Maturita 2026

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The Czech Republic 🇨🇿 ​

1. Basic facts ​

  • Official name: Česká republika / Czech Republic / Czechia (short form since 2016).
  • Location: Central Europe – landlocked country.
  • Neighbours: Germany (W), Poland (N), Slovakia (E), Austria (S).
  • Area: ~78,866 km².
  • Population: ~10.9 million.
  • Capital: Prague (1.3 million).
  • Currency: Czech Crown (Kč, CZK).
  • Language: Czech (Slavic language).
  • Three historical regions: Bohemia (Čechy, west), Moravia (Morava, east), Silesia (Slezsko, north-east).
  • Member of: EU (2004), NATO (1999), Schengen (2007).

2. Political system ​

  • Parliamentary democracy.
  • Head of state: President – Petr Pavel (since 2023), directly elected for 5 years (max. 2 terms).
  • Head of government: Prime Minister.
  • Parliament – bicameral:
    • Poslanecká sněmovna (Chamber of Deputies) – 200 MPs, 4-year term, proportional representation.
    • Senát (Senate) – 81 senators, 6-year term, ⅓ elected every 2 years.
  • Highest court: Ústavní soud (Constitutional Court) in Brno.

3. History highlights ​

  • 9th century: Great Moravia.
  • 10th century: Czech state joins the Holy Roman Empire.
  • 1348: Charles IV founds Charles University – first university in Central Europe.
  • 1355: Charles IV crowned Holy Roman Emperor – "Golden Age".
  • 1415: Jan Hus burned at the stake → Hussite Wars.
  • 1620: Battle of White Mountain – defeat of Czech Protestants, Habsburg rule.
  • 1918: Independent Czechoslovakia founded (28 October), T. G. Masaryk first president.
  • 1938: Munich Agreement – Sudetenland given to Germany.
  • 1939–45: Nazi occupation.
  • 1948: Communist coup.
  • 1968: Prague Spring crushed by Warsaw Pact invasion.
  • 1989: Velvet Revolution – end of communism, Václav Havel becomes president.
  • 1993: Velvet Divorce – CZ and Slovakia separate.
  • 2004: Czech Republic joins the EU.

4. Geography ​

  • Hilly to mountainous around the borders, flatter in the middle.
  • Mountain ranges: Krkonoše (with Sněžka 1,603 m – highest peak), Jeseníky, Šumava, Krušné hory, Beskydy, Jizerské hory.
  • Main rivers: Vltava (longest river entirely in CZ), Labe (Elbe), Morava, Ohře.
  • Famous areas: Český ráj (rock formations), Moravian Karst (caves), South Bohemia (ponds), Šumava (oldest forests).
  • Climate: temperate, 4 distinct seasons.

5. Prague – the capital ​

  • Nicknames: "The Golden City", "The City of a Hundred Spires".
  • Prague Castle – largest castle complex in the world; seat of the president; St Vitus Cathedral inside.
  • Charles Bridge (1357) – baroque statues.
  • Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock (Orloj).
  • Wenceslas Square – modern centre, history of demonstrations.
  • Vyšehrad – legendary site, national cemetery.
  • Dancing House – modern architecture.
  • Petřín, Letná – parks with city views.

6. Other major cities ​

  • Brno – 2nd largest city, capital of Moravia; Špilberk Castle, Tugendhat Villa, MotoGP.
  • Ostrava – former coal-mining centre; Lower Vítkovice, Colours of Ostrava festival.
  • Plzeň – home of Pilsner Urquell beer.
  • Olomouc – Holy Trinity Column (UNESCO), university town.
  • České Budějovice – Budvar beer, large square.
  • Karlovy Vary – famous spa town, international film festival.
  • Liberec – Ještěd Tower, Bílí Tygři hockey, gateway to Jizerské hory.
  • Hradec Králové, Pardubice, Zlín (Baťa), Mladá Boleslav (Škoda).

7. UNESCO sites (selected) ​

  • Historic centre of Prague.
  • Historic centre of Český Krumlov.
  • Telč, Kutná Hora, Olomouc Holy Trinity Column.
  • Lednice-Valtice cultural landscape.
  • Tugendhat Villa in Brno.
  • Erzgebirge mining region.

8. Famous Czechs ​

  • Rulers / leaders: Charles IV, T. G. Masaryk, Václav Havel.
  • Religious / educational: Jan Hus, Jan Amos Komenský (Comenius).
  • Writers: Karel Čapek (coined robot), Milan Kundera, Bohumil Hrabal, Jaroslav Hašek (The Good Soldier Švejk), Franz Kafka, Jaroslav Seifert (Nobel Prize 1984).
  • Composers: Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Leoš Janáček.
  • Scientists/inventors: Jaroslav Heyrovský (Nobel Prize for chemistry 1959), Otto Wichterle (soft contact lenses), Prokop Diviš (lightning rod, before Franklin).
  • Film: Miloš Forman (Oscar-winning director).
  • Athletes: Jaromír Jágr, Dominik Hašek, David Pastrňák (hockey), Martina Navrátilová, Petra Kvitová (tennis), Ester Ledecká (skiing).

9. Czech cuisine ​

  • Main meals: svíčková (beef sirloin in cream sauce), guláš, vepřo-knedlo-zelo (pork, dumplings, cabbage), smažený sýr (fried cheese).
  • Soups: bramboračka, kulajda, česnečka.
  • Sweets: koláče, trdelník, ovocné knedlíky.
  • Drinks: beer (Czechs are world #1 in consumption), Becherovka, slivovice, Kofola.

10. Holidays (public) ​

  • 1 Jan – New Year + Czech State Day.
  • Easter Monday.
  • 1 May – Labour Day.
  • 8 May – Liberation Day (end of WWII).
  • 5 July – Sts Cyril and Methodius.
  • 6 July – Jan Hus Day.
  • 28 Sep – St Wenceslas Day / Czech Statehood Day.
  • 28 Oct – Independent Czechoslovak State Day.
  • 17 Nov – Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day.
  • 24, 25, 26 Dec – Christmas (carp + potato salad, gifts on 24th evening).

11. Speaking strategy ​

Start with location, neighbours and the three regions. Cover political system briefly. Move to Prague as the main attraction, then 1–2 other cities. Mention 2–3 famous Czechs (Charles IV, Havel + a scientist or athlete). Finish with food or Christmas traditions for a personal touch.