general information

Republic

capital: Prague

surface area: 78 900 km2

population: 10,2 millions

population density/km2: 129

EU member since 2004

national day: 28 October

national anthem: Kde domov muj (where is my country?)

• According to national legend, the name Praha (Prague) comes from the word "prah" meaning doorstep.

• The Czech republic has 12 centres recognised by UNESCO.

• The clock on the Jewish town's town hall turns anti-clockwise.

• The Czech Republic is known as the roof of Europe as the Elbe and Oder rivers have their sources there.

• This traditionally Roman Catholic country was one of the first Protestant countries under Jan Hus in the 15th century.

• The word "dollar" comes from "thaler", a coin struck in the Joaquim Valley.

• All the old houses in the city centre had two numbers: one (bue) for their position on the street and another (red) cadastral number.

This might be a relatively new country but it still has a long history which you can discover in the Golden City of Prague. A trip to the university town of Olomouc and to the backpacker heaven of Cesky Krumlov and worthwhile and offer an insight into the Czech way of life.