13. The Czech Republic, travel experiences - P

Brno – The South Moravian metropolis with a popular international trade fair BVV, • centre of Moravian culture – theatres, galleries, museums (Mendel´s museum) •education (Masaryk university, Technical university and many secondary schools), centre of finance and business, an industrial city surrounded by forests and fields. Highlights: Petrov cathedral, Špilberk fortress, Svoboda square, big shopping centres, Brno dam, Brno ZOO

Olomouc – a beautiful historical city and centre of Haná region, astronomic clock in the centre

Ostrava – industrial centre, chemical factories, coal mines, the city is changing these days. Rock festival: Colors of Ostrava

Other important cities: Hradec králové,ČeskéBudějovice (Budweiser beer),JihlavaPlzeň (Pilsner beer, ŠKODA factory),ČeskýKrumlov,Telč (UNESCO city – historical square), Pardubice (famous steeple chase – horse races, ginger bread),Karlovy Vary, Mariánskélázně, Františkovylázně (famous spa, Russian community), Slavonice,Tábor (historical town connected with the Hussite movement),Ústínad Labem (The Ore Mountains),Liberec (Ještěd, ZOO, famous cathedral), KutnáHora (St.Barbara´s cathedral, Šlik´s silver tollar) Znojmo (rotunda, underground corridors, famous pickled gherkins)

Karlovy Vary - Famous spa, MATTONI, Russian community Tábor – the town of the Hussites, Watchtower on Ještěd

famous castles and chateaux

The Czech republic is a country of hundreds of castles and chateaux -Křivoklát, Buchlov Krkonoše – The Giant Mountains, ski resorts

Famouspersonalities

Sport: Jágr, Hašek, Petr Čech, Železný, Špotáková

Politics: Václav Havel – first Czech president

Art: J. Seifert (Nobel Prize 1984) M. Kundera K. Čapek, M. Forman

Science: Jaroslav Heyrovský (1959 Nobel price)

Music: Karel Gott, An. Dvořák, B. Smetana – composers of classical music

Industries : the most important part of our economy is engineering, other important branches are metallurgical and chemical industries and tourism.

Natural resources : The Czech Republic is heavily depended on imported oil and natural gas. The country´s source of energy is large deposits of lignite and coal (Ostrava, Most, Kladno).

Agriculture : Some 40 per cent of land in the Czech Republic is cultivated. Agriculture plays a small role in the nation´s export industry. The principal crops on the Czech Republic are barley, wheat, corn, sugar, beets and potatoes. Typical feature of south Moravia is wine farming, which is possible of its moist climate. Almost every house has its wine cellar. In north Moravia is an important agricultural region called Haná.

Manufacturing : Manufacturing is a leading component of the CZ´s gross domestic product – steelworks, glass industry, jewellery.

Travelling

1. Transports, travelling

2. Summer and winter holidays

Travelling is very popular. Why do people travel? There are many answers and reasons, for example just relax, visit relatives, work or school experience travel, sports and entertainment. For many of us is travelling a hobby. People want to see new places, interesting people, the most beautiful buildings in the world. Many people like visiting castles, palaces, fortresses, ruins, rotundas, churches, cathedrals, temples. We can eat unusual food, we can see many different culture of life. We can meet new people or friends. But some people travel on bussines, political or culture reasons. Somepeople travel only for recreation, fun and adventure. People travel usually during holiday. Lots of people like travelling with travel agency. Travel agencies are able to provide many services. Some people prefer a package tour where everything is organised. Others prefer self-catering holidays where they rent a house or bungalow and look after themselves. On the other hand when you travel on your own with a tan it is much cheaper. A lot of people are employed in tourist industry, they work in travel agencies, or they work in hotels – as receptionists, door persons, chamber maids, managers, or in a restaurants as cooks or waiters. Tourist industry brings in a lot of money, tourists spend their money in restaurants, hotels, on accommodation or in shops.