The official name of the Czech Republic is the Czech Republic. This state is located in Central Europe. The state has no access to the sea. The land border of the Czech Republic is 1990 km. A detailed map of the Czech Republic makes it possible to get acquainted with small cities, towns and even streets.

The Czech Republic differs from other countries in its abundance of lakes (more than 15 thousand) and mineral springs (more than 2 thousand). In the north-west of the Czech Republic are the Ore Mountains, and the south-western part is occupied by the Bohemian Forest.

Czech Republic on the world map: geography, nature and climate

The Czech Republic on the world map is located right in the geographical center of Europe. More than half the country is located on Bohemian plateau. The Czech Republic borders on European countries such as Germany, Slovakia, Austria and Poland.

The total area of ​​the Czech Republic is 78.9 thousand km 2.

The highest point of the old city is Mount Snezka(Sudeten Mountains). Its height is 1602 meters.

The largest lake in the country is Lipno, an artificial reservoir whose area is 4870 hectares.

Relief

The map of the Czech Republic in Russian clearly highlights landscapes that are very diverse: the west and center of the country are located on the Bohemian Massif, represented by hills and hills (Snežka is also located here), and the eastern part of the Czech Republic, Moravia, is dotted with hills and medium-height mountains (the Carpathians ).

On the territory of the Czech Republic (namely in Western Bohemia) there is a volcano: extinct volcano Komorni-Hurka, as well as mud volcanoes, which emit mineral waters instead of lava.

The karst cave complex Koneprusskie Caves, which are located near the town of Beroun, goes underground at least 70 meters. The average temperature in the caves is 10 degrees.

Nature of the Czech Republic (flora and fauna)

About 30% of the entire territory of the Czech Republic is occupied by forests (mainly coniferous trees). The largest Czech forest is located in the southwest of the Bohemian Massif. Thanks to forests, the Czech Republic has become one of the largest European producers of wood materials.

There are also many nature reserves in the Czech Republic. The most famous is located in the west of the country - Šumava Park. It occupies 125 km near the borders of Germany and Austria. Not far from the town of Znojmo there is the Hranice Forest Park, which, in addition to trees, has mountains, rocks and water streams.

The largest rivers in the Czech Republic are the Vltava and Laba (Elbe). The Elbe, in addition, is the lowest altitude in the country - 115 meters. The east of the Czech Republic is famous for the Morava River, which is 329 km long. Several rivers that originate in the Czech Republic flow into the Baltic, Black and North Seas.

There are many ponds in the south of the country. The most popular of them are Carp ponds. Not far from the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, is the famous artificial reservoir Machovo Lake.

The most common animals in the Czech Republic are hares, martens, wild boars, and otters. Brown bears, wolves, and herons are slightly less common.

Climate of the Czech Republic

The Czech climate is temperate. It is created by air masses that move towards the state from the Atlantic Ocean. The lowest temperatures are observed in January: at this time the thermometer can drop to -4 degrees. The average temperature in spring is 0 degrees. In the summer in the Czech Republic there is no intense heat, maximum temperatures are 30-35 degrees. In October the approximate temperature is 10-15 degrees, and in November snow begins to fall. The lowest temperature threshold in the Czech Republic is about -17 degrees.

Map of the Czech Republic with cities. Administrative division of the country

A map of the Czech Republic with cities in Russian will allow you to see the capital - Prague and 13 edges (regions), each of which has its own administrative center and its own management system. Moreover, each region has several districts. There are 77 districts in the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic is divided into three historical regions: Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. The centers of each are cities such as Prague, Brno and Ostrava (respectively).

• Prague- the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. The city is located in the northwestern part of the country and is divided by the Vltava River into two parts (west and east). During its entire existence, the river created seven islands right in the capital of the Czech Republic. Prague consists of fifteen districts.
• City of Brno is located in the South Moravian Region (in the south of the country). It is home to about 370 thousand people. In terms of area, this city is in second place after the capital of the Czech Republic (230 km 2). A little further from the city limits there are the large rivers Svratka and Svitava. Location Brno is the Danube region.
• Ostrava– this city is located in the northeast of the Czech Republic, not far from the Polish border (15 km). The city has a population of just over 300 thousand people. The area of ​​the third largest Czech city is 214 km 2 . In Ostrava there is the intersection of rivers such as Ostravica, Opava and Odra.

The number of foreign tourists who come to the Czech Republic is increasing every year. Many tourists who have visited the Czech Republic once return there again and again. People fall in love with this country at first sight, and this love can last a lifetime. Tourists come to the Czech Republic for unique historical and architectural monuments, magnificent nature, real Czech beer, balneological and ski resorts.

Geography of the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is located in Central Europe. In the east, the Czech Republic borders on Slovakia, in the west on Germany, on the south on Austria, and on the north on Poland. The total area of ​​this country is 78,866 square meters. km, and the total length of the state border is 2,310 km.

In the west of the country in Bohemia there are low mountains - the Giant Mountains, which are structurally part of the Sudetenland massif. It is in the Giant Mountains that the highest Czech peak is located - Mount Snezka (1,602 m). In the east of the country in Moravia, the area is hilly with low mountains.

Several large rivers flow through the territory of the Czech Republic - the Elbe, Vltava, Morava, and Odra. Some Czech rivers are an important part of the local national parks Krkonoše, Šumava, Podja, and “Czech Switzerland”.

Capital

The capital of the Czech Republic is Prague, which is now home to about 1.3 million people. Archaeologists believe that the first Slavic settlement on the territory of modern Prague appeared in the 6th century AD.

Official language

The official language in the Czech Republic is Czech, which belongs to the subgroup of West Slavic languages.

Religion

About 30% of the Czech population are Catholics (Roman Catholic Church). Another 2% of Czechs are Protestants, and more than 32% of the Czech population do not believe in God.

Government structure of the Czech Republic

According to the 1990 Constitution, the Czech Republic is a parliamentary republic in which the President is the formal head of state, but his powers are significantly limited. The Prime Minister has significant powers, however, he is appointed by the President and approved by Parliament.

Legislative power belongs to the bicameral Parliament, consisting of the Poslanecká sněmovna (200 deputies) and the Senate (81 people).

Until 2013, the President of the Czech Republic was elected by the country's Parliament, but now this happens by universal popular vote.

Climate and weather

The climate in the Czech Republic is temperate continental with fairly hot summers and cold snowy winters. In the west of the country the average annual air temperature is +7C, and in southern Moravia - +9C. In Prague in July the air temperature can reach +33C, and in the west of the country in February it can drop to -17C.

There is a lot of snow in the Czech mountains in winter, which guarantees a long ski season.

Average air temperature in the Czech Republic:

• January - -3C
• February - -2C
• March - +3C<
• April - +8C
• May - +13C
• June - +16C
• July - +18C
• August - +17C
• September - +14C
• October - +8C
• November - +3C
• December - -1C

Rivers and lakes

Several large rivers flow through the territory of the Czech Republic - the Elbe, Vltava, Morava, and Odra. In addition, there are many natural small lakes in the Czech Republic, as well as about 150 artificial lakes.

Story

Around the 4th century BC. Celtic tribes settled on the territory of modern Czech Republic, but after several centuries they were displaced by Germanic tribes. The Slavs appeared in the Czech Republic at the end of the 5th century AD.

In the 9th century, the heyday of the Czech Republic began, which was associated with the reign of the Přemyslid dynasty. The Czech state managed to actually maintain independence, although it was a vassal of the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1085, the Czech prince Vratislav was granted the right to use the royal title by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV. However, the independence of the Kingdom of Bohemia was declared only in 1212.

From 1419 to 1436, the religious Hussite wars continued in the Czech Republic, as a result of which the Hussite religion was recognized by Catholics as one of the religions in this country.

Since 1526, the Habsburgs became kings of the Czech Republic, and thus this country became part of the Holy Roman Empire. By the way, the Czech Republic was part of Austria until 1918.

After the end of the First World War in October 1918, a single state was formed from the Czech Republic and Slovakia - Czechoslovakia.

As a result, the so-called In the Munich Agreement of 1939, Czechoslovakia was occupied by German troops. The Germans turned the Czech Republic into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

After the end of World War II, socialist Czechoslovakia was formed. In 1968, the Warsaw Pact countries were forced to send troops into Czechoslovakia to support the socialist system there.

In November 1989, the so-called The Velvet Revolution, which removed the Communist Party from power. Vaclav Havel became the President of Czechoslovakia.

On January 1, 1993, two new independent states appeared on the political map of the world - Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

In 1999, the Czech Republic became a member of the NATO military bloc, and in 2004 it was admitted to the EU.

Czech culture

Czechs are proud of their traditions, and carefully pass them on from generation to generation. Thus, in one of the Moravian villages of Vlchnov, the “Ride of Kings” holiday is still held every year, during which local boys and teenagers ride horses decorated with multi-colored ribbons throughout the area. At the same time, the riders themselves are dressed in traditional folk costumes. The boy king is guarded by two bodyguards with sabers.

The fact is that in the Middle Ages, local princes often traveled to Moravia (and in the vicinity of the village of Vlčnovo), who were real kings for the peasants.

Czechs love to celebrate Walpurgis Night (from April 30 to May 1). Czechs sometimes call this holiday “Witch Burning Night.” Of course, no one has burned witches in the Czech Republic for many centuries. Nowadays, to maintain this ancient custom, Czechs set fire to brooms and throw them into the air (to see how witches used to fly in the air).

Czechs believe that at midnight on May 1st, treasures can be found. However, at this time the forces of evil are capable of harming a person. Therefore, treasure seekers on the night of May 1 need to have a fern leaf on their head (on their face).

Czech cuisine

In recent years, the Czech Republic has begun to pay more attention to healthy eating and various new recipes. However, traditional Czech food recipes are still very popular in the Czech Republic.

• “bramborová polevka” - potato soup;
• “zelná polevka” - sauerkraut soup;
• “kuřecí polevka” - chicken noodle soup;
• “hovězí guláš s knedlíkem” - beef goulash with dumplings;
• “pečené kuře s brambory” - fried chicken with potatoes;
• “knedlíky” - dumplings are made with a variety of fillings;
• “jablečný závin” - apple strudel;
• Medovník" - cake with honey.

The traditional Czech alcoholic drink is beer. As in some other European countries, beer in the Czech Republic began to be brewed in the early Middle Ages in monasteries. Now Czech beer is famous throughout the world.

Sights of the Czech Republic

For lovers of attractions, the Czech Republic is an ideal country. There are many different attractions in the Czech Republic, and it is difficult for us to choose the best of them. However, in our opinion, the top ten best attractions in the Czech Republic include the following:

Cities and resorts of the Czech Republic

The largest cities in the Czech Republic are Brno, Pilsen, Ostrava, and, of course, Prague.

The Czech Republic is known for its ski resorts with well-developed skiing infrastructure. The most popular Czech ski resorts are Harrachov, Jablonec nad Jizerou, Rokytnice nad Jizerou, Spindleruv Mlyn, Pec pod Snezkou, Hruby Jesenik, Velke Losiny, Bozi Dar, and Liberec. Thanks to the large amount of snow, the ski season in the Czech Republic lasts from December to April.

Tourists come to the Czech Republic not only to admire the sights of this country and ski at local ski resorts. There are a large number of mineral springs in the Czech Republic, and, as a result, tourists also come to this country very often for balneological resorts. Karlovy Vary has a reputation as a world-class balneological resort.

Other popular Czech balneological resorts are Marianske Lazne, Františkové Lazne, Jáchymov, Teplice, Luhačovice, and Poděbrady.

Souvenirs/shopping

We are all familiar with the countries near the Czech Republic. After all, it borders on Poland and Germany, Slovakia and Austria. Such a favorable geographical location at the intersection of trade routes from Europe to Asia, a mild climate and an abundance of mineral springs gave the Czech country an excellent chance for prosperity. Every year millions of tourists from all over the planet flock here to improve their health at balneological resorts and admire the unique architecture of the country and its ancient castles.

The Czechs are a highly cultured and educated nation. After all, they went through the difficult period that came after the collapse of the socialist camp with dignity. What is the Czech Republic rightfully proud of today? The country's economy is first and foremost, which is in second place among the countries of Eastern Europe.

For travelers

The country of the Czech Republic in the tourism market is conventionally divided into three directions: balneological, ski and excursion holidays. For lovers of a wide cultural program, it is suggested to visit Pilsen, Brno, Cesky Krumlov, Ostrava and, of course, Prague.

Those who want to improve their health go to the west of the country. It is here that the main resorts are concentrated, such as Marianske Lazne, Karlovy Vary, and Kynzvart. For ski holidays, the Czech Republic offers its eastern territories. Here, on the border with Poland, there are resorts such as Harrachov, Rokytnice nad Jizerou and Vitkovice.

This amazing country still has more than two and a half thousand medieval castles, striking with their unique architecture. And it is not surprising that artists and romantics, lovers of antiquity and connoisseurs of beauty love to visit the Czech Republic. Having arrived in the country only once, it is impossible to cover the huge number of attractions available on its territory. That is why many tourists return here again and again.

What else attracts travelers to the Czech Republic? It is impossible to describe the country without talking about the original and delicious national cuisine. a haven for gourmets, making people forget about diets and their waist circumference for a while.

The Czech Republic is a real earthly paradise for beer lovers. The recipes and traditions of preparing this drink, represented by a huge number of different varieties, are carefully preserved here.

Geography

The country of the Czech Republic has 658 km of borders with Poland in the north, 646 km with Germany in the northwest and west, 214 km with Slovakia in the east, and 362 km with Austria in the south. Thus, the length of all borders of this state is 1880 km.
The territory of the Czech Republic has a very diverse landscape. Thus, the region of Bohemia in the west is located in the basin of rivers such as the Vltava and Laba. It is surrounded by low mountains.

The eastern part of the Czech Republic is the territory of Moravia. It is also distinguished by its hilly surface. This area is located in the Moravian river basin. The Czech Republic has no access to the seas. However, all its rivers rush towards them. They flow into the Black, Baltic or North Seas.

The highest mountains of the country are in its northern part. They are called Kokonoshi. The highest mountain is Snezka. It rises 1600 m above sea level.

You can find the Czech Republic on the world map at the coordinates of 49 degrees 45 seconds north latitude and 15 degrees 30 seconds east longitude. This is the very heart of Europe. In order to be convinced of this, it is enough to visit the area located between the cities of Pilsen and Cheb. It is here that a memorial sign is installed, on which there is the inscription “Center of Europe”.

The country's territory is 78,866 square kilometers. In its own way it ranks 115th in the world. Two percent of this territory is water surface.

Climate

The Czech Republic is a country with a surprising amount of softness here. It is very hot in this area only during one week of the year. The country enjoys comfortable weather in all seasons. In summer, the average temperature here is within twenty degrees, and in winter the thermometer practically never drops below minus 3. Such an ideal climate is created due to continental and maritime influences. The mountain environment reduces the negative impact of winds.

Administrative division

On the map of the country you can see thirteen regions, or edges. The main administrative center of the country is its capital - the city of Prague.

What regions (regions) are part of this European state? Their list includes the following:

• Central Bohemian.
• Plzensky.
• South Bohemian.
• Karlovy Vary.
• Ustetsky.
• Karlovegradecki.
• Liberetsky.
• South Moravian.
• Slomoutsky.
• Pardubitsky.
• Moravskosilevsky.
• Zlinsky.
• Vysočina.

Story

The territory of the Czech Republic was inhabited by people back in the Stone Age. The very first mentions of this country were found in chronicle sources dating back to the 9th century. During this period, the territory of the Czech Republic was under the control of the Přemyslid princes.

The second name of these lands is Bohemia. It came from an ancient Celtic tribe that inhabited territories located in modern Northern Bohemia. After them, these lands were developed by Germanic tribes - the Marcomanni, who were replaced by the Slavs in the 5th century. The latter were the ancestors of modern Czechs.

This Slavic state reached its peak at the beginning of the 11th century. During this period it was called Great Moravia and had an impressive territory, which included the current lands of Slovakia, Bohemia, as well as parts of Hungary and Austria.

Interestingly, there is no historical information about which city was the capital of this state and why its collapse occurred. Most likely, this was due to numerous internecine wars. It is known that Great Moravia was a Christian country, and its baptists were the apostles Methodius and Cyril (the same as in Rus').

In the 17th century. The Czech kingdom became part of Austria-Hungary, and after its collapse in 1928, the unification of Subcarpathian Ruthenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic took place. These countries became known as Czechoslovakia. In 1939, the country was occupied by the troops of Nazi Germany. Liberation came only at the end of World War II, when Soviet soldiers entered Czechoslovakia. After this, the country entered the socialist community.

However, in the late 1980s, Czechoslovakia was gripped by mass demonstrations and protests. All of them resulted in the so-called Velvet Revolution. This was followed by a strike of enormous scale, which resulted in regime change. The country was led by former dissident, playwright Vaclav Havel.

On January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia was peacefully divided into two states. Two republics were formed on its territory - Slovakia and the Czech Republic. After that, the history of the country began to take shape independently. Thus, in 1999 the state became a member of NATO, and in 2004 - a member of the EU. Since 2007, the Czech Republic has been participating in the Schengen Agreement, which means that a person with a visa from this country can travel throughout Europe without any obstacles.

Political structure

The country of the Czech Republic is a state with a representative democracy. In such a political regime, the main source of power is the people, but various representative bodies are delegated to govern the state. The Czech Republic is a parliamentary republic. Its executive powers are the president and the government. The latter, in turn, is responsible to the Chamber of Deputies.

The head of the Czech state is the president. From January 27, 2013 until today, this post has been held by Miloš Zeman. He replaced Vaclav Klaus.

Milos Zeman is one of the most prominent figures in European politics. This opinion about him was formed due to the tough personal position of the leader of the Czech Republic and controversial statements. It is worth saying that the current president of the Czech Republic, unlike most European politicians, supports Russia’s actions in many areas. The opinion often runs counter to the statements of Brussels. And his position is quite firm.

As for the Czech parliament, it is bicameral. It includes the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The Chamber of Deputies is supported by the work of its two hundred members, who are elected by the people once every four years. There is a principle of proportional representation. Renewal of one-third of the Senate occurs once every two years. Each of the 81 senators is given a six-year mandate.

The Constitutional Court is the guarantor of ensuring the basic rights of the Czech people. It consists of 15 judges with the power to repeal laws that contradict the country's constitution.

Population

The Czech Republic today is included in the list of densely populated countries. According to the latest statistics, its population is slightly more than 10 million people. A tenth of them live in the capital of the state - Prague. The rest of the population, as in most European countries, is mainly concentrated in other cities.

For several years in a row, the Czech Republic has seen a steady increase in natural population growth. This occurs due to a decrease in mortality and an increase in birth rates. In addition to natural growth, there is an influx of emigrants. It also increases the population of this European state.

Official language

Throughout the centuries-old history of the Czech Republic, various peoples and tribes have lived on its territory. However, today 95% of the population is Czech. They preserve their own national traditions. Knowledge about historical roots, of which the Czech Republic can rightfully be proud, is also highly respected. The language of the country is Czech. It is spoken by the people of this state, despite its multinational composition, represented by Poles and Slovaks, Gypsies, Germans and Jews. Of course, they are all a minority, but they are full citizens of the country.

Today, the population of the Czech Republic uses the three most common groups of dialects to communicate. Here people speak East Moravian, Middle Moravian and Czech. The country's official language was able to survive centuries of decline and Germanization. Its revival occurred in the 18th century as a literary one. But then Czech began to penetrate more and more into the lives of ordinary people, becoming an everyday language.

Today, the country's official language is heard on the streets of its cities. At the same time, young people speak English well, and the older generation easily switches to German.

Prague city

The largest metropolis and the most popular tourist center in Europe is the capital of the Czech Republic. More than 6 million travelers visit Prague every year. Everyone who understands architecture and appreciates the taste of beer strives to visit this friendly and elegant city.

Since ancient times, Prague has been considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. And its names confirm this. Thus, this amazing city is sometimes referred to as “golden Prague” or “city of a hundred spiers”, as well as “stone dream”.

The capital of the Czech Republic has cobbled narrow streets, the amazingly beautiful Charles Bridge, as well as a huge number of different attractions.

The exact date of the creation of Prague is unknown. However, already in the 15th century, chronicles contain references to fairs held at the confluence of the Vltava and Berounka rivers. The formation of Prague Castle took place in the 9th century. In the next century, Prague received the status of the capital of the Czech Kingdom. The city began its rapid development in the 12th century, becoming the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

During World War II, Prague was occupied by the Germans. However, fortunately, the military operations carried out on its territory did not lead to the destruction of unique historical structures.

In the post-war years, a metro appeared in the capital of the Czech Republic. The construction of new microdistricts proceeded at a rapid pace.

After the victory of the Velvet Revolution, Prague became one of the most popular European cities among tourists. Its historical center is recognized as a UNESCO heritage site.

Today, the population of the capital of the Czech Republic is more than 1.3 million people, who live in 15 districts, numbered depending on their distance from the center. On the map they can be seen arranged clockwise.

A country's economy

The basis of the national economy of the Czech Republic is mechanical engineering and electronics, the food industry and ferrous metallurgy, the service sector and construction. One of the most successful post-communist states today is the Czech Republic.

The characteristics of the country in economic terms indicate the success and stability of its national economy. After the Velvet Revolution, the Czech Republic inherited energy-inefficient and environmentally unfriendly production facilities from the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. In those years, too large a share in the production sector was occupied by ferrous metallurgy, which relied on imported raw materials, as well as the military industry and mechanical engineering.

As for foreign trade, it was mainly focused on the needs of the USSR, which significantly restrained the growth of the country's economy.

Since independence, the government of the Czech Republic has made some significant changes. It abolished centralized price regulation, introduced freedom of private enterprise, abolished the monopoly of state foreign trade, and carried out privatization and reconstruction of property. Thanks to the influx of foreign investment, the Czech Republic carried out modernization and restructuring of industry in the shortest possible time, and also developed the necessary auxiliary and technical infrastructure.

Today, the Czech Republic is experiencing rapid growth in GDP. This is due to the growth of the industrial sector and the reduction in the share of ferrous metallurgy and production intended for military structures. The share of the automotive industry and the production of electrical products increases. This allowed the Czech Republic to achieve a positive foreign trade balance. Success became possible even despite the rapid rise in prices for gas and oil imported into the country.

It is worth saying that the size of foreign trade per capita in the country is very high and is ahead of countries such as Great Britain and Japan, Italy and France.

§ 3. Formation of the Czech state

As a result of the collapse of the Great Moravian Union, a union of Czech tribes emerged from it, which later became the basis on which the Czech pre-feudal state arose. The territory inhabited by Czech tribes was a quadrangle bounded by the Bohemian Forest, the Ore or Ore Mountains, the Sudetes and the Giant Mountains (Giant Mountains) and the Bohemian-Moravian Heights. It was irrigated by the Laba River and its main tributaries, the Vltava and Ogra.

The Czech tribes, like other Slavic peoples, lived in a tribal system, but in the 9th–10th centuries. the clan system was already in a state of disintegration. This was associated with the development of productive forces, mainly with the success of agriculture.

Significant material assets were concentrated in the hands of clan elders. Owning slaves (youths), the clan nobility had the opportunity to cultivate land plots located outside the territory, which was considered the property of the clan. New conditions contributed to the economic strengthening and increasing political importance of the tribal nobility. She became the force that guided the life of her tribe. In the 9th–10th centuries. the descendants of the tribal nobility were called princes, zhupans and governors. In connection with the disintegration of the clan system, the right of ownership of real estate and instruments of production is strengthened. In contrast to the clan nobility, which sought to secure individual plots for individual use, the bulk of the population continued to maintain collective ownership of the land. The clan was divided into separate large blood-related families - zadrugs. From among the latter, individual members stood out and organized their own households. Subsequently, these individual farms formed a community - a brand. The land continued to remain in the common possession of the community, but cultivated plots gradually passed into individual use. The wastelands continued to remain in common possession. These forms of land tenure existed until the 13th century.

Traces of the clan system remained for a long time in Czech customary law. The community paid for the head of a murdered person found on its territory if the culprit was not discovered. She took part in the search for criminals during the so-called code. The collective oath at the trial was also an indicator of the remnants of the tribal system. On the territory of tribal associations there were “cities” - political, military and trade centers, to which the nearest settlements gravitated. The territory of tribal unions was divided into separate urban areas - zhupas. These territorial associations were already political associations. Among them, the leading place belonged to the Czech territorial-political union, as it occupied the central part of the territory and was located at the intersection of the most important land river routes.

By the half of the 10th century. the most important of the cities of this association, Prague, on the Vltava River, was in the possession of the Přemyslids. They united under their rule the individual Czech tribes living west of the Laba River. The eastern part of the territory, inhabited by Czech tribes, belonged to the Slavnik family. Their political center was Libice.

The growth of the political influence of both cities was determined by their economic importance. In Prague, trade routes crossed, passing through the central part of the territory from north to south and from west to east, to the Black Sea and Azov regions. The main trade route to the northeast to the Polish lands passed through Libice, and from there to Kievan Rus and the trade route to Hungary, Pannonia and the Balkans. The city of Libice was a serious economic and political rival of Prague. The Slavnikov family was a strong opponent of the Přemyslids. The possessions of the Slavniks extended to the west of the Vltava and cut off the trade routes going to the Czech Republic from the Danube. The long struggle between both political centers ended in the victory of the Prague prince, who united most of the tribes under his rule and had significant material resources.

The unification of the Czech tribes led to the fact that the elders of individual tribes - voivodes and zupans - had to recognize the authority of the central voivode or prince (dux). But it was a long and complex historical process. Although the Czech prince managed to subjugate other tribes, his initial power over them was not great. The governors of individual tribes did not want to recognize the power of the central prince. The Czech state was born in the struggle of the prince with the governors and tribal nobility. The struggle was intense, and it took a lot of effort to break the resistance of the governors and nobles of individual tribes. In addition, the internal struggle in the Czech principality itself weakened the power of the central prince, strengthening the position of his opponents. The intervention of German feudal lords in the internal affairs of the Czech Republic also delayed the unification of the Czech tribes into one state. The first historically known prince was Burivoy from the Přemyslid family (874–879). Together with his wife Lyudmila Buriva, he converted to Christianity in the capital of Moravia, Velehrad. Already under Burivoj's grandson, Vaclav (923–935), the situation in the Czech Republic became tense. Under him, the influence of the German clergy increased, which, as in Moravia, began to fight against the Slavic Church. Wenceslas supported the Catholic clergy, which took a dominant position in the country. The victory of the Catholic Church over the Slavic Church strengthened the position of the social elite. However, the dominance of the Latin language in writing delayed the development of writing in the Czech language for a long time.

The German feudal lords vigilantly monitored the internal situation in the country in order to subjugate the Czech Republic to their power. When Wenceslas was in a fight with Radislav, the prince of the Zličan tribe, who relied on the German feudal lords, King Henry I took advantage of this to invade the Czech Republic. He reached all the way to Prague. Wenceslas was forced to come to an agreement with Henry, recognized himself as a vassal of the king and undertook to pay tribute. The governors and Lechs took advantage of the difficult external situation and rebelled against Wenceslas. The uprising was pacified, but Vaclav himself soon died at the hands of his brother Boleslav, prince of the Pshovan tribe. Bolesław I (935–967) fought an unsuccessful war for independence with Otto I for many years. The common threat from the Magyars brought Bolesław I closer to the empire. The united German-Czech army defeated the Magyars in the Battle of the Lech River in 955, and thus the Czech Republic was freed from the threat of the Magyar invasion. After the defeat of the Magyars, Moravia with part of Silesia, in the upper reaches of the Oder, and Krakow was annexed to the Czech Republic. Boleslav was able to control the trade routes passing through Libice. To strengthen the foreign policy position of the Czech Republic, Boleslav became close to the Polish prince Mieszko (960–992) and married his daughter Dubravka to him.

Boleslav laid a solid foundation for the Czech state. In this regard, Boleslav is a continuator of the traditions of the Great Moravian princes Rostislav and Svyatopolk. His power extended to all Czech tribes, with the exception of the possession of Slavnik, centered in Libice. The victories cost Boleslav great effort, and he was not shy in his choice of means. No wonder he received the nickname “Cruel” (Ukrutny).

Boleslav took energetic measures to strengthen his country. The majority of the Czech nobility were interested in strengthening their economic position and therefore supported Boleslav and his unification policy. The material resources that Boleslav had at his disposal allowed him to maintain a squad, which he used to fight the Germans and Magyars, and with its help he subjugated the rebellious tribes. Only one Libice prince, Radislav Slavnik, had not yet submitted to the prince and continued to fight against the unification policy of the Czech princes. Relations between the Prague and Libice princes became particularly strained under Boleslav II the Pious (967–999). To free the Czech Church from subordination to the highest German Catholic hierarchy, Boleslav II achieved the establishment of a separate bishopric in Prague, which remained canonically dependent on the Archbishop of Mainz. The establishment of the bishopric in Prague strengthened Boleslav's position, since the power of the Prague bishop extended to the entire Czech Republic. This dealt a political blow to Slavnik and his family. To stop the further strengthening of the power of the Prague prince, Slavnik achieved the appointment of his son Vojtech as the bishop of Prague under the name of Adalbert. The policy of the new bishop undermined the authority of the princely power. Clashes began between Bolesław II and Vojtěch. In the end, the Prague bishop was forced to leave his see. Under the patronage of the Polish prince, Wojtech went to the Prussians to spread Christianity among them, but was killed by them in 997 during his missionary activity. Boleslav II emerged victorious in the fight against the Libice prince Radislav Slavnik and his sons. Although the Libice prince relied on the German Emperor Otto III, the latter could not provide him with significant assistance. In 995, Boleslav occupied the capital of the Slavniks - Libice. During the capture of Libice, the entire male and female population was killed. The entire Slavnik family was destroyed. Their lands and property were confiscated in favor of the Czech prince. Thus, the eastern Bohemian lands passed into the hands of the Přemyslids, and all Czech lands were united under the rule of one prince. This is how the Czech state was created.

The chronicler Kozma of Prague approves of the personality and activities of Bolesław II. “This prince,” says Kozma, “was a Christian husband, a father of orphans, a protector of widows, a comforter of those who mourn, a patron of clergy and wanderers, and the founder of the churches of God. No one under him received either a spiritual or secular position for money. And in battles he was the bravest, he treated the vanquished with mercy, but most of all he valued calm and peace. He had a lot of wealth and military weapons." Already by this time, Prague had turned into a major center of international trade, about which the Arab traveler Ibrahim Ibn-Yakub, who visited the Czech Republic under Boleslav I, wrote: “The city of Fraga (Prague) is built of stone and lime, and it is the richest of cities in trade. Rus' and Slavs come to him from Krakow (Krakow) with goods, and Muslims and Jews and Turks come to him from the countries of the Turks, as well as with goods and Byzantine calicos and take out flour, tin and various small things from them. Their country is the best of the countries of the north and the richest in life supplies. And in the city of Prague saddles and bridles and shields are made for use in their countries.” After the death of Boleslav II, the young Czech state had to endure deep internal and external upheavals. The tribal nobility rose up against Bolesław III, nicknamed the Red (999–1003), who did not want to come to terms with the loss of their independence. At the head of the tribal nobility was the Vrsovic family. Bolesław III was forced to flee to Germany. The temporary victory of the tribal nobility was associated with the support of its Polish prince Boleslav I the Brave (992–1025). The latter, taking advantage of internal complications in the Czech Republic, captured the beautiful Czech capital, and then Moravia, Krakow and Silesia.

To keep the Czech Republic under his rule, Boleslav I the Brave helped Boleslav III in his fight against the brothers Jaromir and Oldřich; with his assistance, Boleslav III returned to Prague and brutally dealt with his opponents. Then the lechs and rulers hostile to Boleslav III also turned to the Polish prince for help. Bolesław III, during a meeting with Bolesław I the Brave, was treacherously captured and blinded, and then imprisoned in a Polish fortress, where he was kept until his death. Boleslav I the Brave headed to Prague, and “the beautiful Czech country became a province of the Principality of Poland, cheerful Prague the capital of Boleslav.” However, Prague did not remain under the rule of the Polish prince for long. Emperor Henry II, fearing his strengthening, assisted Oldrich and Jaromir in the return of Prague. However, Moravia and Silesia remained with Bolesław I the Brave. Only in 1021 Moravia was freed from Polish rule, and Oldřich (1012–1034) gave it as an inheritance to his son Břetislav.

Under Břetislav (1034–1055), the Czech state grew stronger. The resistance of the feudal nobility was broken. Nevertheless, the external situation of the Czech Republic remained extremely tense. Břetislav was not alien to the idea of ​​uniting the Slavic peoples under his rule, like Boleslav I the Brave. Therefore, Brzetislav, taking advantage of the feudal struggle that began after the death of the Polish prince Mieszko II (1025–1034), son of Boleslav I the Brave, captured Krakow in Lesser Poland and Gniezno in Greater Poland.

The extension of Břetislav's power to Poland strengthened the external position of the Czech Republic in relation to the German Empire, which continued to be the main enemy of the Czech state. The German emperor did not want to allow the Czech Republic to strengthen. To this end, Henry III launched a campaign against the Czech Republic in 1040, which ended in failure. The emperor was defeated at the Battle of Domažlice, in Western Bohemia. The following year, Henry III undertook a new campaign, which ended successfully, and Břetislav was forced to recognize the feudal dependence of the Czech Republic on the empire. With the help of this diplomatic act, the Czech lands remained under the rule of Břetislav.

But Břetislav failed to unite all the Czech lands under his rule. He owned only part of Moravia. The region along the left bank of the Danube, right down to the lower reaches of the Morava River, went to Bavaria. Ethnically and linguistically related to the Czechs, the Slovaks fell under the rule of the Magyars.

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The most famous city in the Czech Republic and one of the most beautiful capitals in the world is, of course, Prague. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, this place was called the “City of a Hundred Towers,” but currently there are already more than five hundred of them. Old Prague is perfectly preserved, representing a unique architectural ensemble. The historical part and the city center are Hradcany, located on the left bank of the Vltava, the romantic Old Town on the right bank and the New Town - the commercial heart of the capital. These places, as well as the Jewish Ghetto and Visegrad, are included in the Heritage List.
The old city, founded in the tenth century, was originally surrounded by a wall with thirteen high towers (now only the Powder Tower has survived). The main historical sites are located on the Old Town Square and on the narrow cobbled streets that run from it in all directions. Here you can see ancient houses with fancy names, such as “At the Stone Table”, “At the Stone Lamb”, “Sixt’s House”, “At the White Unicorn” and others. The famous Old Town Hall is located on the square itself. It is decorated with a magnificent astronomical clock (early fifteenth century), on which figures of archangels and mythical characters appear hourly and move to the chime of the clock. In addition, here you can see the monument to Jan Hus, the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, built in the second half of the fourteenth century, the Clementinum, which houses the State Library, as well as the unusual Smetana Museum.
One of the greenest and most prestigious areas of Prague, with a zoo and a palace, is called Troy. Its main attraction is the Troyan Castle, built in the second half of the seventeenth century. This is a palace of magnificent beauty with a beautiful park in the Baroque style. The palace permanently houses an interesting collection of local nineteenth-century art. Opposite the castle there is a zoo, which is a landscaped and very beautiful area on a hill where you can watch the life of animals in their almost natural habitat. Many of the species of local fauna are listed in the Red Book.
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The Czech Republic is a country of exquisite architectural monuments, indescribably beautiful landscapes and a romantic atmosphere, a place that cannot be bored.