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The Czech Republic was born in 1993, after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia and ever since then it’s been on the map for every tourist. And with good reason too- because the country has virtually something for everybody. If you’re a night bird, and keen on being entertained, Prague is perfect; if you’re mad about history and want to visit some of the best museums, cathedrals and chateaux in Europe, you’ll have plenty to ogle at. And there are lots of mountains, forests, lakes and rivers for anybody who’s fond of the great outdoors. The country, ever since it became a democracy, has changed considerably- many cities are getting a facelift; the country has become more tourist-friendly; and, on the whole, it’s a good place to spend a vacation, no matter what type.

The Czech Republic is the number one beer-brewing nation in the world with its people being the heaviest consumers of beer.

Historically Speaking

The first important empire on Czech territory was the Great Moravian empire, established by Slav tribes between the 9th and 10th centuries; midway through this period, the Czechs seceded from the empire and set up their own state- Bohemia. By 993 A.D, the Premysl dynasty had- after quite a bit of effort- managed to unite the Czech tribes and by 1212 the Premysl ruler had been granted the right to rule as king. This didn’t last for long, though- the Austrian Hapsburg dynasty soon arrived, grabbed power, and began a period of prosperity, generally acknowledged as Bohemia’s Golden Age. The late 14th and early 15th centuries saw religious turmoil in the land, with the Hussite Revolution being the main force which led the Czechs on invasions into Poland, Austria and Germany. By 1526, the Hapsburgs were back in the land, and set about consolidating their power- rather ruthlessly. They remained absolute rulers till 1848, when a nationalistic fervour gripped the Czechs. By the time the First World War was ending, the Czechs and the Slovaks had decided to unite- and Czechoslovakia was formed. The nation, however, had bad times ahead- in the Munich Pact, Hitler was given Sudetenland (which had been part of Czechoslovakia), and in 1938, World War II began. The country saw terrible repression at the hands of the Nazis, but re-surged in 1945, threw out the German troops and declared its independence. Czechoslovakia soon came under communist rule; in the 60s, liberalisation popularised by the leader Alexander Dubcek was the key word but by the end of the decade, this policy was abandoned. By 1989, with the fall of the USSR, Czechoslovakia’s political scenario too changed. Under ex-playwright Vaclav Havel, a democratic state was formed. Four years later, thanks to relentless demands for autonomy by the Slovaks, the country split into two: the Czech and Slovak Republics. Since then, the Czech Republic has made considerable progress: the economy is developing, the country’s opening up, and tourism is on the upswing despite problems, of which the most severe are pollution, crime and housing problems.

Habitat

A landlocked country, the Czech Republic lies in Central Europe, approximately southeast of Germany. The country consists of two main areas: Bohemia and Moravia. Bohemia, in the west, consists of rolling plains, hills and tableland, which is surrounded by low mountains. The region of Moravia lies to the east and is hilly country; it is also one of the most strategically located parts of Europe- an area that is an ancient land route between the North European Plain and the Danube. The terrain of much of the Czech Republic is extremely beautiful, and still surprisingly unspoilt. However, in the past decade or two, thoughtless industrialisation has wreaked havoc on the country’s environment; growing pollution has rendered much of the water unfit for consumption, and air pollution is causing acid rain, which is in turn wrecking forests. Flora and Fauna Nearly a third of the Czech Republic is still covered by forests- around 34% of the total land area is classified as 'forest and woodland’. This, however, consists less of trees and more of lower plants like mosses, lichens and grasses. Most 'forests’ are in the more remote alpine areas, where urbanization and industrialization have still not managed to get the upper hand. Because of the considerably large area still under forest cover, the Czech Republic also has an impressive array of wildlife. Most numerous are lynxes (and other wildcats), mink, marten, otters, wolves, bears, marmots, partridges, ducks, geese, and pheasants. Less common are storks, bustards, grouse, eagles, osprey and vultures.