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5 things you probably didn't know about the Czech Republic

March 11, 2016 05:46 by author

The Czech Republic is a country that has a long history of being at the heart of European culture.

With its modern day version being a relatively new country that was formed after the fall of the USSR, there are plenty of things that might surprise and intrigue anyone thinking about exploring one of the continent’s most interesting destinations.

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So here are five things you probably didn't know about the Czech Republic:

It's landlocked

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Ceská republika (in its native language) is a landlocked country, which means it has no borders to a sea or ocean. In fact it shares borders with Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland. The Czech Republic as it is today includes the historical territories of Bohemia, Moravia, and Czech Silesia.

History of war

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Although the first Czech state was formed in the late 9th century as the Duchy of Bohemia under the Great Moravian Empire, a long history of central European wars and transfers of power saw what was by then called the Bohemian Kingdom become part of the Austrian Empire in 1806.

The Republic of Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918 following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I but was invaded and occupied by Germany in World War II.

After being liberated in 1945 by Soviet and American forces, in 1948 it became a one-party communist state under Soviet influence. On 1 January 1993 Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved into the two independent states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Rivers

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The natural beauty of the country sees Bohemia in the west features the famous rivers Elbe Vltava surrounded by low mountains, although the highest point in the country is also to be found there in the shape of mount Snežka.

The eastern part of the country is Moravia is also quite hilly and is where the Morava River and the source of the Oder River are located.

Prague

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The capital of the old Czechoslovakia Prague became the capital of the new Czech Republic in 1993. A major central European city of great importance throughout for more than a thousand years, the Old Town Square is where the world famous Astronomical Clock is located and other major tourist attractions include the historic Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square.

The Prague Castle complex includes the Old Royal Palace, three churches and a monastery, giving history buffs plenty to explore. For those looking to enjoy more modern attractions, taking the lift up to the eighth-floor of the Zizkov Tower gives an opportunity to experience the best views across the entire city landscape.

Science

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The country has a long history of scientific research and innovation. Important inventions to have their origins there include the modern contact lens and the process to separate blood types.

As for individual pioneers and scientific history-makers, Czechoslovakian Vladimír Remek was the first person outside of the Soviet Union and the United States to go into space in March 1978.