Key Facts about the Czech Republic

• Area: 78,871 km2
• Geographic Location: Central Europe 
• Population: 10,909,500 
• Capital: Prague (Praha), approximately 1.39 million permanent residents 
• Neighboring Countries: Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Austria 
• International Membership: the Council of Europe (1991, 1993), the European Union (2004) and NATO (1999), as well as other international organisations 
• Currency: Czech koruna (CZK) 
• ​                      Current exchange rate: ECB 
• Economy: open and export-oriented economy, traditionally strong in manufacturing and industrial production, particularly in the automotive, engineering and electronics sectors 
• Climate: Temperate, with four distinct seasons 
• Time zone: Central European Time (CET),
•                          Central European Summer Time (CEST) 
• International dialling code: +420 
• Internet domain: *.cz 

Public Holidays:

1 January – New Year’s Day - Day of the Restoration of the Independent Czech State 

March/April – Good Friday and Easter Monday (moveable) 

1 May – Labour Day 

8 May – Liberation Day (1945) 

5 July – Saints Cyril and Methodius Day (Commemoration of the Christian mission in 863) 

6 July – Day of the Burning of Master Jan Hus (Commemoration of the religious reformer) 

28 September – Czech Statehood Day, St. Wenceslas Day (patron saint of the Czech lands) 

28 October – Independent Czechoslovak State Day (Creation of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918) 

17 November – Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day (Commemorating the Velvet Revolution of 1989) 

24, 25, and 26 December – Christmas Holidays 

 

National Symbols:

The National Flag of the Czech Republic 
 

 

The national emblem of the Czech state (a blue, white, and red flag with a simple geometric design) was created in 1920, shortly after the proclamation of the first independent Czechoslovak state. The colours are both historical and symbolic. White (silver) is the traditional colour of Bohemia and represents the sky. Red represents Moravia as well as the blood shed for national freedom. Blue was traditionally the colour of Slovakia; it also represents impartiality and sovereignty. When Czechoslovakia split into two independent states in January 1993, the Czech Republic retained this flag. While the blue no longer represents Slovakia, it continues to symbolise impartiality and sovereignty.
 

The Large and Small State Emblems 

      
The Czech coat of arms dates back to the 1200s. It consists of a shield divided into four squares. The top left and bottom right squares are red, with a two-tailed, white, crowned lion. The lion is the symbol of Bohemia and signifies power and sovereignty. The top right square is blue and contains a red-and-white chequered, crowned eagle. This is the Moravian eagle, adapted from the Saint Wenceslas eagle of the Holy Roman Empire. The bottom left square is gold and contains a black, crowned eagle, which symbolises the Silesian region of the country. Today, the Czech lion by itself is also used as a symbol of the Czech Republic.

The small state emblem consists of a red shield which contains a silver split-tailed lion rampant with a golden crown and golden claws.
 

The Banner of the President of the Republic 

 

The banner of the President of the Republic is white and its selvedge consists of several alternating white, red and blue flame-shaped ornaments. In the middle of the white field is the large state emblem below which is a white (silver) inscription saying ‘Truth Prevails’ on a red ribbon underlaid with yellow (golden) linden twigs on both sides.
 

The State Anthem 

The state anthem is the first verse of the song ‘Where is My Home?’ composed by František Škroup to the lyrics by Josef Kajetán Tyl.