Czech Republic is located in Central Europe and shares borders with Poland to the North, Germany and Austria to the South and Slovakia. Moreover, it is composed of the historic places of Moravia and Bohemia and partially from the region of Silesia. Czech Republic is part of the European Union and the last decade comprises major tourist destination. Especially, Prague attracts thousands of visitors every year and it is recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Hotels in Pague combine the traditional Czech style with great modern facilities and have also added to the tourist development of the city. The country has just as much to offer the independent traveller, with no fewer than 11 UNESCO World Heritage sites including the picture-postcard town of Český Krumlov, the chateaux and landscaped gardens of Lednice-Valtice, and the Renaissance architecture of Telč.

History

The Czech Republic obtained its present form after a long period of changes and sociopolitical turbulences. The country as we know it today emerged from two main regions, namely the Moravia and the Bohemia. The Moravia arose in the 8th century and the Bohemia in the late 9th century. Especially, Bohemia was a significant power during the Middle Ages and part of the Holy Roman Empire. Successively it became part of the Austrian Empire and the Austria-Hungary until 1918, the date that the independent republic of Czechoslovakia was been created. After World War II, the Czech Republic despite its initial efforts to comprise a bridge between the West and the East espoused the Communism. It was the elections of 1946, where the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia got the majority of the parliament, a fact that changed the History of the country. The Czech Republic was a Communist state from 1948 until the Velvet Revolution of 1989. In 1993, the country split into two different countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Today, the Czech Republic is part of NATO and the European Union as well.

Art and Culture

The Czech Republic is also a country with strong artistic heritage. A number of museums and art galleries accommodate splendid art pieces varying from the Bohemian art tradition to modern art and painting. Museums such as the Czech Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Czech Literature and the Franz Kafka Museum demonstrate the interest and the long tradition that Czech people have on fine arts and literature. Czechs have also a great tradition in music and theatre. Particularly, many musical festivals take place all over the country and especially in Prague, where the Prague International Music Festival has gained international recognition, presenting artists from all over the world. Finally, work from modern artists and painters is accommodated in many art galleries such as the National Gallery in Prague or the Art Master Gallery, which is located in the historical centre of Prague and presents contemporary paintings from the Eastern part of Europe.

Gastronomy

Czech kitchen is very rich, particularly concerning the variety of its meats. As every Central European kitchen, vegetarian dishes are limited and vegetables usually accompany meals of meat, fish or chicken. The majority of the dishes include pork, beef, chicken or turkey, duck, rabbit and lamp. Famous local meat dishes are among others the delicious Spis, which is grilled meat that looks like kebab, Veprove Knedliky that is pork meat served with dumplings, Teleci Kyta, a delicacy made by deer legs and of course the traditional dish of Svickova. Fish and particularly fresh water fish is very popular as well. The national fish is the Carp, which is usually been served with sour cream sauce, a dish that the locals call Kapr Peceny Kyselou Omackou. Once in a traditional Czech restaurant or hotel do not forget to try some of the local soups as well. Famous local soups are the garlic Czech soup called Cesnekovy Polevka and the onion fish soup or locally known as Drstkova Polevka. Czechs love to accompany their meals with a drink and especially beer, which is considered the national beverage. However, the original national drink is a kind of liquor named Becherovka made by herbs and used to help digestion.

Places to visit

A visit to Czech Republic is usually related to a visit to  Prague, as the capital of the country is a unique destination with incredible beauties. It is not surprising that thousands of tourists visit Prague every year. Its historical center, part of UNESCO’s world cultural heritage site, accommodates wonderful classical buildings, Gothic cathedrals, palaces of Renaissance and Baroque style, Romanesque rotundas and of course Prague’s famous winding lanes. Other beautiful parts of Prague are its hills that offer you the possibility to admire the city from a panoramic point of view. Another attraction constitutes the River Vltava that crosses the city and forms some Idyllic islands and meanders. Additionally, the city is been surrounded by a huge amount of towers, dating from the Medieval Ages. This is the reason that people used to call Prague the city of a hundred spires. Apart from its historical and architectural importance, Prague presents a very modern lifestyle as well. Plenty of bars and restaurants, shopping streets, cozy hotels, art centers and museums make your stay in Prague pleasant and fun. Moreover, the best hotels of the country are the hotels in Prague, a fact that adds to the facilities the city offers to its visitors. However, if you want to reserve hotels in Prague you should book a room quite in advance due to the high demand for hotels in Prague.

The Czech Republic has many other beautiful places worthy visiting. The city of Karlovy Vary for instance is a very attractive destination. Many nice castles and a wonderful nature make Karlovy Vary an exceptional choice for a relaxed weekend. It is recommended that you reserve a hotel in Karlovy Vary during spring time in order to enjoy the fantastic green hills and valleys of the area. Brno and Plzeň are also really interesting destinations. They are among those places that tradition in life, culture and architecture is still present. Their beautiful alleys, fantastic Czech food, warm people and magnificent nature synthesize a dreamful holiday. Hotels in Brno and hotels in Plzeň are also very traditional and they will certainly immerse you in their authentic Czech atmosphere. Other nice places worthy visiting are Mariánské Lázně, Harrachov, Český Krumlov, České Budějovice and Olomouc.