Portal:Czech Republic

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Welcome to the Czech Portal!
Vítejte na Českém portálu!

The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to 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 temperate continental and oceanic climate. The capital and largest city is Prague; other major cities and urban areas include Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň and Liberec.

The Duchy of Bohemia was founded in the late 9th century under Great Moravia. It was formally recognized as an Imperial Estate of the Holy Roman Empire in 1002 and became a kingdom in 1198. Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526, all of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown were gradually integrated into the Habsburg monarchy. Nearly a hundred years later, the Protestant Bohemian Revolt led to the Thirty Years' War. After the Battle of White Mountain, the Habsburgs consolidated their rule. With the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, the Crown lands became part of the Austrian Empire.

In the 19th century, the Czech lands became more industrialized; further, in 1918, most of the country became part of the First Czechoslovak Republic following the collapse of Austria-Hungary after World War I. Czechoslovakia was the only country in Central and Eastern Europe to remain a parliamentary democracy during the entirety of the interwar period. After the Munich Agreement in 1938, Nazi Germany systematically took control over the Czech lands. Czechoslovakia was restored in 1945 and three years later became an Eastern Bloc communist state following a coup d'état in 1948. Attempts to liberalize the government and economy were suppressed by a Soviet-led invasion of the country during the Prague Spring in 1968. In November 1989, the Velvet Revolution ended communist rule in the country and restored democracy. 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 a unitary parliamentary republic and developed country with an advanced, high-income social market economy. It is a welfare state with a European social model, universal health care and free-tuition university education. It ranks 32nd in the Human Development Index. The Czech Republic is a member of the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, the OECD, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Visegrád Group. (Full article...)

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Goral men's choir from Jablunkov during the parade of the Jubileuszowy Festiwal PZKO 2007 in Karviná

The Polish minority in the Czech Republic is a Polish national minority living mainly in the Trans-Olza region of western Cieszyn Silesia. The Polish community is the only national (or ethnic) minority in the Czech Republic that is linked to a specific geographical area. Trans-Olza is located in the north-eastern part of the country. It comprises Karviná District and the eastern part of Frýdek-Místek District. Many Poles living in other regions of the Czech Republic have roots in Trans-Olza as well.

Poles formed the largest ethnic group in Cieszyn Silesia in the 19th century, but at the beginning of the 20th century the Czech population grew. The Czechs and Poles collaborated on resisting Germanization movements, but this collaboration ceased after World War I. In 1920 the region of Trans-Olza was incorporated into Czechoslovakia after the Polish–Czechoslovak War. Since then the Polish population demographically decreased. In 1938 it was annexed by Poland in the context of the Munich Agreement and in 1939 by Nazi Germany. The region was then given back to Czechoslovakia after World War II. Polish organizations were re-created, but were banned by the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. After the Velvet Revolution Polish organizations were re-created again and Trans-Olza had adopted bilingual signs. (Full article...)

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The village of Malá Úpa in the Krkonoše

Photographer: Pudelek; License: Dual (GNU Free Documentation License and Creative Commons CC-BY-SA)

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In this month

1 January 1993 – Czechoslovakia dissolves, resulting in the establishment of the Czech Republic and Slovakia
1 January 2000 – 14 new regions are established
4 January 1896 – The Czech Philharmonic (pictured) plays its first concert
6 January 1977 – Charter 77 is published, with the names of 242 signatories
21 January 1930 – The nation's first traffic light is installed at the junction of Wenceslas Square with Jindřišská and Vodičková streets

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Alfred Hirsch (Hebrew: פרדי הירש; (1916-02-11)11 February 1916 – (1944-03-08)8 March 1944) was a German-Jewish athlete, sports teacher and Zionist youth movement leader, notable for helping thousands of Jewish children during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in Prague, Theresienstadt concentration camp, and Auschwitz. Hirsch was the deputy supervisor of children at Theresienstadt and the supervisor of the children's block at the Theresienstadt family camp at Auschwitz II-Birkenau.

Because of his German extraction, charisma, and careful appearance, he was able to convince SS guards to grant privileges to the children, including exemptions from deportation and extra rations, which saved their lives at least temporarily. Hirsch and his assistants maintained clandestine education under the difficult circumstances. Hirsch's insistence on exercise, discipline, and strict hygiene reduced death rates among the children. (Full article...)

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John Amos Comenius Petr Čech Dominik Hašek Jaromír Jágr Pavel Nedvěd Gregor Mendel Tomáš Rosický Franz Kafka Bedřich Smetana Emanuel Moravec Gustav Mahler Antonín Kinský Vlastimil Koubek Petra Kvitová Martin Miller (actor) Vratislav Lokvenc Vladimír Remek Leoš Janáček Libor Michálek Vojtěch Jarník Markéta Vondroušová Zdeňka Wiedermannová-Motyčková

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Did you know?

...that in 1990, Czech and Slovak politicians "fought" the Hyphen War, a political battle over whether "Czechoslovakia" should be spelled with a hyphen?
... that the World War II idea of Polish-Czechoslovakian confederation was eventually discarded by the Czechs, whose leader chose instead to believe in the Soviet Union promises of alliance?
... that Czech international footballer Jan Suchopárek dislocated his shoulder while attempting a bicycle kick?
... that Czech actress Anna Letenská was killed by the Nazis for her alleged participation in the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich?

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General images

The following are images from various Czech Republic-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Bohemia (westernmost area) in Czechoslovakia 1918–1938 (from Bohemia)
Image 2Christmas cookies (vánoční cukroví) (from Czech cuisine)
Image 3Linguistic map of interwar Czechoslovakia (c. 1930) (from Bohemia)
Image 4Řežabinec a Řežabinecké tůně National Nature Reserve (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 5Kačina Castle in Chotkov (from Czech architecture)
Image 6Rotunda of St. George from the beginning of the 12th century on Mount Říp (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 7Detailed map of Bohemia, 1742 (from Bohemia)
Image 8Cubist lamp by Emil Králíček, Jungmannovo náměstí, next to the Gothic Church of Our Lady of the Snows (Prague) (from Czech architecture)
Image 9The coat of arms of the Přemyslid dynasty (until 1253–1262) (from Bohemia)
Image 10Buděticko Nature Park with Rabí Castle (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 11A panorama of Kłodzko, the capital city of Kłodzko Land, which is referred to as "Little Prague" (from Bohemia)
Image 12Empress Maria Theresa (reignet 1740–1780) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 13Europe after the Congress of Vienna in 1815 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 14Dacian Influence over Bohemia (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 15An 1892 map showing Bohemia proper outlined in pink, Moravia in yellow, and Austrian Silesia in orange (from Bohemia)
Image 16Bohemia as the heart of Europa regina; Sebastian Münster, Basel, 1570 (from Bohemia)
Image 17Prague-style beef goulash (from Czech cuisine)
Image 18Church of Saint Agnes of Bohemia (Spořilov) (from Czech architecture)
Image 19Vepřo-knedlo-zelo (Roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut) (from Czech cuisine)
Image 20St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle, John of Luxembourg laid the foundation stone in 1344 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 21Territory under the control of the Přemyslids, c. 1301 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 22Vladislaus Hall at the Prague Castle, built from 1490 to 1502 by Benedikt Rejt (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 23Monument to the village of Lidice murdered by the Nazis (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 24Iconic brutalist Transgas building, demolished in 2019 (from Czech architecture)
Image 25The First Czechoslovak Republic (1918-1938) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 26Library of Clementinum, a former Jesuit College, built in 1722 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 27A panorama of Zittau (from Bohemia)
Image 28Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, philosopher, Czechoslovak president in the years 1918-1935 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 29Fried cheese, served with tartar sauce and side salad (from Czech cuisine)
Image 30King George of Podebrady, one of the first promoters of united Europe (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 31Copper engraving of the Second Defenestration of Prague from Theatrum Europaeum by Matthäus Merian. (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 32Bronze sword, Urnfield culture, c. 1200 BC (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 33The extent of the Protestant Reformation (1545–1620) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 34Czech kings Ottokar II, Wenceslas II and Wenceslas III from the Přemyslid dynasty (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 35Baroque St. Nicholas Church in Malá Strana, built between 1704 and 1755 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 36Svíčková na smetaně served with dumplings, whipped cream and cranberries (from Czech cuisine)
Image 37Duchy of Bohemia, around 1029 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 38Pilsner Urquell in a branded mug (from Czech cuisine)
Image 39The National Theater from 1881 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 40Adria Palace (Prague) (from Czech architecture)
Image 41Territories ruled by Ottokar II of Bohemia in 1273 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 42House of the Black Madonna (from Czech architecture)
Image 43Emperor and King Charles IV. Luxembourg (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 44Great Moravia during the reign of Svatopluk I (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 45Beheading of 27 Bohemian nobles at the Old Town Square in Prague, 1621 (contemporary illustration) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 46Saint Wenceslas, Czech prince (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 47Monument to Master Jan Hus, a religious reformer and philosopher in Prague (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 48Entrance to Moravian Karst PLA (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 49Stone sculpture of a Celtic man, found in Mšecké Žehrovice (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 50Svíčková na smetaně (Marinated tenderloin), served here with dumplings and cream (from Czech cuisine)
Image 51Nakládaný hermelín (marinated cheese) (from Czech cuisine)
Image 52The radical Hussites became known as Taborites, after the town of Tábor that became their center (from Bohemia)
Image 53Cubist architecture in Prague (from Czech architecture)
Image 54John Amos Comenius (1592-1670), Czech philosopher and school reformer (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 55Korozluky Castle (from Czech architecture)
Image 56Semi-detached villa in Brno by Otto Eisler, according to MoMA's Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, is a defining building of the International style. (from Czech architecture)
Image 57Frgál, a type of koláč baked in Moravian Wallachia (from Czech cuisine)
Image 58Grand Café Orient in Prague (from Czech architecture)
Image 59Fried bramboráky (potato pancakes) (from Czech cuisine)
Image 60Obložené chlebíčky, a type of snack or appetizer (from Czech cuisine)
Image 61Bohemian city Karlovy Vary (from Bohemia)
Image 62Hroby Nature Monument in Radenín (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 63The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Bohemia (from Bohemia)
Image 64Map of protected areas of the Czech Republic: national parks (grey) and protected landscape areas (green) (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 65Venus of Dolní Věstonice, the oldest ceramic article in the world (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 66Václav Havel, playwright, dissident and president from 1989 to 2003 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 67Emperor Francis Joseph I. (reigned 1848–1916) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 68Russian occupation in 1968 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 69The Kingdom of Bohemia in 1618 with other Bohemian Crown lands within the Holy Roman Empire (1618). (from Bohemia)
Image 70Writer Božena Němcová (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 71A "traditional Bohemian platter" at a restaurant in central Prague, consisting of roast duck, roast pork, beer sausage, smoked meat, red and white cabbage, bread, bacon and potato dumplings (from Czech cuisine)
Image 72Lands of the Bohemian Crown (until 1635), map by Josef Pekař, 1921 (from Bohemia)
Image 73Zelňačka (from Czech cuisine)
Image 74Apple strudel with raisins (from Czech cuisine)

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Topics

Czech lands: Bohemia • Moravia • Czech Silesia

History: Únětice culture • Boii • Marcomanni • Samo • Great Moravia • Přemyslid dynasty • Lands of the Bohemian Crown • Czech lands (1526–1648) • 1648–1867 • 1867–1918) • Czechoslovakia • Czech Republic

Geography: Lakes • Protected areas • Regions • Rivers

Law: Judiciary • Law enforcement • Supreme Court of the Czech Republic

Politics: Administrative divisions • Government • Constitution • Elections • Foreign relations • Army • Parliament • Political parties • President • Prime Minister

Economy: Banks • Czech koruna • Energy • Oil and gas deposits • Stock Exchange • Tourism • Transport

Culture: Architecture • Art • Cinema • Cuisine • Demographics • Education • Language • Literature • Media • Music • Philosophy • Prostitution • Public holidays • Religion • Sport • Television • Video games

Symbols: Flag • Coat of arms • National anthem (Kde domov můj)

Lists: Outline of the Czech Republic • List of Czech Republic–related topics

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WikiProjects

WikiProject Czech Republic

WikiProject Europe

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Featured and good content

	Featured articles		Dominik Hašek • Earth-grazing meteoroid of 13 October 1990 • Franz Kafka • Gustav Mahler • Bedřich Smetana • The Bartered Bride
	Good articles		Patrik Berger • FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 • Reinhard Heydrich • Leoš Janáček • Vlastimil Koubek • Libor Michálek • Pavel Nedvěd • Panzer 35(t) • Polish minority in the Czech Republic • Prague Spring • Punch-up in Piestany • Randy Blythe manslaughter case • The Brothers Grimm (film) • Winton Train • Zaolzie