44 Facts About Czech Republic That Are Fun

Last updated on October 19th, 2022

21. Popular foods of the Czech people include Vepřo Knedlo Zelo, a roast pork with bread dumplings and stewed cabbage, and Bramboráky, or potato pancakes, traditionally presented with sauerkraut.

Czech traditional recipe for beef goulash with homemade dumpligs.
Czech traditional recipe for beef goulash with homemade dumpligs.

22. More popular foods include Koprová (beef in dill sauce with dumplings) and Guláš (beef and pork stews served with dumplings or bread). Czechs love beef.

Roast Leg of Duck and Grilled Duck breast
Roast Leg of Duck and Grilled Duck breast served with Red Cabbage and Herb Dumplings, Prague, Czech Republic.

23. ‘Pečená kachna’ is a roast duck meal traditionally served with bread or potato dumplings and braised red cabbage and tartar sauce. Carp is traditionally served for Christmas dinner.

24. Beer is popular with meals as are wines from the Czech vineyards.

Also read: 45 Interesting facts about Germany

Czech Republic (Czechia) on the map

Facts about the history of Czech Republic

25. Originally formed in the late ninth century, the Czech state was first known as the Duchy of Bohemia under the Great Moravian Empire.

26. It was formally recognized as part of the massive Holy Roman Empire in 1004 and became the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1198.

27. As the kingdom of Bohemia, it reached its zenith of wealth and power during the 13th and 14th centuries.

28. By 1526, along with the Archduchy of Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary, the Crown of Bohemia was gradually integrated into the Hapsburg Monarchy.

29. A Protestant Bohemian revolt against the Catholic Habsburgs started the Thirty Years War. When it was over, the monarchy stabilized its rule, began a gradual Germanization and reinstated Catholicism.

30. The Bohemian Kingdom became part of the Austrian Empire when the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806.

31. In 1918 with the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I, the Republic of Czechoslovakia was formed. Due to a wave of romantic nationalism, the Czech language experienced a revival.

32. Germany occupied the Czech part of the nation during World War II. The U.S. and the Soviet Union liberated them in 1945. Most of the country’s German-speaking people were expelled at the end of the war.

33. By 1946 the country had become Communist under Soviet influence.

34. During the 1989 Velvet Revolution the communist regime collapsed and in June of 1993, Czechoslovakia was peacefully dissolved. It then became two independent states: the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Interesting facts about the Czech Republic

Golden Engagement Ring with garnet
Golden Engagement Ring with garnet

35. The garnet trade is everywhere due to nearby garnet mines. Garnet jewelry can be purchased in the city markets.

36. The Czech Republic has the most hospital beds per capita of any country in the EU. Unfortunately, they probably need them, because they also have the highest EU death rate from cancer.

37.  As of December 2020, the average download speed of fixed internet connections in Czechia was approximately 74.8 Megabits per second (Mbps). The Czech Republic’s main international airport is Václav Havel Airport Prague but there are six that provide international services. The country has 46 airports altogether.

38. On December 21, 2007, the republic abolished its border controls completely, opening them to all of its neighboring countries.

39. In Prague, an architectural wonder called the Dancing House, designed by architect Frank D. Gehry, pays homage to famous dancing partners Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers. The real name of the building in the Nationale-Nederlanden building.

40. The Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague is a monument to the victims of the Holocaust and includes five synagogues in its complex.

Inside the Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague.
Inside the Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague. Image credit – Kent Wang

41. Founded in 1348, the Charles University in Prague is the one of the oldest in the world in continuous operation. According to one 2006 ranking of World Universities, it is the leading university in Eastern Europe.

Faculty of Law, Charles University in Prague.
Faculty of Law, Charles University in Prague.

42. Skoda Auto, one of Europe’s largest car maker, is based in the Czech Republic.

Panoramic aerial view over the old Town of Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic.
Panoramic aerial view over the old Town of Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic.

43. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cesky Krumlov (Castle Krumlov) is the second most popular tourist destination in the country. The Czech’s castle season usually lasts from the first of April to the first of November. They are closed on Mondays.

44. In the Bohemian region, you will find the Adrspach-Teplice Rocks look like giants used them to stack up like building blocks. Paths take you to out of the way formations beloved of rock-climbing enthusiasts. Watch for the Peregrine Falcons that have permanent breeding grounds in the area.

There is something for everyone in the family when you visit the Czech Republic. From outdoor adventures to luxurious spas, historic treasures to glorious architecture, and cultural riches to delicious food, you are sure to find something to enjoy here.

A beautiful and meaningful quote about life by “Václav Havel” (The tragedy of modern man is not that he knows less and less about the meaning of his own life, but that it bothers him less and less.”

About The Flag Of Czech Republic

Czechia Flag
The national flag of Czechia. Image credit – CIA

1. Design and Symbolism

The flag of the Czech Republic is a return to its Bohemian roots. This landlocked country in Central Europe uses it as the national flag for official purposes and civil ensign for merchant ships.

It consists of two horizontal bands of equal width. The top is white, while the bottom is red. A blue triangle appears on the left, with one segment covering the length of the hoist side.

The color selection considers the different ethnic groups within former Czechoslovakia. Czechs always viewed red and white as their traditional colors. Meanwhile, Slovaks used red, white, and blue. Lastly, the Ruthenians were partial to blue and yellow.

2. Adoption

The Czech Republic adopted the flag on January 1, 1993. However, it was already in use within former Czechoslovakia since 1920. The designer is Jaroslav Kursa, a heraldist and an archivist in the Ministry of the Interior. Frantisek Kysela, an academic painter, recommended extending the triangle from one-third to one-half of the flag.

3. Technical Details

The flag dimensions follow a ratio of 2:3. Its RGB colors are 17-69-126, 255-255-255, and 215-20-26. The HEX equivalents are 11457E, FFFFFF, and D7141A.

4. History

Bohemia was a kingdom of the Holy Roman Empire. Its coat of arms was a silver lion on a red field. Inspired by this emblem, armies marched into battle with red and white banners.

In 1526, the Habsburg monarchy gradually absorbed Bohemia through military might. It became part of the Austrian Empire after the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806. Their flag was a horizontal bicolor with black and yellow bands.

Many Czechs yearned for independence. The national movement used the red and white banner of Bohemia. They accomplished their goal in 1918 with the formation of Czechoslovakia. However, they could no longer use the Bohemian flag. Poland had adopted the same design.

The new state formed a committee to come up with national symbols. The heraldist Jaroslav Kursa solved the flag problem by adding a blue isosceles triangle to the red and white bars. It allowed the country to retain the traditional colors while making a distinctive flag. The National Assembly approved it in 1920.

In 1989, the peaceful Velvet Revolution ended communist rule. Three years later, Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The former kept the old flag, while the latter created a new one.

5. Flag Facts

Similarity with the Philippine Flag

Both flags have two horizontal bands with a triangle on the hoist side. Their colors are also similar: blue, red, and white. However, the Philippine bands are blue and red, while the triangle is white. The flag also has a yellow sun and three stars.

The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia

In 1937, Czechoslovakia was the 7th largest arms manufacturer in the world. It was a strategic acquisition for Hitler during World War II. Germany made it a protectorate to contribute to the war economy. Its flag under Nazi occupation was a horizontal tricolor of white, red, and blue bands.

Czech Republic – country at a glance

IndependenceJanuary 1, 1993
Capital CityPrague
(50°05′N 14°28′E)
Largest CityPrague
(50°05′N 14°28′E)
Areatotal: 78,867 sq km

land: 77,247 sq km

water: 1,620 sq km
Population10,705,384 (2022 est.)
Literacytotal population: 99%
National anthem"Kde domov muj?" (Where is My Home?)
National symboldouble-tailed lion
National colorswhite, red, blue
Suffrage18 years of age; universal
National holidayCzechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Natural resourceshard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber, arable land
Official LanguageCzech
Government typeparliamentary republic
PresidentMiloš Zeman
Prime MinisterPetr Fiala
DemonymCzech
BordersGermany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria.
Agricultural land54.8%
CurrencyCzech koruna (CZK)
ReligionRoman Catholic 10.4%, Protestant (includes Czech Brethren and Hussite) 1.1%, other and unspecified 54%, none 34.5% (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth79.73 Years (2022)
(The greatest fully authenticated age to which any human has ever lived is 122 years 164 days by Jeanne Louise Calment from France.)
Highest pointSnezka 1,602 m
Lowest pointLabe (Elbe) River 115 m
Mean elevation433 m
Industriesmotor vehicles, metallurgy, machinery and equipment, glass, armaments
GDP - per capita (PPP)$38,300 (2020 est.)
Exports$174.92 billion (2020 est.)
cars and vehicle parts, computers, broadcasting equipment, office machinery/parts, seating (2019)
Imports$157.95 billion (2020 est.)
broadcasting equipment, cars and vehicle parts, office machinery/parts, computers, packaged medicines (2019)
Climatetemperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
TerrainBohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country
Birth rate8.59 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate10.74 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Sex ratio1.05 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Time ZoneCET (UTC+1)
Internet country code.cz
Calling Code+420
Drives on theRight
Table last updatedJuly 25, 2022