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 State of the Holy Roman Empire in 1002 and became a kingdom in 1198. Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526, all of the Crown lands of Bohemia 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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A monument to the battle on the Slovak side of the Dukla Pass.

The Battle of the Dukla Pass, also known as the Dukla, Carpatho–Dukla, Rzeszów–Dukla, or Dukla–Prešov offensive, was the battle for control over the Dukla Pass on the border between Poland and Slovakia on the Eastern Front of World War II between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in September–October 1944. It was part of the Soviet East Carpathian strategic offensive that also included the Carpathian–Uzhgorod offensive. The operation's primary goal, to provide support for the Slovak rebellion, was not achieved, but it concluded the full liberation of the Ukrainian SSR.

The German resistance in the eastern Carpathian region was much stronger than expected. The battle which began on 8 September would not see the Soviet forces on the other side of the pass until 6 October, and German forces would stop their heavy resistance in the region only around 10 October. Five days to Prešov turned into fifty days to Svidník alone with over 70,000 casualties on both sides. Prešov that was to be reached in six days remained beyond the Czechoslovaks' grasp for four months. The battle would be counted among the most bloody in the entire Eastern Front and the history of Slovakia; one of the valleys in the pass, near the villages of Kapišová, Chyrowa, Iwla and Głojsce, would become known as the "Valley of Death". (Full article...)

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Self Portrait by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, 1570. Collection of the National Gallery Prague.

Source: Národní Galerie v Praze, PD

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In this month

14 November 1960 – The deadliest rail disaster in Czech history takes place in Eastern Bohemia, resulting in 118 deaths
14 November 1918 – Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (pictured) becomes the first President of Czechoslovakia
17 November 1939 – Nazi Germany storms Czech universities, executing nine students and professors, later commemorated as International Students' Day
17 November 1989 – The Velvet Revolution starts in Prague, culminating in the end of 41 years of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia
24 November 1966 – The deadliest air disaster in Czechoslovakia takes place near Bratislava, killing all 82 on board

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Kafka in 1923

Franz Kafka (3 July 1883 – 3 June 1924) was an Austrian-Czech novelist and writer from Prague. He is widely regarded as a major figure of 20th-century literature; he wrote in German. His work fuses elements of realism and the fantastic. It typically features isolated protagonists facing bizarre or surrealistic predicaments and incomprehensible socio-bureaucratic powers. It has been interpreted as exploring themes of alienation, existential anxiety, guilt, and absurdity. His best known works include the novella The Metamorphosis and the novels The Trial and The Castle. The term Kafkaesque has entered English to describe absurd situations like those depicted in his writing.

Kafka was born into a middle-class German- and Yiddish-speaking Czech Jewish family in Prague, the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia, which belonged to the Austrian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (today the capital of Czechia, also known as the Czech Republic). He trained as a lawyer, and after completing his legal education was employed full-time, for a year handling cases for the indigent in the city's Provincial and Criminal Courts by an insurance company, then working for nine months for an Italian insurance company, and finally, starting in 1908, spending 14 years with the Austrian Imperial and Royal Workmen's Accident Institute for the Kingdom of Bohemia and its successor under the Czechoslovak Republic, rising to the position of chief legal secretary. (Full article...)

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John Amos Comenius Petr Čech Dominik Hašek Jaromír Jágr Pavel Nedvěd Gregor Mendel Tomáš Rosický Bedřich Smetana Emanuel Moravec Gustav Mahler Fredy Hirsch 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 in 2013, the Czech Republic plans to directly elect its president for the first time in its history?
... that Jan Maroši scored directly from a corner for Sigma Olomouc in a 1992–93 UEFA Cup match against Juventus?
... that Czech Karel Robětín was not only an Olympian and national tennis champion but also an international paper industry tycoon?

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General images

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

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

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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