Portal:Czech Republic

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...)

View new selections below (purge)

Selected article - show another

Sněžka seen from the Sněžka Plateau

Sněžka (Czech pronunciation: [ˈsɲɛʃka] ^ⓘ) or Śnieżka (Polish pronunciation: [ˈɕɲɛʂka], German: Schneekoppe, Slovak: Snežka) is a mountain on the border between the Czech Republic and Poland, the most prominent point of the Silesian Ridge in the Giant Mountains. At 1,603.3 metres (5,260 ft), its summit is the highest point in the Czech Republic, in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in the Giant Mountains and in the entire Sudetes. (Full article...)

List of selected articles

edit

Selected picture

The Maiden by Gustav Klimt, 1913. Collection of the National Gallery Prague.

Source: Národní Galerie v Praze, PD

edit

In this month

2 March 1978 – Vladimír Remek becomes the first man in space from a country other than the United States and USSR
6 March 1645 – One of the bloodiest battles of the Thirty Years' War, the Battle of Jankau takes place 50km from Prague
16 March 1939 – The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia is established following the end of the Second Czechoslovak Republic
29 March 1896 – The first Prague derby is played between Sparta and Slavia. The match ends 0–0
30 March 1968 – Ludvík Svoboda (pictured) is elected President of Czechoslovakia

More anniversaries...

edit

Selected biography - show another

Nedvěd playing for the Czech Republic at the 2006 FIFA World Cup

Pavel Nedvěd (Czech pronunciation: [ˈpavɛl ˈnɛdvjɛt] ^ⓘ; born 30 August 1972) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Czech players of all time and he won numerous trophies with Italian clubs Lazio and Juventus. He won the last ever Cup Winners' Cup with Lazio and led Juventus to the 2003 UEFA Champions League final.

Nedvěd was a vital player in the Czech team that reached the final of Euro 1996 and afterwards he attracted the attention of big European clubs. He also captained the team at UEFA Euro 2004, where they were defeated in the semi-final by eventual champions Greece, and Nedvěd was named in the Team of the Tournament. Furthermore, Nedvěd helped his team qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup for the first time since the breakup of Czechoslovakia. Due to his quick and energetic runs during matches, Nedvěd was nicknamed "Furia Ceca" ("Czech Fury") by Italian football fans. His nickname in Czech is Méďa ("Little Bear"), stemming from the similarity between his surname and the Czech word for bear, Medvěd. (Full article...)

List of selected biographies
John Amos Comenius Petr Čech Dominik Hašek Jaromír Jágr Gregor Mendel Tomáš Rosický Franz Kafka 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

edit

Did you know?

...that, although Mozart never visited Kroměříž, much of the Academy Award-winning film Amadeus was filmed at the local episcopal residence?
... that the Cross of Merit of the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic is the highest award presented by the Czech Minister of Defence?
... that footballer Petr Vrabec won six Czechoslovak league titles with Sparta Prague?
... that Miroslav Tyrš, the founder of Czech national sport movement Sokol, was born into a German family?

General images

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

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

Related portals

edit

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

edit

WikiProjects

WikiProject Czech Republic

WikiProject Europe

edit

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