About Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is an important tourist destination. From the moment visitors cross the borders they enter a varied natural environment with changing landscape and many historic cities and towns, distinctive villages with beautiful folk architecture, numerous recently reconstructed chateaux, old castles and churches. They can also visit the impenetrable virgin forest in the Šumava Mountains, or the harsh Giant Mountains (Krkonoše) and Ore Mountains (Krušné hory). Rock climbers will enjoy the popular Prachovské skály and Bohemian Switzerland (České Švýcarsko) with their sandstone cities and numerous karst areas and caves. The south Bohemian landscape with hundreds of lakes and the south Moravian region renowned for cultivating excellent wines are also popular.

The country has long been known for its renowned spas and mineral springs. In recent years, agro-tourism, theme holidays (e.g. brewery, gastronomy, viniculture), sports holidays, and recreation for families with small children or for seniors, have become common as well. The Czech Republic and its capital offer many protected cultural monuments, cities and villages.

Some of them are on the UNESCO list of world cultural and natural heritage sites: in addition to Prague's historic centre, there are also Český Krumlov, Telč, Kutná Hora, the pilgrimage church of Saint John Nepomuk at Zelená hora, the Lednice-Valtice cultural landscape, the gardens and castle in Kroměříž, the south Bohemian village of Holašovice, Litomyšl – Renaissance castle and historic city centre, Olomouc – Holy Trinity Column, Brno – villa Tugendhat, Třebíč – Jewish Quarter and St Procopius' Basilica.

Basic info

Founded: 1 January 1993 (following the split of Czechoslovakia)

According to Article 1 of the Czech Constitution, the Czech Republic is a sovereign, unified, democratic, constitutional state, founded on the respect of the rights and freedoms of its people and citizens.

The people are the source of all state power, which is carried out through legislative, executive and judicial bodies. The Declaration of Basic Rights and Freedoms is part of the Czech Constitution.

The Parliament, made up of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Senate, has legislative power. The government, named by the country's president, has executive power and answers to the Chamber of Deputies. The Czech Republic's state symbols include large and small state emblem, state colours, state flag, the flag of the Czech president, state seal and state anthem.

The people