Portal:Czech Republic

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Welcome to the Czech Portal!
Vítejte na Českém portálu!

The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it 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, and in 1918 most of it 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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Czech (/tʃɛk/ CHEK; endonym: čeština [ˈtʃɛʃcɪna]), historically also known as Bohemian (/boʊˈhiːmiən, bə-/ boh-HEE-mee-ən, bə-; Latin: lingua Bohemica), is a West Slavic language of the Czech–Slovak group, written in Latin script. Spoken by over 10 million people, it serves as the official language of the Czech Republic. Czech is closely related to Slovak, to the point of high mutual intelligibility, as well as to Polish to a lesser degree. Czech is a fusional language with a rich system of morphology and relatively flexible word order. Its vocabulary has been extensively influenced by Latin and German.

The Czech–Slovak group developed within West Slavic in the high medieval period, and the standardization of Czech and Slovak within the Czech–Slovak dialect continuum emerged in the early modern period. In the later 18th to mid-19th century, the modern written standard became codified in the context of the Czech National Revival. The most widely spoken non-standard variety, known as Common Czech, is based on the vernacular of Prague, but is now spoken as an interdialect throughout most of Bohemia. The Moravian dialects spoken in Moravia and Czech Silesia are considerably more varied than the dialects of Bohemia. (Full article...)

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A Saab JAS 39 Gripen of the Czech Air Force taking off in Čáslav

Photographer: Milan Nykodym, Czech Republic; License: Creative Commons CC-BY-SA

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In this month

1 July 1991 – The Warsaw Pact is dissolved in Prague
6 July 1415 – Church reformer Jan Hus is burned at the stake, marked by a state holiday since 1925.
9 July 1357 – Charles IV reportedly lays the first stone at the Charles Bridge (pictured) in Prague
29 July 1817 – Foundation of Moravské zemské muzeum in Brno under the name Františkovo muzeum, the second-oldest museum in the country
30 July 1419 – The first of the Defenestrations of Prague: a group led by priest Jan Želivský go to Prague's New Town Hall, where they throw councillors out of the windows, starting the Hussite Wars

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Hašek with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008

Dominik Hašek (Czech pronunciation: [ˈdomɪnɪk ˈɦaʃɛk], audio; born 29 January 1965) is a Czech former ice hockey goaltender who mostly played for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Widely regarded as one of the best goaltenders of all time, Hašek also played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, and Ottawa Senators in his 16-season National Hockey League (NHL) career before finishing his career in Europe. While in Buffalo, he became one of the league's finest goaltenders, earning him the nickname "The Dominator". His strong play has been credited with establishing European goaltenders in a league previously dominated by North Americans. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, both with the Red Wings.

Hašek was one of the league's most successful goaltenders of the 1990s and early 2000s. From 1993 to 2001, he won six Vezina Trophies, the most under the award's current system of voting for the best individual goaltender. In 1998 he won his second consecutive Hart Memorial Trophy, becoming the first goaltender to win the award multiple times. During the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, he led the Czech national ice hockey team to its first and only Olympic gold medal. The feat made him a popular figure in his home country and prompted hockey legend Wayne Gretzky to call him "the best player in the game". While with the Red Wings in 2002, Hašek became the first European-trained starting goaltender to win the Stanley Cup. In the process, he set a record for shutouts in a postseason year. (Full article...)

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John Amos Comenius Petr Čech Jaromír Jágr Pavel Nedvěd 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

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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 report Public Finance Balance of Smoking in the Czech Republic found that the "effect of smoking on the public finance balance in the Czech Republic in 1999 was positive"?
... that Czech international footballer Jan Suchopárek dislocated his shoulder while attempting a bicycle kick?
... 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 1Grand Café Orient in Prague (from Czech architecture)
Image 2The National Theater from 1881 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 3Linguistic map of interwar Czechoslovakia (c. 1930) (from Bohemia)
Image 4Territories ruled by Ottokar II of Bohemia in 1273 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 5Korozluky Castle (from Czech architecture)
Image 6Řežabinec a Řežabinecké tůně National Nature Reserve (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 7Obložené chlebíčky, a type of snack or appetizer (from Czech cuisine)
Image 8Bohemia (westernmost area) in Czechoslovakia 1918–1938 (from Bohemia)
Image 9Writer Božena Němcová (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 10Venus of Dolní Věstonice, the oldest ceramic article in the world (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 11Cubist architecture in Prague (from Czech architecture)
Image 12Hroby Nature Monument in Radenín (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 13Monument to the village of Lidice murdered by the Nazis (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 14Russian occupation in 1968 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 15Detailed map of Bohemia, 1742 (from Bohemia)
Image 16An 1892 map showing Bohemia proper outlined in pink, Moravia in yellow, and Austrian Silesia in orange (from Bohemia)
Image 17Duchy of Bohemia, around 1029 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 18Fried bramboráky (potato pancakes) (from Czech cuisine)
Image 19Fried cheese, served with tartar sauce and side salad (from Czech cuisine)
Image 20A panorama of Zittau (from Bohemia)
Image 21Bohemian city Karlovy Vary (from Bohemia)
Image 22The radical Hussites became known as Taborites, after the town of Tábor that became their center (from Bohemia)
Image 23Kačina Castle in Chotkov (from Czech architecture)
Image 24Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, philosopher, Czechoslovak president in the years 1918-1935 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 25Svíčková na smetaně served with dumplings, whipped cream and cranberries (from Czech cuisine)
Image 26Lands of the Bohemian Crown (until 1635), map by Josef Pekař, 1921 (from Bohemia)
Image 27Territory under the control of the Přemyslids, c. 1301 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 28House of the Black Madonna (from Czech architecture)
Image 29Bronze sword, Urnfield culture, c. 1200 BC (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 30Rotunda of St. George from the beginning of the 12th century on Mount Říp (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 32A "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 33The extent of the Protestant Reformation (1545–1620) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 34Monument to Master Jan Hus, a religious reformer and philosopher in Prague (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 35Vepřo-knedlo-zelo (Roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut) (from Czech cuisine)
Image 36Iconic brutalist Transgas building, demolished in 2019 (from Czech architecture)
Image 37Emperor Francis Joseph I. (reigned 1848–1916) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 38Nakládaný hermelín (marinated cheese) (from Czech cuisine)
Image 39The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Bohemia (from Bohemia)
Image 40Saint Wenceslas, Czech prince (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 41Library of Clementinum, a former Jesuit College, built in 1722 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 42John Amos Comenius (1592-1670), Czech philosopher and school reformer (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 43Great Moravia during the reign of Svatopluk I (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 44Empress Maria Theresa (reignet 1740–1780) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 45Václav Havel, playwright, dissident and president from 1989 to 2003 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 46St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle, John of Luxembourg laid the foundation stone in 1344 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 47The Kingdom of Bohemia in 1618 with other Bohemian Crown lands within the Holy Roman Empire (1618). (from Bohemia)
Image 48Frgál, a type of koláč baked in Moravian Wallachia (from Czech cuisine)
Image 49Map of protected areas of the Czech Republic: national parks (grey) and protected landscape areas (green) (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 50Prague-style beef goulash (from Czech cuisine)
Image 51Czech kings Ottokar II, Wenceslas II and Wenceslas III from the Přemyslid dynasty (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 52Church of Saint Agnes of Bohemia (Spořilov) (from Czech architecture)
Image 53Europe after the Congress of Vienna in 1815 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 54Svíčková na smetaně (Marinated tenderloin), served here with dumplings and cream (from Czech cuisine)
Image 55Zelňačka (from Czech cuisine)
Image 56A panorama of Kłodzko, the capital city of Kłodzko Land, which is referred to as "Little Prague" (from Bohemia)
Image 57Semi-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 58Entrance to Moravian Karst PLA (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 59The coat of arms of the Přemyslid dynasty (until 1253–1262) (from Bohemia)
Image 60Buděticko Nature Park with Rabí Castle (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 61Cubist lamp by Emil Králíček, Jungmannovo náměstí, next to the Gothic Church of Our Lady of the Snows (Prague) (from Czech architecture)
Image 62Stone sculpture of a Celtic man, found in Mšecké Žehrovice (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 63King George of Podebrady, one of the first promoters of united Europe (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 64Dacian Influence over Bohemia (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 65Beheading of 27 Bohemian nobles at the Old Town Square in Prague, 1621 (contemporary illustration) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 66Bohemia as the heart of Europa regina; Sebastian Münster, Basel, 1570 (from Bohemia)
Image 67Christmas cookies (vánoční cukroví) (from Czech cuisine)
Image 68Pilsner Urquell in a branded mug (from Czech cuisine)
Image 69Apple strudel with raisins (from Czech cuisine)
Image 70Vladislaus Hall at the Prague Castle, built from 1490 to 1502 by Benedikt Rejt (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 71Emperor and King Charles IV. Luxembourg (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 72Adria Palace (Prague) (from Czech architecture)
Image 73Baroque St. Nicholas Church in Malá Strana, built between 1704 and 1755 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 74The First Czechoslovak Republic (1918-1938) (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