The Facts:
Capital: Prague
Currency: Czech Koruna
Time Zone: GMT +1
www.czech.cz
Introduction:
Whilst the Czech Republic enthusiastically stakes its crowd-pulling claim as the birthplace of the world's most famous beer there's more than Pilsner to this place. You only need to start with architecturally arresting Prague to see this is a nation bulging with history and culture that just keeps coming. It crams a total of 12 different UNESCO World Heritage sites, which includes Cesky Krumlov the country's best preserved medieval town, fairytale castles like Karlštejn and Konopišteand elegant spa resorts like Karlovy Vary. That's not bad going for a country no bigger than Scotland. The Czech Republic as we know it today is however a relatively young nation only emerging from Czeckoslavakia and the 'Velvet Divorce' in 1993 to encompass the ancient lands of Bohemia and Moravia. There are natural splendours too. Discover the strange sandstone rock formations, pinnacles and spires of the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks whilst forested mountains and lakes can be explored in the Šumava national park at the headwaters of the Vltava river. If you begin to get anywhere close to discovering all of this you'll definitely deserve that beer.
Where To Go:
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in central Europe and a member state of the European Union. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. The country is composed of the historic regions of Bohemia and Moravia, as well as parts of Silesia.
What To Eat & Drink:
- Svickova, is roast beef with a thick sauce of carrot, parsley root, root celery, and cream. Often served with Knedlíky, a cream topping, a teaspoon of cranberry compote, and a slice of lemon.
- Svícková na smetane is roast pork with dumplings and cabbage and is considered the most popular Czech dish.
- Bramborák is a potato fritter flavoured with garlic and herbs and sometime slsiced sausages.
- Smažený sýr consists of a slice of cheese (usually Edam or Hermelín) about 1 cm thick coated in breadcrumbs.
- During Christmas expect to eat Kapr (carp), the national fish.
- Pivo is beer, both pale lager, or pilsner and dark ales are cerný pivo.
- Czechs also produce two unique liquors, Fernet Stock a herbal bitters made in Plzen-Božkov and Becherovka made in Karlovy Vary and flavoured with anise seeds, cinnamon)
Unmissable Czech Republic:
5 things you really should do in the Czech Republic
1. See what's brewing
The Pilsner style beer originated in the western Bohemian city of Plzen. You can take a tour of the brewery still producing this world-renowned lager.
www.prazdroj.cz
2. Step into a fairytale
Wander the ramparts of fairytale looking castles like that of Ceský Krumlov, one of the Czech republics most attractive towns.
www.virtourist.com/europe/krumlov/
3. Indulge yourself
Treat yourself to a spot of well being at one the Czech Republics spa resorts. Karlovy Vary is the largest spa city with a long heritage in taking care of its visitors.
www.karlovyvary.cz
4. Feel Bohemian
Explore the beautiful city of Prague once the capital of Bohemia and which for centuries has been the inspirational home to a host of musicians, artists and poets.
www.prague.cz
5. Test your nerve
Explore a building of bones at Sedlec Ossuary small Roman Catholic chapel, located beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints in Sedlec, a suburb of Kutná Hora in the Czech Republic. Here the skeletons and skulls of over 40,000 people have been arranged in columns, sculptures and coats of arms.
www.kostnice.cz
