow-white Hluboka Castle. It is located five kilometers north, on a high cliff. The beginning of its construction dates back to the middle of the 13th century, but as a result of multiple reconstructions it looks like the Royal Castle from the fairy tale "Cinderella".

Things to do

• Tripster - craft tours from locals.
• Sputnik and Wheatlas - excursions from professional guides.

Czech krumlov

A monument city in the south of the country, one hundred and seventy kilometers from Prague. Its historical center, which has preserved its appearance since the 18th century, is classified by UNESCO as a world heritage site. historical heritage. The first chronicle mention of it dates back to 1240.

Krumlov Castle, built on a rocky promontory washed by the Vltava River, the second largest in the country. Its area is 10 hectares. It was built from the 14th to the 18th centuries and organically combines two styles - Gothic and Baroque. Its special attraction is the Cloak Bridge. This is a three-story gallery connecting the residential part of the castle with the theater - a unique structure, the stage of which surrounds a rotating auditorium. All mechanisms have been preserved since 1766.

Pilsen

The country is famous for its beer, and this city is considered its beer capital. Pilsner has been brewed there since its founding. It is located 70 kilometers southwest of Prague. Founded in 1295, but unique in that it was never a fortified city. It was built according to a single plan, all the streets of its historical center intersect at right angles. The city square is the largest in Western Europe.

The prefix “most” refers to many buildings in the city. For example, the spire of the Gothic Cathedral of St. Bartholomew has a height of 102 meters. There are no such things even in Prague. There is an observation deck on the cathedral tower. But no less interesting is the Pilsen Dungeon, open for inspection from to. This is a medieval labyrinth of corridors and cellars with a length of 19 kilometers.

The city has a brewing museum, as well as many beer bars and cafes. Don't forget to visit the Pilsen Zoo. It is huge - 20 hectares. Animals there roam in enclosures that look more like parks. All kinds of animals from all over the world are represented.

Kutna Hora

It is located 70 kilometers east of Prague. Founded in the 13th century, it was the center of silver mining in Europe. The town is small - today the population is 20 thousand people, but very cozy and beautiful. Its main attraction is gothic cathedral St. Barbara, the construction of which took a century and a half and ended in 1547. Next to it is the Silversmith Museum. On the same topic, you can visit an ancient silver mine.

The city center has been classified by UNESCO as a world historical heritage site; a walk through it will be interesting and memorable. But the special feature of the city is the so-called Ossuary in Sedlec (one of its districts). This is a Gothic cathedral built on the site of a cemetery. It is “decorated” with human bones removed from burials to free up space. The spectacle is surreal and not for the faint of heart.

Telc

A museum city in the east in the historical region of Moravia. Located 150 km southeast of Prague. It was first mentioned in chronicles in 1333, when Margrave Charles of Luxembourg bought Telc Castle. However, the settlement was founded back in 1099. The entire historical center of the city is built up with authentic three-story houses of the 16th century, preserved unchanged. Therefore, it is classified by UNESCO as a historical heritage site. It is surrounded by canals and reservoirs, for which it is called the Moravian Venice. It is interesting to look at the castle built in the 16th century. This is one of the most visited places by tourists in the Czech region of Vysočina.

If you suddenly want to go to nature

Despite the high population density and developed industry, there are many corners of virgin nature left in the country, visiting which is no less interesting than seeing historical artifacts.

Czech Switzerland

The reserve is 70 kilometers north of Prague, on the border with Saxony (the second part of the park is called Saxon Switzerland). In this place, high hills made of sandstone formed an amazingly beautiful relief. His most high point– Dechinsky snowfield, its height does not reach the mountains, but it is impressive – 733 meters. Numerous canyons, bizarrely shaped rocks. Such as the Pravchitsky Gate - a natural arch 16 meters high and 26 meters long.

Among natural beauty hiding and man-made. For example, the rock castle Schaunstein, called “Robber Castle”. All that remains of the defensive structures are ruins, and they still need to be reached along narrow paths. The efforts will pay off with stunning views of forested mountain slopes. Administrative center The park is the village of Grzhensk. There you can relax and have a tasty snack; the tourist infrastructure is well developed.

Local Grand Canyon

Just a few kilometers from Prague, near the village of Morina, there is a man-made object similar in beauty to the Ruskeala Park in Karelia. Only this is a place of extraction not of marble, but of limestone. A picturesque quarry 800 meters long and 100 meters deep. At its bottom is a picturesque lake. Filming location for the movie Lemonade Joe. Locals call it Velka America and this place is visited by many tourists. It complements another local attraction - Karlštejn Castle.

Karlštejn is a Gothic castle built in the 16th century, 28 kilometers southwest of Prague. This is a royal residence. In addition, the treasures of the Holy Roman Empire were kept there. A classic defensive structure on a high cliff. The high quadrangular donjon tower stands out from the complex of buildings. One of the most popular tourist sites, second in importance and attendance after Prague Castle. You can read a detailed review of visiting the castle at.

The peak of the season occurs at the end of May and the beginning, when Prague is buried in flowers. The tourist flow dries up somewhat in September, but by the end of December, during the Christmas holidays, bustle and carnivals begin again, lasting until the first days of the new year. A trip to this country is interesting at any time of the year. You can go to Prague on a weekend, but to get the full experience, it’s better to spend at least three days on your trip.

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The Czech Republic is one of the most interesting tourist centers in Europe. The average income from tourism here reaches 5.5% of GDP, and no wonder - in a relatively small area there is a huge number of cultural and historical monuments from different eras.

From time immemorial, the country lay at the intersection of trade routes, which allowed it to absorb a great variety of unique traditions, the brightness and unusualness of music schools.

Amazing nature and a mild continental climate allow you to find thousands of opportunities for an unforgettable vacation.

Capital	Prague
Population	10,532,770 people
Population density	133 people/km²
Religion	Catholicism
Form of government	parliamentary republic
	Czech crown
Timezone	UTC+1, in summer UTC+2
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity	220V. European type sockets, an adapter is required.

Climate and weather

Like any other country located in the center of Europe, the climate in the Czech Republic is moderate. Only in winter are light frosts possible. There is little snowfall, which will guarantee the absence of slush in the off-season. However, in the mountains there will be plenty of snowdrifts for winter sports - at ski resorts there is snow for about six months. Summer in the Czech Republic is usually warm.

Nature

The nature of the Czech Republic will easily surprise even the most experienced tourist with its incredible diversity. The country's borders are represented by a chain of impassable mountain ranges. Traveling deep into the Czech Republic, you can observe uniquely beautiful mountain passes, giving way to vineyards, and endless meadows with crystal lakes. In short, the Czech Republic is ideal for lovers of sweet romance.

Attractions

The attractions of the Czech Republic are truly diverse. It's no wonder that it is one of the ten most visited countries in the world. Here there is everything that the soul of an inquisitive tourist can strive for: ancient cities with memorable architecture, magnificent nature, nature reserves and unique healing springs... It is pointless to list all the attractions of this country - it may take several days. Let's try to briefly look at the most popular ones.

Prague. The capital of the Czech Republic has every right to be called the main attraction of this country, because it is the most beautiful city in the world. " Old city"is the most attractive sector of the capital for tourists. It is where most of the attractions are located, the most popular of which are:

• Prague Castle,
• Jewish Quarter,
• Golden duck,
• St. Vitus Cathedral,
• astronomical clock in the town hall.

Kutna Hora is another city on the “must visit” list. When locals say “Kutná Hora”, they first of all mean Church of All Saints. In this unique church, a symbol of the city, the remains of about 40 thousand people have been preserved.

When choosing a tour to this country, do not forget about Brno! It is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, whose main attraction is Church of St. John. This ancient building is remarkable because it houses an ancient but still noteworthy organ. And the painted ceilings of the church are still its unique feature. In addition to the above-mentioned church, it is worth visiting the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, Capuchin Square, the Old Town Hall and Spielberg.

Karlovy Vary- worldwide famous resort, where for many centuries the entire Czech nobility regained its health. Two large factories are located here - Jan Becher and Krusovice. Is it worth introducing the drinks they produce - Karlovska Becherovka and the delicious Krušovice beer?

Nutrition

There is a lot to try in the Czech Republic! Czech cuisine is truly hearty and very varied. In a whole network of restaurants nestled along Prague's cobbled streets, you're sure to find a dish that suits your taste. These include various types of fried meat, aromatic sausages, and liver pates that melt in your mouth... The Czech menu includes baked fish and juicy vegetable salads. Does it make sense to talk about the famous Czech beer? This national intoxicating drink is worth highlighting in order to reveal this topic as much as possible.

Accommodation

Like any other country open to tourists, the Czech Republic can offer a huge selection of a wide variety of hotels. Starting from the heart of the country, Prague, and to the very borders, a whole network stretches hotels, hotel complexes , and villas And apartments, suitable for rent. By the way, rental accommodation is considered the most acceptable for tourists. Many travel companies offer a wide range of services for booking both small provincial houses and luxury apartments in the center of the capital. Walls steeped in history will tell you more than neat, freshly painted and groomed hotel rooms.

Entertainment and relaxation

Agritourism. This type of entertainment arose relatively recently, but has already gained enviable popularity among sophisticated and not-so-sophisticated tourists. In the Czech Republic, only foreigners adhere to the strategy of holidays on farms, among whom houses on the border region with Austria and Germany are in greater demand.

By the way, Czech farmers make every effort to make such a vacation as comfortable and interesting as possible. Fishing, camping, hiking or horseback riding... There are even luxury farms equipped with tennis courts, their own golf courses and other entertainment unusual for the province.

Water tourism. The Czech Republic can offer great holiday on the water. Rich in deep, crystal clear lakes, it will allow you to go yachting, boating, rafting, canoeing, water skiing and even plunge into the world of windsurfing. In addition, the Czech Republic is a true paradise for fishing lovers. There are enough rivers and lakes in the country that are ideal for professional fishing.

Children's holiday. Prague Zoo is most popular among the youngest tourists. The establishment is located in one of the most prestigious areas of Prague - in Three. Here, wildlife lovers will be able to observe animals exotic for this area. Elephants and hippos, tigers and cheetahs, seals and giant turtles, giraffes and other equally amazing species are presented behind an ornate fence Prague Zoo.

Winter activities- this is a real pearl in the sea of ​​​​what tour operators can offer you here. The Czech Republic has an amazing number of sports centers that can give you the opportunity to try your hand at skiing and snowboarding. The most popular ski resorts in the Czech Republic today are Spindleruv, Giant Mountains, Harrachov And Mlyn.

Purchases

When going to the Czech Republic, do not forget to calculate your budget for shopping trips. This truly amazing country can offer you a truly wide selection of luxury boutiques and branded clothing stores. Fans of “wild” shopping will appreciate the entire chain of discount stores selling European perfumes and cosmetics. In addition, the country still has small and cozy shops, coffee shops and bakeries that attract people with their national flavor.

Traditional souvenirs for tourists are considered to be Bohemian crystal, lace, beer mugs, embroidered clothes.

Transport

The most accessible and easiest way to get to the desired place here is to take an international or intercity bus and hit the road. However, it is worth noting that European public transport is expensive. By the way, a bus trip from Prague to Brno will cost 5.4 € and take no more than two hours. Same route by train costs a little more - 6.2 € and takes more time - from three hours.

You can book a bus or train ticket online on specialized websites.

Taxi in the Czech Republic they are free, from 5 € per 1 km and the taxi driver will charge another 10 € for landing.

Connection

Mobile communications in the Czech Republic are no less accessible than in the CIS countries. Cooperation with a mobile operator would be optimal for tourists. Vodafone. You can buy a SIM card with a balance of 200 CZK for approximately 8 € at any newsstand.

Note that other operators offer a wider range of services and provide higher quality service, but have quite aggressive prices.

Safety

Anyone, and especially novice tourists, should note that money, valuables and documents should be stored in a hotel safe or in a proper bank branch. Even though the Czech Republic is a safe country, cases of robbery are still possible. As a rule, gypsies and laborers engage in such illegal activities. In order to protect yourself from such precedents, avoid night walks in gypsy neighborhoods, and carry photocopies of securities and documents with you.

Let us remind you that medical and property insurance is mandatory for every tourist entering the country.

Business climate

Modern economic policy in the EU countries involves government intervention in the market environment. It is generally accepted that this contributes to the economic growth of the country. The conditions for business development in the Czech Republic are quite favorable, because... The government is pursuing a completely adequate policy that does not impede the emergence of entrepreneurship. One of the most attractive advantages for Czech businessmen is the minimum of bureaucracy. Tax reduction for owners of developing small businesses is another undeniable advantage in this market segment.

Real estate

Real estate in the Czech Republic has become quite attractive for permanent investment. By the way, the cost of a new well-equipped two-room apartment near the center of Prague ranges from 55 to 130 thousand €. Provincial real estate costs a little less, about 5 thousand €. A noteworthy fact is that utility bills in the Czech Republic are cheaper than in the CIS countries.

• When buying expensive souvenirs, keep your receipts, which you will need when crossing the border to prove that you are not exporting antiques.
• The good news is that when you purchase more than €100 in Tax-free Shopping supermarkets, you can get back up to 22% of the amount spent.
• In the Czech Republic, it is customary to leave generous tips - from 10% of the total amount.

Visa information

The Czech Republic is part of the Schengen countries. If your passport contains a valid Schengen visa, you can cross the country’s borders by any type of transport without any obstacles.

Visas to the Czech Republic are divided into three main types: transit, long-term and short-term. A transit visa is issued to people whose purpose is to visit a specific country, which can only be reached through the territory of the Czech Republic. A long-term visa will be necessary if your goal is a long stay in the country. A short-term visa is the best option for tourist trips.

The package of documents for obtaining a visa is standard, but its submission is carried out only by appointment. The visa processing time is about five working days.

The Embassy of the Czech Republic can be found at: 123056, Moscow, st. Yu.Fuchika, 12/14.

The history of the Czech Republic goes back more than ten centuries. The lands of this state, located in the central part of the European continent, have always performed an important task.

The history of the land on which the Czech Republic is located begins with a mention of the most ancient population - the Celts. They inhabited the lands since the 4th century. From the 6th century, Slavic tribes settled in the territory, creating the principality of “Samo” in the 7th century.

Since 820, the territory of the present Czech Republic was occupied by the state of Great Moravia. The spread of Christianity in this territory is associated with its population. The ancestors of today's Slovaks and Czechs lived in Great Moravia.

Hungarian raids on the Great Moravian Empire led to the fall of the state. This happened at the beginning of the 10th century.

After the fall of Great Moravia, power passed into the hands of the Premysli family, which held it until 1306 (more than 400 years). During this period, the history of the Czech Republic develops in a direction that presupposes the formation of a state formation. The unification of the Czech state was achieved by 995 by the princely Přemyslid dynasty.

Emperor Frederick 2 (ruler of the Holy in 1212) signed the decree “Sicilian Bull”. In it, the Czech Republic was recognized as a kingdom.

The history of the state from the mid-12th century was marked by the beginning of cultural and economic development, which was actively supported by German colonists.

In the period from 13th to 13th century the kingdom was significantly strengthened. The history of the Czech Republic in this era testifies to the economic power and significant expansion of the state's territory.

In the 14th century, the Luxembourg dynasty took over the Czech crown. The first representative on the throne is John of Luxembourg, who ascended the throne in 1310. However, the new king did not pay much attention to the development of the state. His first son Wenceslas (the future Emperor Charles 4) was brought up at the French royal court. In 1346, John was killed at the Battle of Crecy. After the death of his father, Charles IV ascended the throne.

The history of the Czech Republic under the new ruler is characterized as a period of extraordinary growth. The main goal pursued by the new ruler was to strengthen the power and strength of the kingdom. During his reign, the history of Prague began. The ruler erected the New City of Prague and built the famous Charles Bridge. In addition, Charles 4 founded an archbishopric and the first university in the empire. The ruler attracted a huge number of artisans and artists to Prague and began rebuilding St. Vitus Cathedral.

After Charles 4, his son, Wenceslas 4, ascended the throne. During the reign of the new king, the Czech lands experienced economic depression.

The territorial boundaries of the state have remained virtually unchanged. Other lands became part of the country temporarily.

In the first half of the 16th century, against the backdrop of European opposition to the pressure of Turkey, the Czech classes were engaged in choosing a new ruler. As a result, the choice fell on Ferdinand 1 of Habsburg, who was a member of a very powerful family.

Except for the 12th century (the period of Czech independence), the country was under Austrian rule. The royal court was moved from Prague to Vienna.

The ruin of the Czech Republic occurred as a result of the confrontation between Czech Catholics and Protestants. As a result, by 1650, about 700 thousand inhabitants remained in the country (out of 2.5 million in 1618), thousands of settlements were destroyed and never recovered.

During the reign of Emperor Rudolf II, the royal court was again moved to Prague. Thus, the city again received the status of a capital.

In the Czech Republic, it began during the reign of her son Joseph 2. Thanks to the latter, in 1781 several reforms were carried out in the country to ease the situation of the population in villages.

The Austrian Empire was proclaimed by hereditary rights in 1804 by Franz 2. In 1848, after the suppression of the revolution, an absolute monarchy was established in the empire. However, some time later, in 1867, an agreement was signed between the Austrian Empire and Hungary. According to him, Austria-Hungary was formed. The Czech Republic did not receive autonomy.

Official country name: Czech Republic

National flag: stripes of white and red with a blue triangle.

National holiday- October 28 - withdrawal from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the founding of the independent state of the Czech Republic.

Capital of the Czech Republic - Prague, with a population of more than 1,250,000 people.

Largest cities in the Czech Republic:

• Brno - about 390,000 inhabitants;
• Ostrava - about 330,000 inhabitants;
• Pilsen - about 175,000 inhabitants;
• Olomouc - about 106,000 inhabitants;
• Usti nad Labem - about 106,000 inhabitants;
• Liberec - about 104,000 inhabitants.

Population of the Czech Republic - about 11 million people.
National composition - 81.3% Czechs, 13.7% residents of Moravia and Silesia, 3.1% Slovaks, 0.6% Poles, 0.5% Germans, 0.3% Gypsies, 0.2% Hungarians.
Official language: Czech, belonging to a group of West Slavic languages ​​related to Russian.
Territory: 78,864 sq. km
Geographically, the Czech Republic is located in the central part of the European continent. Between the cities of Pilsen and Cheb there is even a granite obelisk with the inscription “Center of Europe”.
It borders: in the north - with Poland, in the east - with Slovakia, in the south - with Austria and in the west - with Germany.
The Czech Republic includes the historical regions of Moravia, Bohemia and Silesia, which are distinguished by their unusually beautiful landscape. Low mountain ranges stretch along all the borders of the Czech Republic.
The largest river in the Czech Republic is the Vltava, which is 440 km long.
Administrative division- 73 regions and 4 municipalities.
The country has a long and rich history.
The first Czech state arose already at the end of the 9th century, when the process of unification of Slavic tribes began on the territory of the Czech Republic. Despite its rather turbulent history, often associated with wars, both medieval and modern, about 2,500 ancient castles and towns have survived to this day in the Czech Republic.
According to its political structure, the Czech Republic is a parliamentary republic. The highest official in the Czech Republic is the President of the Republic, elected by parliament for a term of 5 years (since February 1993 - Vaclav Havel, re-elected in 1998, next elections in 2003).
The President approves the composition of the Czech government proposed by the Chamber of Deputies.
The bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
Both chambers are directly elected by the people.
Deputies are elected for 4 years, and senators for 6 years, while every 2 years 1/3 of the senators are re-elected.
Citizens of the Czech Republic over 18 years of age have the right to vote. Citizens of the Czech Republic from 21 years of age have the right to be elected to parliament, and from 40 years of age to the Senate.
IN populated areas Also, every 4 years, elections are held for local councils (representative bodies) and elders (in large settlements they are called “primators”).
The highest executive body is the government. The head of government is the Prime Minister (currently Milos Zeman).
In 1995, the Czech Republic became a member of the international organization for economic cooperation and development.
Since the autumn of 1997, active preparations have been underway for accession to the European Union.
On March 12, 1999, the Czech Republic joined NATO.

Czech Republic\Geography

The Czech Republic is located in the very center of Central Europe.
In the north it borders with Poland (border length 658 km), in the north and west with Germany (border length 646 km), in the south - with Austria (border length 362 km), in the east - with Slovakia (border length 214 km .).
The total length of the border is 1,880 km.
The total area of ​​the country is about 80,000 square meters. km.
The country's territory includes the historical regions of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, characterized by a varied landscape.
Low mountain ranges stretch along almost all the borders of the Czech Republic. The Giant Mountains extend for 40 km. across Bohemia, creating a natural border between the Czech Republic and Poland. The highest peak is Snezka (1602 m). Several other peaks exceed 1500 m.
In the north and northwest, the Ore Mountains represent a natural border.
The second highest mountain range in the Czech Republic is Hrubý Jesenik, the highest point being Praded Peak (1491 m), located in northern Moravia.
The third highest mountain range in the Czech Republic is Šumava, the highest point is Plechy Peak (1373 m). Šumava extends for 125 km. into southwestern Bohemia and creates a natural border with Germany.
Inside this peculiar ring there are two large lowlands - the Polabskaya in the northwest and the Morava River valley (part of the Middle Danube Plain) in the southeast. Between them is the low (up to 836 m) Bohemian-Moravian Upland.
Main rivers: Vltava (length 440 km), Morava, Laba (Elbe), Oder.
The Czech Republic is not very rich in mineral resources. On its territory there are reserves of coal, various types of clay used for the production of ceramics and bricks, as well as reserves of building stone, deposits of semi-precious stones (garnets, agates). Deposits of glass sands, used in the manufacture of famous Czech glass and crystal, are of great importance.
In the depths of the country there is a large number of healing mineral waters, which became the reason for the development of resorts.
Climate
The climate of the Czech Republic is temperate continental, and the continental nature of the climate intensifies in the easterly direction.
The ruggedness of the relief has a significant influence on the climate of individual regions. The differences in summer temperatures are especially great. So, if in the Danube and Potis lowlands the average July temperature reaches 20 degrees, then in the elevated regions of the Czech Massif it does not exceed 13-15 degrees.
The average January temperature drops to - 7-8 degrees in the mountains; on the plains and hills it is - 2-4 degrees.
In general, in most parts of the country, precipitation falls annually from 500 to 700 mm. precipitation.
Vegetable world
The mountains are dominated by coniferous-forested vegetation. On flat terrain, deciduous forests of oak, beech, ash, and maple are more common.
Animal world
Among the representatives of the relatively poor fauna one can distinguish the brown bear, fox, wild boar, wolf, and chamois.

Czech Republic\Public Administration

The Czech Republic is a presidential republic.
The head of state is the president (since February 1993 - Vaclav Havel, re-elected in 1998).
The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The President is elected for a term of five years by a joint session of both houses of Parliament. Continuous tenure as President of the Czech Republic can be no more than two consecutive terms.
He has the right to veto any decree passed by parliament, with the exception of constitutional decrees.
Legislative power belongs to the Parliament, which consists of 2 chambers - the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Parliament approves all decrees that are in force on the territory of the Czech Republic, authorizes the most important acts of the state such as declaring war or approving the deployment of foreign armies on Czech territory.
The Chamber of Deputies has 200 representatives who are elected for a term of four years. The President may dissolve the Chamber of Deputies in cases specified by the constitution.
The Senate consists of 81 senators who are elected to six-year terms. One third of the Senate is re-elected every two years. The Senate cannot be dissolved. Elections to the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate are held by closed ballots based on general, equal and direct voting.
The Chamber of Deputies is elected on the basis of proportional representation. Political parties must receive at least five percent of the popular vote to win seats in the House.
The Senate is elected by majority vote. All citizens of the Czech Republic who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote.
Candidates for the Chamber of Deputies must be at least 21 years old, while candidates for the Senate must be at least 40 years old.
The highest executive body is the government. It consists of the Prime Minister and ministers coordinating the activities of ministries and central bodies of public administration throughout the state. The government has exclusive legislative initiative within the state budget.
There are more than 80 political parties and movements in the country. There are more than 200 youth organizations.
The Supreme Audit Organization is an independent control agency that implements the use of state property and the implementation of the state budget. This organization reviews the way the state budget of the Czech Republic is created and used.
The Czech National Bank is the central State Bank of the Czech Republic. The main goal of the bank is to preserve and stabilize the purchasing power of the currency and, in fulfilling this goal, the bank does not depend on the Cabinet of the Czech Government. The president and executive bodies of the bank are appointed by the head of state.
The Constitutional Court is founded to protect constitutional rights. The court consists of 15 judges appointed by the president with the consent of the Senate for a term of ten years.
The Supreme Court is the highest legal authority on all matters within the jurisdiction of the courts.

Czech Republic\Population

The population of the Czech Republic at the beginning of 2001 is about 10,272,000 people, which is 0.08% less than in the previous year.

Average life expectancy in 2000 was:

• for men - 71 years old,
• for women - 78 years.

The infant mortality rate is 5.6%, 1% less than in 1999, which is one of the lowest levels in Europe.

By ethnic composition:

• Czechs - 81.2%,
• Moravians - 13.2%,
• Slovaks - 3.1%,
• Poles - 0.6%,
• Germans - 0.5%,
• Silesians - 0.4%,
• gypsies - 0.3%,
• Hungarians - 0.2%,
• other ethnic groups - 0.5%.

Population density - 130 people. per sq. km.

The working-age population is 5,389,000 people, the unemployment rate is 9%.

33.1% of the working population is employed in industry, 6.9% in agriculture, 9.1% in construction, 7.2% in the transport sector, and 43.7% in the service sector.

The most common languages ​​are Czech and Slovak, which belong to the Western Slavic language group.

75% of the population lives in cities, including:

• in Prague - about 1,300,000,
• in Brno - 390,000,
• in Ostrava - 330,000,
• in Pilsen - 175,000.

In recent years, immigration from the republics of the former Soviet Union has become a big problem for the Czech Republic. Moreover, the bulk of those arriving are illegal immigrants. Their number, according to various estimates, is about 3-4% of the general population. This influx of immigrants, who compete with the native population in the labor market, and the growth of organized crime associated with immigrants, led to a tightening of the state's immigration policy.
In 1999, a new law on the stay of foreigners in the Czech Republic was adopted (came into force on January 1, 2000), according to which, in particular, a foreigner can receive a permanent residence permit in the Czech Republic after 10 years of residence in the country upon fulfillment of a number of conditions. In addition, it contains a number of other fairly strict restrictions on the stay of foreigners. This law caused a negative reaction from the European Commission of Human Rights.
Currently, the Czech Parliament has prepared amendments to this law, which will somewhat soften the requirements for travelers to the country. They will come into force in mid-2001.

Czech Republic\Religion

The Czech Republic is a secular republic.
The history of the Czech Republic as an independent state is dramatic. It lost its sovereignty for a long time as a result of joining stronger states that imposed their religion on it, which ultimately led to the fact that the Czech Republic is the most atheistic state in Europe. According to a survey by the world's largest sociological service, Gallup International, 55% of the Czech population does not consider itself a member of any Church. The Czech Republic ranks 2nd in the world and 1st in Europe in terms of the share of atheists out of 60 countries where the survey was conducted.
27.1% of Czech residents, according to a 1991 pan-European survey, trust the church - this is the lowest figure among all European countries (and almost half as much as in neighboring Slovakia).
The main denomination in terms of the number of believers is the Catholic Church - 86.6% of the total number of believers.
Catholicism finally took shape as a creed after the division of churches in 1054. The Catholic Church is strictly centralized, has a single center in the Vatican State, a single head - the Pope, a strict church hierarchy and discipline. Catholics recognize (unlike Protestants) as the source of their doctrine not only the Holy Scripture, but also the Holy Tradition, which in Catholicism (unlike Orthodoxy) includes the decrees of the ecumenical councils of the Catholic Church and the judgments of the popes. The clergy in Catholicism takes a vow of celibacy. A feature of Catholicism is also the veneration of the Mother of God, the recognition of the dogmas of her immaculate conception and bodily ascension, and the addition of the filioque to the creed (from the Latin Filioque - “and from the son”). An addition made in the 7th century by the Western Christian Church to the Christian Creed of the 4th century in the dogma of the Trinity: the procession of the Holy Spirit not only from God the Father, but also from the Son. The Filioque was not accepted by the Orthodox Church, which later served as one of the reasons for the division of churches. Thus, the Catholic Church maintains that the Holy Spirit comes from “the Father and the Son.” The Orthodox Church believes that the Holy Spirit carries out the will of only God the Father, the dogma of purgatory.
The second largest number of believers is Protestantism - 11.1% of the total number of believers.
Of these, about 7%, according to the latest data, belong to the Hussites, Evangelical Reformers - 4%, Lutherans - 0.1%.
Protestantism is a collection of numerous and independent churches and sects connected only by their origin. The emergence of Protestantism is associated with the Reformation, a powerful anti-Catholic movement in the 16th century in Europe. In 1526, the Speyer Reichstag, at the request of the German Lutheran princes, adopted a resolution on the right of everyone to choose a religion for themselves and their subjects. The Second Reichstag of Speyr in 1529 overturned this decree. In response, there was a protest from the five princes and a number of imperial cities, from which the term “Protestantism” comes. Protestantism shares Christian ideas about the existence of God, his trinity, the immortality of the soul, hell and heaven, however, rejecting the Catholic idea of ​​purgatory. At the same time, Protestantism put forward three new principles: salvation by personal faith, the priesthood of all believers, and the exclusive authority of the Holy Scriptures. The clergyman is deprived of the right to confess and absolve sins; he is accountable to the Protestant community. In Protestantism, many sacraments have been abolished (with the exception of baptism and communion), and celibacy is absent. Houses of worship have been cleared of altars, icons, statues, and bells. There are no monasteries or monasticism. Worship in Protestantism is simplified as much as possible and reduced to preaching, prayer and singing psalms and hymns in the native language. The Bible is recognized as the only source of doctrine, and sacred tradition is rejected.
A feature of the religious life of the Czech Republic is the Czech Reformed Church (Hussite). Supporters of the Reformation in the Czech Republic and Slovenia in the 1st half of the 15th century were participants in the Hussite movement and followers of Jan Hus and other popular preachers.
It was formed as an independent confession in 1920 after a break with the Pope. In 1920, Rome was adamant in condemning Jan Hus and his teachings, which served as a signal for the formation of the Hussite church immediately after Czechoslovakia gained independence. Now many Czech Catholics are coming to the conclusion that it is necessary to canonize Hus in order to preserve and increase the influence of the Catholic Church.
The Czech Orthodox Church, to which 1.7% of the total number of believers belongs, is part of the Churches of Ecumenical Orthodoxy (Ecumenical Orthodoxy is a collection of local Churches that have the same dogmas and a similar canonical structure, recognize each other’s sacraments and are in communion), founded on the territory of the Czech Republic (in Moravia) in 863 through the work of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius. After their death, Orthodoxy remained only within the Mukachevo diocese, but in 1649 this diocese also entered into a union with the Catholic Church. Only in 1920, thanks to the Serbian initiative, Orthodox parishes of Serbian jurisdiction again arose in the Carpathians. After World War II, they turned to the Moscow Patriarchate for help and were organized first into an exarchate, and from 1951 into the Autocephalous (independent) Czechoslovak Orthodox Church.
Orthodoxy arose on the territory of the Byzantine Empire. Initially, it did not have a church center, since the church power of Byzantium was concentrated in the hands of four patriarchs: Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. As the Byzantine Empire collapsed, each of the ruling patriarchs headed an independent (autocephalous) Orthodox Church. The most important postulates of the Orthodox faith are the dogmas of the trinity of God, the incarnation of God, the atonement, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. It is believed that dogmas are not subject to change and clarification, not only in content, but also in form. Orthodoxy is characterized by a complex, detailed cult. Worship services are longer than in other Christian denominations and include a large number of rituals. The main worship service in Orthodoxy is the liturgy. The main holiday is Easter. Worship services are conducted in national languages; Some faiths also use dead languages. The clergy in Orthodoxy is divided into white (married parish priests) and black (monastics who take a vow of celibacy). There are male and female monasteries. Only a monk can become a bishop.

Czech Republic \Politics

Until 1989, there were two ruling parties in Czechoslovakia: the Communist Party and the National Front.
On November 17, 1989, the Velvet Revolution began in Czechoslovakia when students gathered to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Jan Opletal, a student killed by the Nazis. The student demonstration led to the start of a strike, which in turn led to the founding of the "Civic Forum", a social movement that united all opposition movements in Czechoslovakia. The future president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, was at that moment the recognized leader of the dissident movement.
The "Civil Forum" became a political body that won the next elections. It became the basis for the formation of all the main political parties in today's Czech Republic.
On November 29, 1989, the Czechoslovak parliament abolished the constitutional article on the leading role of the Communist Party in society.
On January 1, 1993, the Czech Republic becomes an independent parliamentary republic.
The president in the Czech Republic is elected by parliament; only the person who receives a majority of votes in each chamber can become president.
On December 29, 1989, Vaclav Havel was elected president of Czechoslovakia; in 1989-1993 he was president of the Czechoslovak Federation, and since 1993 of the Czech Republic.
Vaclav Havel - playwright, philosopher, dissident, was born on October 6, 1936 into one of the richest families of the first ("bourgeois") Czechoslovak Republic. In the early 60s, he became a well-known playwright in the theater community, appeared in the samizdat press, and after 1968 he became one of the leaders of the dissident movement in Czechoslovakia. He was arrested several times and spent several years in prison. One of the creators of the platform for independent thinking - Charter 77, which was signed by 241 people.
There are currently two ruling parties in the Czech Republic: social democratic and civil democratic. In the 2000 elections. The Social Democratic Party has surpassed the Civic Democratic Party in popularity.
According to the Constitution, the Senate, the upper house of the Czech Parliament, does not control the activities of the government.
The majority of senatorial seats following the Senate elections in November 2000 belonged to the so-called “Coalition of Four” - a coalition of opposition parties - the Freedom Union, the Christian Democrats, the Civil Democratic Alliance and the Democratic Union.
As a result of the disappointment of some part of society in economic and democratic reforms, the Communist Party of the Czech Republic strengthened its position: in the polls last months 2000 she has the sympathies of 20% of the population.
The only parliamentary religious party - the Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party - has only 20 seats out of 200 in parliament, second even to the Communist Party, which is not particularly influential in the Czech Republic. The Christian Democrats maintain influence in the Czech Republic through their 1992 merger with the Czechoslovak People's Party, which existed from 1918 to 1938 and was part of the National Front from 1948 to 1989.
There is an Ecological Party in the Czech Republic, and its radical part is especially active. In addition to its annual fight against the Temelín nuclear power plant, the largest Eastern Europe demonstrations against transnational corporations that resulted in street clashes with the police.
Currently, there are more than 80 different parties and about 200 youth organizations in the Czech Republic.
Article 3 of the 1992 Constitution of the Czech Republic states that the “Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms” is part of the constitutional order of the Czech Republic.
The principle that allows everyone to do everything that is not prohibited by law is written down in Part 4 of Article 2 of the 1992 Czech Constitution.
In the Czech Republic, the law on lustration (the law on the crime of the communist regime) has been adopted and is in force. Czech President Vaclav Havel refused to sign the extension. However, this refusal was overcome by a qualified majority of the Czech parliament, after which the law came into force. In the years since the Velvet Revolution, there has not been a single case when a former functionary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia became a government official.
The European Commission concluded that Czech legislation is not in compliance with the so-called axis, that is, the set of European norms that act as “umbrella norms” in the countries of the European Union. One of the comments about the Czech Republic is the presence of a lustration law.
The results of a sociological study conducted by the Sofres-Factum agency in April 2000 showed that 53.5% of respondents voted for Havel's early resignation.
In 2002, elections of deputies to the House of Representatives of the Czech Parliament will take place.
The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman, was born on September 28, 1944 in the city of Kolin. During the events of the Prague Spring of 1968, he joined the Communist Party headed by Dubcek; after the occupation of Czechoslovakia, he was expelled from it for his sharp criticism of the “normalization” regime. During the “Velvet Revolution” of 1989, he was active in the center-left wing of the “Civil Forum”. In 1990 he was elected to the Federal Assembly. In 1992, he joined the Czech Social Democratic Party and was re-elected to the Federal Assembly from this party. June 26, 1996 became

Czech Republic\Economy

Since the mid-nineteenth century, the Czech Republic has been one of the most industrialized countries in Europe. The leading industries were textiles, food, mining, metallurgy, and engineering. In 1861, the length of the railway network was about 700 km, and in the 90s it was already 4596 km. In 1869, the first Czech bank itself opened - Zivnostensky Bank.
In the twentieth century, the industrial development of the Czech Republic continued.
Mechanical engineering, metalworking, electrical engineering, chemical industry, as well as textile and clothing industry are the most developed industries in the Czech Republic.
The Czech Republic is considered the richest country in Central Europe, the most industrialized and with the smallest share of agriculture in its gross domestic product. According to 1997 data, GDP per capita in the Czech Republic was $5,050 (for comparison: in Hungary - 4,415, in Poland - $3,512). Among the post-communist states, the Czech Republic currently ranks second in terms of living standards after Slovenia.
The level of consumer prices in the Czech Republic in 2000 increased by 4% compared to 1999. Currently, the average family spends from its budget on: food - 21.3%, transport - 12.2%, rent - 10.8%, water, electricity, gas - 10.4%, recreation and culture - 9. 9%, alcoholic beverages - 9%, clothing and shoes - 6.7%, visiting restaurants and consumer services - 5.2%, home improvement - 5.2%, other household services - 5.1%, mail and telecommunications - 2%, maintaining health - 1.2%, education - 0.5%.
In the Czech Republic there are 358 cars per 1000 people.
About 500 thousand people are regular Internet users (the population of the Czech Republic is 10.2 million people).
Czech industry is equipped with modern equipment and a qualified workforce. However, in terms of growth rates, the Czech Republic is seriously behind Hungary and Poland and cannot count on joining the European Union with them in 2004. The average monthly salary in the Czech Republic as of March 2000 was 354 in US dollars (for comparison: in Slovenia - 881, in Croatia - 608, in Poland - 487). The unemployment rate in December 2000 was 8.8%.
After the Velvet Revolution of 1989, large-scale economic reforms were carried out in the country, which were based on voucher privatization of enterprises, attracting foreign investors, price liberalization and foreign trade, devaluation of the Czech crown. As a result of the reforms, industrial production grew and the rate of investment increased. However, mistakes made during the reform process led to a significant decline in economic development and a decline in GDP.
In 1997, the growth of the Czech economy slowed down, and the country entered a period of stagnation, which it is currently experiencing.
To stabilize economic development, the leadership of the Czech Republic took a number of measures aimed at increasing industrial production, increasing the influx of investment and increasing exports. Thus, in April 1999, the government adopted an industrial plan to stabilize the situation at about ten vital enterprises in the country. The list of companies that had the opportunity to participate in the program included: Aliachem, SKD Рraha, Sрolana, Skoda Рlzen, Tatra, Vitkоvice, Zetor and ZРS Zlin.
A maximum favored nation regime has been created to increase investment in the Czech economy. Investors who allocate more than 10 million USD to industrial development are exempt from taxes for up to 10 years, receive grants in the amount of 100 USD for each created job, and have the right to duty-free import of equipment. Special benefits are provided for companies planning to make long-term investments. As a result, 47 thousand foreign companies operate in the republic.
In total investments in the Czech economy, the share of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries is 97%, EU member countries - 68% and G7 countries - 57%. According to experts, at the beginning of 2000 the volume of foreign direct investment directed into the Czech economy amounted to 15.5 billion USD. Thus, in 1997 they received 1.3 billion USD, in 1998 - 2.5 billion USD, in 1999 - 3.5 billion USD.
The largest investments were made in the sectors of transport and communications (24%), production of transport equipment (16%), consumer goods (13%), and construction (9%).
During the reforms, the indicator of gross financial formation to GNP in the Czech Republic reached 24%, while in EU countries this value is 20%.
The Czech banking system is based on the principles adopted in economically developed countries of the world. The Czech People's Bank (CNB) does not depend on government instructions, which has affected the effectiveness of the entire monetary policy in the country.
The foreign exchange reserves of the CNB in ​​1999 amounted to 12.4 billion US dollars.
Industry is the most developed and important sector in the Czech economy, accounting for 40% of national income. By the beginning of 1999, after the privatization program, the private sector of industry exceeded 80%. Stably operating enterprises include food industry enterprises (partners Danone and Nestle), electrical engineering (ETA company, partners Bosch and Moulinekh), paint and varnish (partners Union Carbide and BASF), household chemicals and detergents (partners Henkel and Proster & Gamble), aviation ( partners McDonnall Douglas), automotive (bus production - Karosa, partner Renault),
Skoda-Auto (bought by Volkswagen), the export of its products in 1999 increased by 45% compared to 1998. In addition, small sub-suppliers of the plant also improved the quality of their products. Currently, to implement plans to expand production, it is planned to build a plant worth 560 million USD to produce engines and transmissions that will be used not only in Skodas, but also in Volkswagen cars produced in other countries.
The share of agriculture in the Czech Republic's GNP is 4.5%, employing 5.5% of the population. Agriculture in the Czech Republic is a developed industry with a high level of automation and mechanization, fully meeting the country's basic needs for agricultural and livestock products and exporting products to the EU countries (37%), Slovakia (23) and the CIS (14%).
Measures to liberalize foreign trade and attract serious foreign investment have significantly improved the balance of foreign trade turnover and the structure of exports. Most of it comes from countries that are part of European Union(63%, of which 43% to Germany).
The trade deficit in 1999 was $2.6 billion, down $3.2 billion from 1996.
The improvement in the export structure was expressed, first of all, in an increase in the share of mechanical engineering products; in 1999 it amounted to 47%.
A fundamentally new article has appeared - the export of licenses and the construction abroad of industrial facilities based on them, for example: in Russia - the production of passenger cars under the license of the Skoda company, in Kazakhstan - the production of explosives for industrial and mining work, in Georgia - pharmaceuticals, in Ukraine - trams and trolleybuses, in China - turbines for hydro and thermal power plants.

Czech Republic\Education

The Czech Republic is famous for its high level of education.
Preschool education of children in the Czech Republic begins in a developed network of kindergartens. Children are accepted into kindergartens from the age of 3. The fee for their maintenance depends on its affiliation (state, departmental, private) and on the area where the kindergarten is located.
Education in public schools is free.
Primary school educates children from 7 to 10 years old.
From 11 to 19 years of age they receive secondary education in gymnasiums or, if desired, after graduating from high school, from 16 to 19 years of age they receive specialized secondary education in colleges.
When entering a Czech lyceum, gymnasium or college, you must pass entrance exams.
Upon completion of studies in lyceums, gymnasiums and colleges, it is necessary to pass a matriculation exam. At the same time, this gives the right to enter a university or other higher education institution.
After completing primary school, 52% of students continue their education in gymnasiums and colleges, and 48% go to secondary school.
Starting from the middle grades, all subjects studied are divided into compulsory and elective, that is, studied at the choice of the students themselves.
Schools are divided into regular, general education and specialized, with in-depth study of mathematics, physics, foreign languages, physical education, and music.
There are several paid international schools where instruction is conducted in English, the curriculum in them is fully consistent with the programs of Western countries (England, USA), and upon completion of such a school the student receives a Western-style diploma.
About 7.2% of Czechs receive university education.
Higher education in the country is paid, but the fee is rather symbolic - about $100 per year.
Since January 1, 1999, studying in Czech at universities has become free.
Higher education in the Czech Republic is divided into two main types: university and non-university.
University education includes bachelor's, master's, doctorate degrees, while non-university education mainly takes students up to the bachelor's degree.
A bachelor's degree is intended for those who seek to obtain a so-called “short-term education” - the duration of study in this case is 3-4 years. Upon completion, a bachelor's degree is awarded - this is the necessary basic knowledge.
Master's studies last for 5-6 years depending on the specialty.
The third level of education - doctorate - is intended for individual creative activity and scientific research. It corresponds to our postgraduate program and here you can obtain a candidate and doctorate degree by passing certain disciplines and defending a dissertation.
There are about two dozen universities and more than a hundred institutes in the Czech Republic.
One of the most famous is Charles University, which was the first higher education institution in Central Europe. It was founded in 1348 by the Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV. The university became famous for the fact that master Jan Hus taught there, world-famous writers Karel Capek and Franz Kafka came from its walls, professor of philosophy T.G. Massarik and professor of sociology E. Benes, who later became presidents of the Czech Republic, taught there.
Charles University has 16 faculties: 3 theological, legal, medical, pharmaceutical, philosophical, natural history, physics and mathematics, pedagogy, social sciences, physical education and sports.
There are full-time, evening and correspondence departments, a department for foreign students, preparatory courses, postgraduate and doctoral studies.
To enter the university, you must have a certificate of secondary education and successfully pass the entrance exams. A three-year course of study provides a bachelor's degree and the opportunity to begin professional activity. To obtain a master's degree, you need to study for 5 years and defend a thesis.
The oldest universities in the country include: the University of Olomouk, founded in 1573; Czech Technical University, which traces its ancestry to the Engineering School established in 1707, which laid the foundation for the development of higher technical education in the Czech Republic.
Among economic universities, the most famous is the University of Economics in Prague.
Every major city in the Czech Republic has its own university, and they all have a high level of education.

Czech Republic \Medicine

The healthcare system and medicine in the Czech Republic has developed, just like in other European countries and has quite a long history.
Back in 1880, the First Congress of Czech doctors and natural scientists took place in Prague.

In the pre-war Czech Republic, as well as throughout Europe, the health care system was mainly private and paid. This did not stop her from making certain discoveries in the field of medicine.
As an example, we can cite the experiments of the Czech doctor J. Jansky, who in 1907 established that the blood serum of some people causes the accumulation of red blood cells in other people in a certain regular order, however, these experiments were forgotten and only in 1930 the discovery was recognized Austrian immunologist K. Landsteiner on the division of red blood cells into 3 groups.

After World War II, with the creation of the Czechoslovak Republic, the health care system was no different from the one we were used to under socialism: free medical care, a local doctor, symbolic prices for drugs in pharmacies, but, at the same time, not a very high level of medical care. services.
After the Velvet Revolution, dramatic changes took place. The health care system in the Czech Republic was reorganized and became non-state, but with state guarantees.

In the Czech Republic, medicine has again become paid, and medical institutions have been privatized.

However, the chosen insurance system with a network of health insurance companies is very expensive, as evidenced by the increase in healthcare costs in the Czech Republic.

The country has introduced a system of universal health insurance, according to which a patient who regularly pays insurance premiums does not have to worry about the cost of medical services and medications - the insurance company pays for him.

Entrepreneurs pay a percentage of their earnings, the owner of the enterprise pays for hired workers, and children and pensioners receive insurance from the state.

The cost of health insurance depends on gender and age. The largest contributions are set for 68-70 year olds.

For foreigners in the Czech Republic, emergency treatment and outpatient ambulance care are free. Any other inpatient care is covered.

For a foreigner in the Czech Republic, there are three options for receiving medical services:

1. Do not pay for insurance, but pay for each doctor visit and each medical procedure separately. At the same time, very simple services can require very significant amounts.
2. Contractual form of insurance. According to the health insurance contract, a foreigner has the right to receive basic medical care in a clinic and be treated in a hospital.
3. His insurance provides him with discounts on the purchase of medicines; he has the opportunity, on doctor’s orders, to be treated at Czech resorts for a lower fee than uninsured spa visitors. The advantage of contractual insurance is a wide network of medical institutions in the Czech Republic.

The insurance system, compulsory for employment, is linked to the conclusion of wages and gives the right to health care equal to that of Czech citizens.
In the Czech Republic, the system of spa treatment has been historically developed.
Resorts in the Czech Republic are equipped with the latest diagnostic and treatment equipment, specialized in the treatment of specific diseases, and have a network of dietary canteens, cultural and public institutions. Most resorts in the Czech Republic are unique due to the use of the healing properties of the springs mineral water

, combined with the most modern physiotherapy equipment

Czech Republic\Culture
The oldest written monuments appeared in the Czech Republic in the second half of the 10th century, when it was part of the Great Moravian Empire. They are connected with the activities of the Slavic enlighteners Cyril and Methodius, who spread Slavic writing to the territory of the entire state. These are spiritual and fighting songs, such as “Lord, have mercy on us”, “St. Wenceslas”, etc.
Starting from the end of the 10th century, the Czech Republic was already part of the “Holy Roman Empire” and Latin became the only written language of the Czechs. The “Chronicle of Bohemia” by Cosmas of Prague (1045-1125) dates back to this period.
At the end of the 13th century, secular, “knightly” literature appeared (Alexandride), satirical and didactic genres related to city life developed (the drama “The Seller of Healing Ointments”, the dialogue “The Groom and the Schoolman”, etc.).
The end of the 14th - beginning of the 15th centuries are characterized by the influence of the Reformation movement on literature. At this time, new literary forms emerged: anti-Catholic sermons (Jan Hus, Jan Zhevlinsky); epistolary works (Jan Hus, Jan Zizka); poetic appeals (“Budisha Manuscript”). After the defeat of the radical wing of the Hussites (1434), the writer and thinker Peter Helczycki (1390-1460), author of the theological work “The Network of Faith,” spoke. An important event of this period was the beginning of printing in the Czech language (1468).
After the Czech Republic lost its independence (1620), the development of literature occurred under conditions of pressure on Czech culture from foreign nobility and the Roman Church. During this period, Czech literature was represented by emigrant writers. One of them is the humanist teacher Ya.A. Kolensky.
A new upsurge in Czech literature occurred at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries during the period of national revival. The genre of scientific and journalistic treatises has become widespread. A major role in Czech literature was played by works on the history of language and writing by philologists J. Dobrovsky (1753-1829), J. Jungmann (1773-1847), works by poets I. Tam (1765-1816) and etc.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the movement of romanticism was formed in Czech literature (J. Jungmann, J. Kollar, F.L. Chelakovsky, etc.). The French Revolution of 1830 and the Polish Uprising of 1830-1831 had a significant influence on Czech literature in the middle of this century. Critical realism, which reached its peak in the second half of the century, was reflected in the works of such writers as J. Neruda, V. Galek, S. Cech and others.
In 1890, the Czech Academy of Literature and Arts was founded.
The twentieth century was one of the most difficult periods in the history of the Czech Republic. World War I, creation of the Czechoslovak Republic, World War II, formation of the Czechoslovak Republic socialist republic, each of these events had its influence on the development of Czech literature, changing its styles and directions from decadence and symbolism to socialist realism. During this period, such famous writers and poets as J. Hasek, A. Sova, K. Chapek, M. Puymanova and others worked.
art and the architecture of the Czech Republic began its development back in the Stone Age and the Bronze Age (sculpture, ceramics, metal jewelry, etc.).
In the 10th century, Prague occupied the main place in the artistic life of the country, where the rotunda of St. Vitus was built in the Castle in the first half of the 10th century.
In the 10th - 12th centuries, Romanesque style architecture developed, and the Church of St. George was built. Book miniatures (manuscripts of “Humpold's Legend of St. Wenceslas” around 1000) and frescoes (depictions of sovereigns from the Przmyslid family in the chapel in Znojmo (1134)) are developing.
In the 13th - 14th centuries, with the growth of cities, the development of crafts and mining, the Gothic style was established in the art of the Czech Republic (Anezka Monastery (1230) and the Tin Church, in Prague, etc.).
In the middle of the 14th century, realistic trends began to develop, which were embodied in the work of the art school of P. Palerzh (1330-1399), he built the Charles Bridge and created a number of sculptures.
In the 15th century, late Gothic art was represented by B. Reith (1454-1536), the creator of the unique star vaults of the Vladislav Hall in Prague Castle.
The 16th century in the Czech Republic is the Renaissance. Art glassmaking is flourishing, and art collections are being collected.
In the 16th and 18th centuries, realistic painting developed - K. Shkret (1610-1674), engraving - W. Hollar (1607-1677). The Baroque style is represented in the architecture of K.I. Ditsenhofer (1690-1751), in sculpture - F.M. Brokov (1688-1731) and M.B. Brown (1684-1738). In painting - P.Brandl (1668-1735) and V.V.Reiner (1689-1743), etc. In 1799, the Academy of Arts was created.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, realism was represented in painting: A. Mahek (1775-1844), K. Manes (1828-1880), A. Kosarek (1830-1859), A. Bubak (1824 -1870), J. Manes (1820-1871), etc. An architectural achievement was the building of the National Theater in Prague, built in 1868-1883 by J. Zitek (1832-1909), based on Renaissance trends. F. Zhenishek (1849-1916), V. Brozhik (1851-1901), V. Ginais (1854-1925) took part in the picturesque decoration of the theater. Sculpture - J. Myslbek (1848-1922), etc.
At the end of the 19th century, the widespread development of Czech graphics began; M. Shvabinsky (1873-1962), J. Preisler (1872-1918) and others worked in this genre.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Art Nouveau style with the use of new designs became widespread in architecture - J. Koter (1871-1923), in painting - realism is present in the work of landscape painters: A. Slavichek (1861-1910), J. Uprk ( 1861-1940), compositional paintings - M. Iranek (1875-1911), etc. In sculpture - J. Sturs (1880-1925), B. Kafka (1878-1942), etc. The middle of the century is characterized by the development of such styles in architecture as constructivism and functionalism.
Czech musical culture developed on the basis of rich folk art. In the middle of the 11th century, festive folk round dances were accompanied by playing flutes and drums. In the 13th century, chronicles mention trumpets, kettledrums, zithers, and harps and psalteriums were also widely used.
A major role in the development of musical art in the Czech Republic belongs to the Faculty of Liberal Arts of the University of Prague. Starting from the second half of the 14th century, many outstanding Czech musicians studied there, among them Master Zavis (1360-1411) - the author of liturgical chants and the first Czech lyrical song that has reached modern times.
The era of the Hussite wars was a period of flowering of song creativity, which is distinguished by its original melody and rhythm.
In the 16th century, Czech polyphonic art developed, its prominent masters: J. T. Turnovsky, J. Richnovsky, J. S. Klatovsky and others.
After the loss of independence, the country was flooded with foreign musicians. The influence of foreign music is evident in the works of Czech composers from the 18th to 18th centuries. Among them, J.D. Zelenka (1679-1745), B. Chernogrsky (1684-1742) and others stand out.
In the 18th century, Czech composers mastered complex polyphonic vocal and instrumental genres and successfully worked in the symphony genre. Outstanding musicians of this period were: F.V. Michi (1694-1744), J. Stamitz (1717-1757), J. Mysliveček (1737-1781), etc.
The development of Czech music in the 19th century was facilitated by the opening of the Conservatory in Prague in 1811. The first opera in the Czech language, "Drotar", was written by F. Skroup (1801-1862). This period is marked by the work of world-famous classical composers: B. Smetana (1824-1884) and A. Dvorak (1841-1904). There were also major masters: Z. Fiebich (1850-1900), L. Janacek (1854-1928), J. Suk (1874-1935) and others.
The National Theater was opened in 1861, and the Czech Philharmonic in 1901.
In the 20th century, the traditions of the great Czech musicians continued: V. Novak, J.B. Förster, V. Dobiash, Z. Blazek, J. Hanush and others.

Czech Republic\Massmedia

There are 90 national and regional daily newspapers published in the Czech Republic.

The most popular daily newspapers include:

• Mlada Fronta Dnes(daily circulation - 425,000) - the largest independent national daily newspaper, formerly a youth newspaper, now has modern style and is intended for a wide range of readers;
• Shine(daily circulation - 300,000) - published seven days a week, once a week a glossy magazine is published along with a newspaper;
• Pravo- formerly Rude Pravo (daily circulation 260,000), formerly a publication of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, now strives to provide an objective and independent interpretation of events, does not openly belong to any political party, but has a left-wing political bias and focuses on the discussion of social problems, has a reputation for high professionalism newspapers;
• Zemske noviny- formerly Ceske moravskoslezske Zemedelske Noviny (daily circulation - 160,000) - is the heir to the daily newspaper Zemedelske noviny (l945-1990), published as a national newspaper, but more aimed at rural and provincial readers;
• Hospodarske noviny(daily circulation - 125,000) - an economic daily newspaper, trying to adhere to the style of economic daily newspapers such as the Financial Times or Handelsblatt;
• Lidove noviny(daily circulation - 80,000) - is an independent daily newspaper aimed at a liberal reader with higher education, is known as a dissident newspaper.

The political freedom that emerged after 1989 brought about a huge upswing in all forms of media that were previously censored. Many new periodicals, radio stations, and television channels have appeared at the national and regional level.

The main periodicals in the Czech Republic have a very large share of foreign investors - mainly Switzerland and Germany, among which it is necessary to highlight the Swiss syndicate "Ringier" and the German Passauer Neue Presse.

Along with daily newspapers, many weeklies are popular. Western influence is also evident here in their quality and design. The most widely read periodicals are weeklies such as Kvety, Reflex, Tyden and Mlady Svet.

Two English weeklies are published in Prague: The Prague Post and The Central European Business Weekly. One glossy business magazine, La Tribune De Prague, is published in French and English. Prager Zeitung is published in German.

They contain weekly news, features and analysis of economics, politics and culture in the Czech Republic, Eastern Europe and the European Union.

Radio and Television

The Czech Republic has both public and private television and radio broadcasting networks.

The state-owned Radio Czech Republic and Czech Television are funded by the government.

The Radio and Television Broadcasting Council is responsible for issuing broadcasting licenses in the Czech Republic. He is elected by parliament and is independent of the government.

To date, the Council has issued more than 70 licenses for radio broadcasting, and there are already about 150 radio stations operating in the Czech Republic.

The largest of them include:

• Radio KISS 98 FM;
• Impuls;
• Radio Frekvence 1;
• Radio Europa 2;
• BI - BI - SI (BBC World Service);
• Radio Free Europe.

In the Czech Republic, 52 television licenses have also been granted. There are two public and two private television stations (Nova and Prima), which are broadcast throughout the Czech Republic.
In addition, there are 118 small television stations in the country.

REFERENCE INFORMATION

Administrative division of the country

In November, elections to regional parliaments will be held for the first time in the Czech Republic. The administrative division of the country is changing. Instead of 7 areas, there will be 14 edges. The parliament adopted a package of laws that define the competence of the territories and allow the creation of regional legislative bodies.

Although formally the new division of the country comes into force on January 1, in fact, it will come into force only after the elections of regional parliaments and the formation of executive authorities.

Zemstvo reform is on a solid legislative basis. The law on territories, communities, district administrations, on the capital Prague, on the competencies of regional authorities, on elections to regional parliaments was adopted.

The new government will initially have the right to formulate regional policy in the fields of education, health care, culture, transport, and the social sphere. A significant expansion of the competencies of the new authorities will follow in 2003, when the existing district administrations will cease to operate.

The composition of the regional parliaments will be elected for 4 years. This year the elections will not affect only Prague (it is also an independent region). The composition of the Prague magistrate elected the year before last will serve until 2002.

Zemstvo reform will cost the country approximately 5 billion crowns. What will change after the election of regional parliaments in 2000? The country's territory will be divided into 14 regions. Each region will have a representative body consisting of 45 - 64 people, at the head of the region there will be a council (9 - 11 people) and the council will elect a hetman.

A 5 percent barrier is introduced for political parties during parliamentary elections. Residents of the region who have reached 18 years of age can become regional deputies.

It is curious that in those communities where at least a fifth of the residents belong to a national minority, street names can be written in the minority language if at least half of the residents belonging to the national minority request it.

The leaders of the regional government will be called HEtmans (Hejtman). In government bodies in the Czech lands, the positions of hetmans existed for about 100 years from the middle of the last century. These were district leaders and were appointed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The new hetmans will become leaders of local government. Their salaries are set. They are quite tall. The hetman will receive 57,000 crowns per month, members of the regional council - 48,400 crowns.

New administrative division of the country (see map)

edge	Center	Area km sq	Population	Number of communities
Karlovy Vary	Karlovy Vary	3315	305086
Kralovegradecki	Hradec Kralove	4757	553827
Ustisky	Usti nad Labem	5335	825074
Liberecki	Liberec	3163	428974
Olomouc	Olomouc	5139	645804
Pilsen	Pilsen	7560	305 086
Prague	Prague		1 209 855
Central Czech	Prague	11014	1106738	1147
Pardubicki	Pardubice	4519	510 072
Ostravsky	Ostrava	5555	1 289 002
Budeevitsky	Ceske Budejovice	10056	626 897
Jihlavsky	Jihlava	6925	522 846
Brno	Brno	7067	1 141 172
Zlinsky	Zlín	3965	600 617

The Czech Republic was formed from three geographical regions - Moravia, Silesia, Bohemia. Bohemia is the largest region and, in turn, it is also customary to divide it into parts - Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western. The administrative division of the Czech Republic does not entirely coincide with the geographical one. Prague and its surroundings belong to Central Bohemia.
Each region has its own pearls, information about the most interesting of them you will see on the following pages