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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The COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic was a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first three confirmed cases in the Czech Republic were reported on 1 March 2020. On 12 March, the government declared a state of emergency, for the first time in the country's modern history for the area of the entire country. On 16 March, the country closed its borders, forbade the entry of foreigners without residence permits, and issued a nationwide curfew. While originally planned to be in effect until 24 March, the measures were later extended until 1 April and then again until the end of State of Emergency which was extended by the Chamber of Deputies until 30 April 2020 and then again until 17 May 2020.

Some measures undertaken by the Czech Republic differed in key aspects from other countries. A general curfew was in place between 16 March and 24 April, although with numerous exemptions. Apart from permitting essential shopping and going to and from work, as in other countries, it also permitted visiting relatives and allowed for unrestricted movement in parks and open countryside. A general closure of services and retail sales was in place from 14 March until 11 May; however, all shops could conduct socially distant sales with delivery through makeshift takeout windows and the gradual opening of selected shops started in several waves from 24 March onwards. Fear, anger, and hopelessness were the most frequent traumatic emotional responses in the general public during the first COVID-19 outbreak in the Czech Republic. The four most frequent categories of fear were determined: fear of the negative impact on household finances, fear of the negative impact on the household finances of significant others, fear of the unavailability of health care, and fear of an insufficient food supply. The government did not order the closure of manufacturing plants, but many did so voluntarily during the second half of March, with Hyundai spearheading a gradual reopening from 14 April. (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 May 2004 – The Czech Republic joins the European Union
9 May 1974 – The Prague Metro begins operation
14 May 1855 – The book The Grandmother by Božena Němcová is released
27 May 1942 – An assassination attempt (pictured) on acting Reichsprotektor Reinhardt Heydrich in Prague as part of Operation Anthropoid results in him dying on 4 June – the villages of Lidice and Ležáky are razed to the ground in response
29 May 1975 – Gustáv Husák becomes President of Czechoslovakia, remaining in office until 1989

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Vondroušová at the 2023 US Open

Markéta Šimková (née Vondroušová; Czech: [ˈmarkɛːta ˈvondrou̯ʃovaː]; born 28 June 1999) is a Czech professional tennis player. She has a career-high singles ranking of world No. 6 by the WTA. Vondroušová is the reigning Wimbledon champion, winning the tournament in 2023, the first unseeded woman to win the singles title. She was also the runner-up at the 2019 French Open, where she became the first teenage Major finalist in nearly a decade. She has won two singles titles out of six finals on the WTA Tour and a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Vondroušová is a former junior world No. 1, having won two major doubles titles. She had a quick breakthrough on the WTA Tour, winning the 2017 Ladies Open Biel Bienne at age 17 in just her second career WTA Tour singles event. This helped her reach the top 100 of the WTA rankings before turning 18. Vondroušová struggled with injuries early in her career, most notably missing the second half of the 2019 season shortly after her French Open final. Her signature shot is the drop shot. She is one of the best returners on WTA Tour, having led the tour in percentage of return games won and percentage of return points won in 2019 among all players with at least ten matches. (Full article...)

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John Amos Comenius Petr Čech Dominik Hašek 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 Zdeňka Wiedermannová-Motyčková

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Did you know?

...that the Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc was inscribed on the World Heritage List as "one of the most exceptional examples of the apogee of Central European Baroque artistic expression"?
... 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 Jan Maroši scored directly from a corner for Sigma Olomouc in a 1992–93 UEFA Cup match against Juventus?
... that Josef Jiří Kolár was the first to begin a systematic translation of Shakespeare's plays into Czech?

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General images

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

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

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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
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