The Czech Republic was formed in 1993 with the split of Czechoslovakia. It has a population of around 10 million and its capital and largest city is Prague. The country has a democratic political system and market economy. Notable aspects of Czech culture include its architectural and artistic heritage, traditional foods, and brewing tradition.

1. Czech Republic Mary Chromek

2. General Information Czechoslovakia was split into Czech Republic and Slovak Republic on January 1, 1993. Bordered by Poland, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany. Land area of 79,000 sq km. In 2006, the Czech population around 10.3 million. National Day on October 28. Significant economic progress since getting rid of communism in 1989; solid market economy. Charles Bridge

3. Government The Prime Minister is Jan Fischer. The President is Vaclav Klaus. President is elected by National Assembly Serve a 5-year term; two subsequent terms allowed. President holds some important legal powers Legislative power is a bicameral parliament: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. European Union: the rule of supremacy of European law over Czech law in certain areas.

4. Government System of courts consists of: Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Supreme Administrative Court, and high, regional, and county courts. The Constitutional Court (Ústavní soud) performs the following duties: * The cancellation of laws * Decisions on constitutional appeals against legal rulings * Review of constitutional actions against the president. * Deciding measures needed for decisions by international court * The settlement of disputes * Review of international contracts before ratification The Supreme Court (Nejvyšší soud) is highest judicial authority relating to court’s competence. The Supreme Administration Court (Nejvyšší správní soud) oversees decisions made by regional courts.

5. Regions Czech Republic is divided into 14 self-governing regions. 5 are in Moravia and 9 are in Bohemia. Bohemia divided into 9 regions – Prague, Central Bohemia, South Bohemia, Pilsen & Carlsbad, Ústí, Liberec, Hradec Králové, and the Pardubice Regions. Bohemia’s landscape: hilly country and fertile lowlands. Prague

6. Prague Prague: capital city. 1,233,211 inhabitants as of February 1, 2009. Charles University: 1348 Historic monuments. Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, and Cathedral of Saint Nicholas. National Theatre and the Prague State Opera. The Prague Castle

7. Central Bohemia Historic architecture Gothic castle Karlštejn; King Charles IV built. Several protected landscape areas. Important industrial subjects. Automotive industry. Karlštejn

8. South Bohemia Luscious landscape with many ponds. Attract swimmers and fishermen. Carp very popular The Orlík water reservoir Farming villages with Rustic Baroque architecture. The Orlik Water Reservoir

9. North Bohemia Skiing Babylon Centre: waterpark, rock climbing, and rides. The town of Terezín: turned into concentration camp. 1947: Terezín Memorial was made. Babylon Centre Pool

10. Terezín Dead by Jaroslav Seifert “The grave among the graves, he who knows time stamped dead form. Testimony, so evil and terrible we took with him to the grave. Only the dark and sometimes the wind murmur sit down with the edge of the grave, only a handful of grass, bitter weed the bloom in May Day”

11. West Bohemia Made up of The Carlsbad and Pilsen Regions. Known for spas, golfing, and skiing. Moser Company glassworks and rose porcelain. Exported all around the world.

12. East Bohemia Beautiful castles and châteaux. Pardubice gingerbread. Areas of natural beauty: Adrspach-Teplice Rocks. Broumov Cliffs. Teplice Rocks

13. Education The system of education has several levels. Law: children must attend school starting at six years old and continue for nine progressive grades. Maybe pre-school. Charles University

14. Climate Differs from the various regions. Depends on the height above sea level. Moderate with diversity in seasons. Cold winter , moderate spring, warm summer, chilly autumn. Giant Mountains

15. Traditions May 1st, a girl should be kissed under a cherry blossom so that she will always be beautiful. Lovers in the city of Prague head to Petřín hill on May 1st and leave a flower at the memorial of Karel Hynek Mácha who was a Czech romantic poet. In autumn after the harvest , a party was held. Invitations were in the form of a cake, or a “zváč” (from the Czech word for “inviter”). People ate, drank , sang, and danced. Nowadays, a fair comes around to most communities where a feast is held. The feast of Saint Barbara is on December 4. A sprig was cut at first light on December 4 from a cherry tree, or Barborky, that was at least 10 years old, and was then taken to a house where an unmarried girl lived. Today, Barborky are used as Christmas decorations for the home. Hold festivals for the dead on November 1 and 2, since the year 998. In certain places, special bread called “dušičky” (which also means All Souls’ Day) was baked for beggars, travelers, and poor people. Today, graves are decorated with flowers, wreaths, and lit candles to remember the dead. Festal Cakes Cherry Sprig

16. Cuisine Influenced by Austrian and Hungarian cuisines Based on ingredients that can be grown at home. Feature meals around meat. Meat is prepared in various ways: fried, stewed, or roasted. Meat is always served with a side dish like potatoes, rice, traditional bread, or potato dumplings. Potatoes are an important part of Czech cuisine. Sauces are an important part in cooking as well.

17. Cuisine Favorite dishes are potato pancakes, dumplings, pork and cabbage, and beef sirloin in cream sauce; all served with bread or potato dumplings. Popular meals that can also be served on special occasions are meat goulash and potato salad with pork schnitzel . You will have the traditional Czech Christmas dinner if you replace the pork with carp. Many cities are famous for food or dishes Olomouc - curd cheese Prague - ham Area of Pardubice - gingerbread Area of Chodsko - unique cakes South Bohemia - freshwater fish Czech Pancakes

18. Cuisine Breakfast: white rolls or sliced bread served with pork, chicken, ham, salami, or sausage. They may also include cheese, eggs, or jam with their bread. They also like to eat something sweet for breakfast, which can be the traditional Christmas yeast bread or doughnuts. They mostly drink tea with lemon, filtered coffee, hot chocolate, or fruit juice with breakfast. Czechs will often go out for lunch. Lunch will usually consist of soup, a main course, and sometimes a small dessert. There are many soup varieties offered: Beef broth with noodles and liver dumplings, potato soup, garlic soup, goulash soup, tripe soup, spring vegetable soup, or the Krkonoše sour soup. Czech families differ in their customs for dinner. One family may prefer a light dinner; another may prefer a heavy dinner that is similar to lunch. Recently, more and more families are eating fast food from take-away restaurants and sitting down at a restaurant and socializing during dinner.

19. Drinks & Brewing The best-known soft-drink is Kofola. Brewing has been a tradition for centuries. The Regent Brewery was founded in 1379 by the Rosenberks. The best known Czech breweries are Plzeňský Prazdroj, Zámecky Pivovar, Budějovický Budvar, Krušovice, and Bernard. Becherovka is a traditional, high-quality Czech liqueur made from natural ingredients that has been around nearly 200 years.

20. Architecture Around 1910- unique form of cubism appeared with crystalline and geometric shapes. Leading Czech architects who used cubism: Josef Gočár: House of the Black Madonna in Prague and the spa pavilion in Lázně Bohdanec. Josef Chochol: the building at 30 Neklanova Street in Prague. Emil Králíček: the Diamant House in Prague and the cubist street lantern on Jungmannovo náměstí. Now striving for simple but elegant detail and modernism. Alena Šrámková, Josef Pleskot, and Ivan Kroupa.

21. Scientific Breakthroughs Truvada Unique drug for Hepatitis B. Compound To Prevent Reproduction of the HIV Virus Memrec Computer Controlled By Eye Movement Nanospider

22. Works Cited http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/czech_republic/czech_brief.html http://www.pamatnik-terezin.cz/showdoc.do?docid=4 http://www.czech.cz/ http://www.centrumbabylon.cz/cs/babylon/ http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vodn%C3%AD_n%C3%A1dr%C5%BE_Orl%C3%ADk http://www.prague.net/