Portal:Czech Republic

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Vítejte na Českém portálu!

The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country 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 Estate of the Holy Roman Empire in 1002 and became a kingdom in 1198. Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526, all of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown 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.

During the 19th century, the Czech lands underwent significant industrialization. Following the collapse of Austria-Hungary after World War I, most of the region became part of the First Czechoslovak Republic in 1918. 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...)

Selected article -

The Sudetenland (/suːˈdeɪtənlænd/ ^ⓘ soo-DAY-tən-land, German: [zuˈdeːtn̩ˌlant]; Czech and Slovak: Sudety) is a German name for the northern, southern, and western areas of former Czechoslovakia which were inhabited primarily by Sudeten Germans. These German speakers had predominated in the border districts of Bohemia, Moravia, and Czech Silesia since the Middle Ages.

The word "Sudetenland" did not come into being until the early part of the 20th century and did not come to prominence until almost two decades into the century, after World War I, when Austria-Hungary disintegrated and the Sudeten Germans found themselves living in the new country of Czechoslovakia. The Sudeten crisis of 1938 was provoked by the Pan-Germanist demands of Nazi Germany that the Sudetenland be annexed to Germany, which happened after the later Munich Agreement. Part of the borderland was invaded and annexed by Poland. Afterwards, the formerly unrecognized Sudetenland became an administrative division of Germany. When Czechoslovakia was reconstituted after World War II, the Sudeten Germans were expelled and the region today is inhabited almost exclusively by Czech speakers. (Full article...)

List of selected articles

Selected picture

A lake near Myslivny in the Ore Mountains, Czech Republic.

Photographer: Rafael Brix; License: Dual (GNU Free Documentation License and Creative Commons CC-BY-SA)

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

More anniversaries...

Selected biography -

Jágr with the Czech Republic in 2010

Jaromír Jágr (Czech pronunciation: [ˈjaromiːr ˈjaːɡr̩] ^ⓘ; born 15 February 1972) is a Czech professional ice hockey right winger and owner of Rytíři Kladno of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). He previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers and Calgary Flames, serving as captain of the Penguins and the Rangers, between 1990 and 2008.

After leaving the Rangers in 2008, he played three seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Avangard Omsk. He returned to the NHL in 2011 with the Flyers and remained in the league for seven more years before being assigned by the Flames in 2018 to HC Kladno. Having played in 37 professional seasons (as of 2024) and over 2,000 professional games, Jágr has had the longest playing career in professional ice hockey history. He is the most productive European player who has ever played in the NHL and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever. (Full article...)

List of selected biographies
John Amos Comenius Petr Čech Dominik Hašek 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

Did you know?

...that the Sedlec Ossuary is a chapel decorated with the bones of 40,000 people?
... that the Cross of Merit of the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic is the highest award presented by the Czech Minister of Defence?
... that Czech international footballer Jan Suchopárek dislocated his shoulder while attempting a bicycle kick?
... that Czech actress Anna Letenská was killed by the Nazis for her alleged participation in the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich?

General images

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

Image 1Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, philosopher, Czechoslovak president in the years 1918–1935 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 2Svíčková na smetaně (marinated tenderloin), served here with dumplings and cream (from Czech cuisine)
Image 3Vladislaus Hall at the Prague Castle, built from 1490 to 1502 by Benedikt Rejt (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 4Venus of Dolní Věstonice, the oldest ceramic article in the world (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 5Bohemia as the heart of Europa regina; Sebastian Münster, Basel, 1570 (from Bohemia)
Image 6The Kingdom of Bohemia in 1618 with other Bohemian Crown lands within the Holy Roman Empire (1618) (from Bohemia)
Image 7Russian occupation in 1968 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 8The radical Hussites became known as Taborites, after the town of Tábor that became their center. (from Bohemia)
Image 9Detailed map of Bohemia, 1742 (from Bohemia)
Image 10Obložené chlebíčky, a type of snack or appetizer (from Czech cuisine)
Image 11Bronze sword, Urnfield culture, c. 1200 BC (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 12St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle, John of Luxembourg laid the foundation stone in 1344 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 13Dacian Influence over Bohemia (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 14Grand Café Orient in Prague (from Czech architecture)
Image 15Hroby Nature Monument in Radenín (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 16The extent of the Protestant Reformation (1545–1620) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 17Pilsner Urquell in a branded mug (from Czech cuisine)
Image 18Stone sculpture of a Celtic man, found in Mšecké Žehrovice (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 19Monument to the village of Lidice murdered by the Nazis (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 20Fried bramboráky (potato pancakes) (from Czech cuisine)
Image 21Duchy of Bohemia, around 1029 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 22Semi-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 23Municipal House (from Czech architecture)
Image 24Christmas cookies (vánoční cukroví) (from Czech cuisine)
Image 25The National Theater from 1881 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 26Frgál, a type of koláč baked in Moravian Wallachia (from Czech cuisine)
Image 27Entrance to Moravian Karst PLA (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 28A "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 29Europe after the Congress of Vienna in 1815 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 30Vepřo-knedlo-zelo (roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut) (from Czech cuisine)
Image 31Beheading of 27 Bohemian nobles at the Old Town Square in Prague, 1621 (contemporary illustration) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 32Baroque St. Nicholas Church in Malá Strana, built between 1704 and 1755 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 33Monument to Master Jan Hus, a religious reformer and philosopher in Prague (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 34Copper engraving of the Second Defenestration of Prague from Theatrum Europaeum by Matthäus Merian. (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 35Prague-style beef goulash (from Czech cuisine)
Image 36Apple strudel with raisins (from Czech cuisine)
Image 37Saint Wenceslas, Czech prince (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 38Řežabinec a Řežabinecké tůně National Nature Reserve (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 39An 1892 map showing Bohemia proper outlined in pink, Moravia in yellow, and Austrian Silesia in orange (from Bohemia)
Image 40Cubist architecture in Prague (from Czech architecture)
Image 41Church of Saint Agnes of Bohemia (Spořilov) (from Czech architecture)
Image 42Emperor Francis Joseph I. (reigned 1848–1916) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 43Map of protected areas of the Czech Republic: national parks (grey) and protected landscape areas (green) (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 44John Amos Comenius (1592–1670), Czech philosopher and school reformer (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 45Territories ruled by Ottokar II of Bohemia in 1273 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 46Buděticko Nature Park with Rabí Castle (from Protected areas of the Czech Republic)
Image 47Rotunda of St. George from the beginning of the 12th century on Mount Říp (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 48Linguistic map of interwar Czechoslovakia (c. 1930) (from Bohemia)
Image 49Nakládaný hermelín (marinated cheese) (from Czech cuisine)
Image 50Bohemia (westernmost area) in Czechoslovakia 1918–1938 (from Bohemia)
Image 51Writer Božena Němcová (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 52House of the Black Madonna (from Czech architecture)
Image 53Korozluky Castle (from Czech architecture)
Image 54Library of Clementinum, a former Jesuit College, built in 1722 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 55Lands of the Bohemian Crown (until 1635), map by Josef Pekař, 1921 (from Bohemia)
Image 56Iconic brutalist Transgas building, demolished in 2019 (from Czech architecture)
Image 57Kačina Castle in Chotkov (from Czech architecture)
Image 58Territory under the control of the Přemyslids, c. 1301 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 59Empress Maria Theresa (reignet 1740–1780) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 60Cubist lamp by Emil Králíček, Jungmannovo náměstí, next to the Gothic Church of Our Lady of the Snows (Prague) (from Czech architecture)
Image 61Fried cheese, served with tartar sauce and side salad (from Czech cuisine)
Image 62The coat of arms of the Přemyslid dynasty (until 1253–1262) (from Bohemia)
Image 63A panorama of Zittau (from Bohemia)
Image 64Václav Havel, playwright, dissident and president from 1989 to 2003 (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 65Emperor and King Charles IV. Luxembourg (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 66The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Bohemia (from Bohemia)
Image 67Zelňačka (from Czech cuisine)
Image 68Bohemian city Karlovy Vary (from Bohemia)
Image 69Adria Palace (Prague) (from Czech architecture)
Image 70A panorama of Kłodzko, the capital city of Kłodzko Land, which is referred to as "Little Prague" (from Bohemia)
Image 71Czech kings Ottokar II, Wenceslas II and Wenceslas III from the Přemyslid dynasty (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 72Svíčková na smetaně served with dumplings, whipped cream and cranberries (from Czech cuisine)
Image 73The First Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938) (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 74King George of Podebrady, one of the first promoters of united Europe (from History of the Czech lands)
Image 75Great Moravia during the reign of Svatopluk I (from History of the Czech lands)

Related portals

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

WikiProjects

WikiProject Czech Republic

WikiProject Europe

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

Things to do

Here are some tasks awaiting attention:

Article requests : see: Wikipedia:WikiProject Czech Republic/Wanted articles.
Copyedit : Bohuslav Sobotka, Martin Kupka, Moravian Diet, Ondřej Kolář (politician), Pavel Bělobrádek, Prokop Diviš.
Expand : Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, Ostrava, Jan Žižka, Prague Castle, Brno, Moravia, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, 2009 European floods, Austria-Hungary, History of the Slavic languages, Proto-Slavic, Slavic languages, Milan Knížák.
Infobox : see: Category:Czech Republic articles needing infoboxes
Notability : 2018 Men's World Floorball Championships qualifying, 68 Publishers, Accolade Holding, Aleš Klégr, Avigdor Dagan, CEVRO Institute, Dadja Altenburg-Kohl, Euan Edworthy, Evektor EPOS, František Pošepný, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (juniors), Jan Jelínek (legionnaire), Jan Kefer, Jiří Černický, Jiří Hoskovec, Josef Zezulka, Lisl Frank, Prague Quadrennial, Research Institute of Brewing and Malting, Revolutionary Internationalist Organisation, Václav Turek, Veronika Vařeková, Zvonimír Eichler.
NPOV : CERGE-EI, Josef Zieleniec, Mighty Sounds, Rock for People, University of Economics, Prague.
Photo : Requested photos (map)
Update : Air Accidents Investigation Institute, Czech Aeroholding, Czech presidential election, 2013, Economy of the Czech Republic, Elections in the Czech Republic, Health and social welfare in Communist Czechoslovakia, Hynek Fajmon, Independent Democrats (Czech Republic), Jan Kasl, Jaromír Drábek, Josef Řihák, Party of Free Citizens, Tomáš Zatloukal, Viktor Kožený, Vladimír Železný, Václav Havel Airport Prague, Václav Klaus, Vít Bárta.
Verify : Albrecht von Wallenstein, Holy Roman Empire, Karel Schwarzenberg, Wenceslaus II of Bohemia, Agnes of Bohemia, Duchess of Jawor, Andrej Babiš, Anne of Bohemia, Duchess of Austria, Constance of Hungary, Czech branch of the House of Thurn and Taxis, Early Slavs, Henry of Bohemia, History of Wrocław, Judith of Habsburg, Ray Mawby, Wenceslaus I of Bohemia, Wenceslaus II, Duke of Opava, Western betrayal, Zierotin, Václav Klement.
Other : Maintain and improve

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Welcome to the Czech Portal!Vítejte na Českém portálu!