Czech Republic is a country in Central Europe. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south and Germany to the west and northwest, it has no coast. The capital and largest city is Prague. The Czech Republic has in thirteen regions and the capital Prague. Each region has its own regional parliament and in Prague, these powers are executed by the council and the mayor.
The Czech Republic is a parliamentary democracy headed by the Prime Minister of the Government. The current president is Vaclav Klaus. In 1993, the Czech Republic became an independent country, before it was the western part of Czechoslovakia.
Czech Republic has known for centuries various monarchs who all possessed castles, there are over 2700 castles, palaces and fortresses spread over the country. Over time, many of these buildings fell to ruins, while others have been rebuilt as a chateau or for business purposes. These monuments are often open to the public, they also show many rare art collections, such as collections of paintings, weapons, porcelain or glass and often visitors can also take part in night tours, medieval tournaments and banquets, international music festivals and competitions.
In the Czech Republic are also many beautiful theaters, including the National Theater in Prague, on the banks of the Vltava. This theater is paid by the Czech people themselves and is a national shrine. You can enjoy an evening of opera, a fantastic atmosphere and a magnificent interior. The neo-Renaissance building was designed by Joseph Zitek. The form Blacklight theater has originated in Prague in 1961 and then became popular around the world. The contrast between light and dark plays the lead role, there is a mix of acts, ranging from mime and clowns floating through the air to bizarre lighting effects.
The Czech cuisine is characterized by the products the country produces. Especially the dumpling is a specialty of the Czechs, it also makes extensive use of much fat and meat, pasta and potatoes. Whit the meal often great mugs whit beer are served. Czech Republic is also known for his spirits, very popular is Becherovka, this is an herb liqueur named after a butterfly from Karlovy Vary and has a rather bitter taste.
In the Czech Republic are also a number of impressive caves, the finest are in the area of Moravian Karst. There are also several underground rivers, four of which are accessible to the public. The cave Kulna belongs to the complex caves of Sloup and Sosuvka. This cave is famous for the archaeological finds of bones of prehistoric animals.
The Lipno Lake in southern Bohemia is an attractive destination for nature and water lovers. There are many opportunities for water sports and you can enjoy sunbathing on one of the many sandy beaches. You can fish for pike, perch, trout and roach. And even cyclists and hikers can enjoy this area, because there are many marked bicycle and hiking trails.
When you travel to the Czech Republic by car you need a toll vignette, The vignette is for sale at Czech border. Citizens from the USA, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Uruguay, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Israel and most EU countries do not need a visa, just a valid passport. Citizens of EU countries: Albania, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moldova and Macedonia, and citizens from other EU countries do need a visa. They can request a visa at the Embassy or Consulate.