The Czech Republic

The Czech Republic

Geographical location and features

• Situated in the heard of Europe

• Historically divided into free parts – Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia

• Shares borders with Germany, Poland, Austria, and Slovakia

Population

• 10 million people

Political system

• The executive power

  • The head of state is The President – Miloš Zeman - elected for a 5-year period

  • Government – consists of the Prime Minister and ministers

    • The Prime Minister – leader of the party which won the elections

      • Andrej Babiš

    • Ministers of foreign affairs, defence, justice, finances etc.

• The legislative power – parliament

  • The chamber of deputies – 200 deputies, 4-year period

  • The senate – 81 senators, 6-year period, 1/3 ¤one third¤ renewed every 2 years

• Judicial power

Symbols of the Czech Republic

• National anthem – “Where is my homeland?”

• Official tricolour

• National flag

• Flag of president

Industry and agriculture

• Mining industry in region of Ostrava – black coal

• Steel production – company Vítkovice

• Iron production in Třinecké železárny

• Engineering – Škoda

Spots of natural beauty

Historical monuments

• Prague – historical centre, the capital

  • St. Vitus Cathedral

  • The Old Town Square

  • Vyšehrad cathedral

• Tábor – founded by Hussites

• Hluboká, Orlík, Rožumberk – castles

• Český Krumlov – historical city

Brief history

• The greatest development of Prague was 14TH century during the reign of Charles IV.

  • Founded Charles University

• 1918 Czechoslovakia

• 1939-45: Nazi occupation of our country, WWII.

• After 2WW the power was taken by the communists till the velvet revolution

• 1948: Communistic putsch in Czechoslovakia.

• 1960-90: period of duration ČSSR – Czechoslovak Socialist Republic.

• 1968: Russian occupation, Prague spring.

Changes since 1989

• Velvet revolution ended communism and soviet power

• 17 of November 1989: Velvet revolution – students revolt against Communistic regime (party)

UNESCO sites

• Litomyšl Castle – One of the most important examples of Renaissance architecture, opera festival Smetana’s Libuše takes place here (born town of B. Smetana).

• Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc – One of the tallest Baroque memorial columns in the Czech Republic with copper statues.

• Třebíč – The historical centre with Romanesque – Gothic basilica.

• The Historical Centre of Telč – The town’s square with Renaissance and Baroque houses.

• Kutná hora – a medieval mining town which became rich because of silver deposits. There is a historical centre and the Church of St. Barbara.

• Lednice – Valtice Cultural Landscape

EU membership

• Joined in 2004

Slovíčka

Two tailed lion – lev dvouocasý

Princess – kníže

Principality – knížectví

Czech Estates – stavy

National Revival – Národní Obrození

Municipal house – Obecní dům

The Lesser Quarter – Malá Strana

Mortar – malta

Legend has it – legenda praví

Abbot – opat

Powder – Prašná Brána

Astronomical clocks – Orloj

Mill – mlýn

Relics – relikvie