Tourist Information about Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a young country with an old culture and history. It was the former Bohemia and Moravia of Czechoslovakia when the latter was split into two countries during the Velvet Revolution in 1992. But the political, economic, and social events that shaped the country as it is today spanned many decades of history.

With the breakdown of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after the First World War, Slovakia and Slavic lands Moravia and Bohemia joined together to establish an independent Czechoslovakia, with the beautiful city of Prague as its capital city. Soon after, various parts of the country were occupied by Nazis and by Germany. For the second time, after the Second World War in 1942, Czechoslovakia was declared as an independent state. After years of being a communist country, the peaceful Velvet Revolution in 1989 saw the election of Vaclave Havel as president. Three years later, Czechoslovakia was again split into the Czech Republic, composed of Moravia and Bohemia, and the Slovak Republic (Slovakia). Only recently, on May 1, 2004, the Czech Republic joined the European Union.

The Czech Republic is one of the few countries that hold the distinction of having historic monuments and entire towns declared as World Heritage sites. This is not surprising as the capital city Prague, considered as one of the most beautiful cities in the world is a premier tourist destination. From the cultural heritage towns, world-renowned natural spring spas, to picturesque lakes and rivers, the country simply has endless wonders waiting to be discovered.