the Czech crown (CZK)

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Bernard Norris
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2 Area: km 2 Population: 10,250,000 Nationalities: Czechs, Moravians and Silesians 94%, Slovaks 3%, Romanies 1.3%, other minorities 1.7% State system: republic Capital city: Prague Other important cities: Brno, Ostrava, Olomouc, Plze, eské Budjovice Mountain ranges: Krkonoše, Šumava, eské stedohoí, Jizerské hory,orlické hory, Jeseníky, Beskydy, Krušné hory The highest mountain: Snžka 1602 m above sea level Important rivers: Labe, Vltava, Morava, Odra Official language: Czech Currency: the Czech crown (CZK) The Czech Republic has the borders with Germany, Poland, Slovak Republic and Austria. The republic consists of thirteen regions Central Bohemia, South Bohemia, Plze region, Karlovy Vary region, Ustí region, Liberec region, Hradec Králové region, Pardubice region, Vysoina, South Moravia, Olomouc region, Moravia-Silesia, Zlín region.

Jeseníky, Beskydy, Krušné hory The highest mountain: Snžka 1602 m above sea level Important rivers: Labe, Vltava, Morava, Odra Official language: Czech Currency: the Czech crown (CZK) The Czech

3 The Czech Republic lies in temperate climatic zone. We have four year seasons spring, summer, autumn and winter. In spring the weather is changable, sometimes it rains but mostly the sun shines, the temperature is about 15 o C. In summer the average temperature is 25 o C, in July it is over 30 o C. The autumn weather is chilly with temperatures about 5 o C. In winter snow falls and the weather is very cold, about -12 o C. The Czech Republic is a highly developed industrial country, there is machine industry, chemical, textile, consumer and food industry. The country is rich in coal. It is known for example for its cut glass, porcelain, and the Skoda and Tatra cars are also well-known. Concerning agriculture the cattle, pigs and sheep are bred here and the wheat, oats, corn, potatoes and sugar-beet are grown.

The autumn weather is chilly with temperatures about 5 o C. In winter snow falls and the weather is very cold, about -12 o C.

5 Kde domov mj? Kde domov mj? Where is my home?where is my home? Voda huí po luinách, In the meadows water s droning, Bory šumí po skalinách, In the mountains forests are whispering, V sad skví se jara kvt, Orchards blossom in the spring, Zemský ráj to na pohled. Look the paradise on the Earth. A to je ta krásná zem And this is the beautiful country, Zem eská, domov mj This Czech country is my home. Zem eská, domov mj. This Czech country is my home.

whispering, V sad skví se jara kvt, Orchards blossom in the spring, Zemský ráj to na pohled.

6 Our history was influenced by the geographical position of the Czech territory. We were on the crossing of cultural influences and we often had to fight for our right to existence. The Czech territory was first settled in pre-historic era by the mammoth hunters. In 400 BC the Celtic Boii came there (from them we got the name Bohemia) and after them the Germans came. The Czech nation, however, belongs to the Slavonian family. The Slaves settled in the territory in 5th century. Important state system was the Great Moravia connected with the names of European patrons Constantine and Method. They made the script and introduced the Old Church Slavic to the church service. From 10th to 14th century the dynasty of Premyslides ruled in Czech state. Constantine and Method Charles IV. Then the Luxemburger took over the Czech throne. From them Charles IV was the most famous. He liked the Czech state, he built many important buildings, for example the University, Karlštejn Castle and many others. Important sermoner John Hus, burnt to death for his confessions in 1415 Jan Amos Comenius the teacher of nations

The Czech nation, however, belongs to the Slavonian family. The Slaves settled in the territory in 5th century.

7 After Luxemburgers several monarchs changed and in 16th century the Hapsburg dynasty came to the throne and ruled to The important Hapsburgs were: Rudolf II. Marie Terezie František Josef I. After the world War I, on 28th October 1918 the Czechoslovak Republic came into being. The first president was Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. In 1993 the Czechoslovak Republic was divided to Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. The president of the Czech Republic was Václav Havel. Now the President is Václav Klaus.

After the world War I, on 28th October 1918 the Czechoslovak Republic came into being.

8 Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic. It has about one million inhabitants. It is a seat of the president, parliament, government and senate. It is also cultural, economic and very important business and financial centre. Prague is on the river Vltava. There are fifteen bridges over the river. The most famous is the Charles Bridge. It was built by Petr Parlé and is decorated with 31 unique statues of saints. It connects the Old and the New Town. The Prague Castle is the most beautiful monument. Here you can see Vladislav s Hall and St. Vitus Cathedral. From here and from Petín Tower (on the right) you have the best view of Prague. In Prague the world famous festival Prague Spring takes place. Prague Spring The National Theatre Prague is not only historical but also industrial city. The most important are food, textile, chemical, printing and film industries.

It was built by Petr Parlé and is decorated with 31 unique statues of saints. It connects the Old and the New Town. The Prague Castle is the most beautiful monument.

9 The Czech Republic is a very lovely country with a lot of interesting and nice places. Nature lovers can visit National Park Krkonoše or the nature preserves Šumava, eský Ráj, Moravský Kras and other places. For those who love winter sports we have beautiful ski centres in Krkonoše, Jeseníky or Beskydy mountains. There are also some UNESCO listed monuments - Prague, eský Krumlov, Tel, Tebí, Olomouc, Kromíž. People also like visiting eské Budjovice, Karlovy Vary, Františkovy Lázn or if they are fond of history, they can visit some of the beautiful castles. eský Krumlov Karlštejn

For those who love winter sports we have beautiful ski centres in Krkonoše, Jeseníky or Beskydy mountains.

10 In the large cities like Prague, Brno or Olomouc the cultural life is quite rich. There are theatres, concert halls, galleries, museums and cinemas. Lot of people would like to visit at least once in their life our most famous theatre, our historical monument the National Theatre. But it s almost impossible because of the foreigners, who want to visit it, too. In smaller towns, like Perov, people can go to the cinema, to a concert, dancing or they can stay at home and listen to the radio, watch TV and read books. Nowadays going to multi cinemas is more and more popular. You can choose from more than ten films every day! Czech films aren t usually distributed to the world like American ones. Our most succesful films are: Closely Watched Trains, directed by J. Menzel, based on Josef Škvorecký s novella, and film Kolja, screen play was written by Zdenk Svrák and film was directed by Jan Svrák. The touching story of small lovely Russian boy is well-known in the foreign countries as well. Both films were awarded Oscar. Other films nominated for Oscar were Želary, Divided We Fall, My Little Village. This is a picture from the Hollywood film Hellboy, in which one of the main characters is played by Czech actor Karel Roden.

But it s almost impossible because of the foreigners, who want to visit it, too.

11 It is said that the Czechs are musical nation. It is true, the music has rich tradition in our country. Many children go to the music school to study playing the musical instrument or sing. We also have many beautiful folk songs and some of our composers are known all over the world. Bedich Smetana *1824 Composed eight operas (Libuše, Bartered Bride), cycle of symphonic poems My Country. Antonín Dvoák *1841 In 1892 he became a director at International Academy of Music in New York. He is world famous composer. His most famous works are: Symphony From the New World, opera Water Nymph, Slavonic Dances. Leoš Janáek *1854 His works were influenced by folk music. He is known for his operas Makropulos Case, Her Fosterdaughter, Records from the Dead House and others.

Bedich Smetana *1824 Composed eight operas (Libuše, Bartered Bride), cycle of symphonic poems My Country.

12 There are some famous violinists: Václav Hudeek Gabriela Demeterová Pavel Šporcl But young people in our country like listening popmusic. They have various idols among foreign singers or groups, but there are also some Czech singers who are very popular: Karel Gott Helena Vondráková Lucie Bílá

They have various idols among foreign singers or groups, but there are

13 There are many excellent Czech writers. If we should introduce them with all their works, this project would be thousands pages longer. Here are the best three: Karel apek *1890 Writer, playwritght, journalist. His famous works are: RUR, The Mother, War with Salamanders, White Disease, he also wrote short novels and tales for children. Jaroslav Seifert *1901 Poet, prose-writer, journalist, translator In 1984 he was awarded the Nobel prize for literature. His most famous work is book of poetry called Mum. Václav Havel *1936 Writer, playwright. His plays were performed in Broadway theatres. His famous works are Audience, Garden Party, Largo Desolato.

His famous works are: RUR, The Mother, War with Salamanders, White Disease, he also wrote short novels and tales for children.

14 We have also many painters and sculptors. Among most famous there are for example gothic painter Master from Tebo, baroque artist Karel Škréta, then there are other known names as Mikoláš Aleš, Josef Mánes, Josef Lada, Jan Zrzavý, Alfons Mucha and many other painters of various styles. Famous sculptors are for example Ladislav Šaloun, Josef Václav Myslbek, Jan Štursa. Here are two pictures painted by the famous secession painter Alfons Mucha. His famous works are various posters. He painted posters for French theatres.

names as Mikoláš Aleš, Josef Mánes, Josef Lada, Jan Zrzavý, Alfons Mucha and many other painters of various styles.

15 Czech people like doing sports and most of all they like watching sports on TV. The two most popular sports are football and ice-hockey. We have also many successfull sportsmen and sportswomen. Aleš Valenta acrobatic skiing Roman Šebrle - decathlon Dominik Hašek Czech Ice-hockey team in Nagano 1998 Kateina Neumannová - skier Tomáš Rosický Jaromír Jágr Karel Poborský, Pavel Nedvd

We have also many successfull sportsmen and sportswomen.

YES/NO. Was Dvořák a composer? YES YES NO YES/NO. Was Božena Němcová a writer? NO YES YES YES/NO. Did Antonín Dvořák compose an opera Rusalka?

YES/NO. Was Dvořák a composer? YES YES NO YES/NO. Was Božena Němcová a writer? NO YES YES YES/NO. Did Antonín Dvořák compose an opera Rusalka? Did K. J. Erben write a book Bouquet? Was Dvořák a composer? Was Charles IV an English king? YES YES NO Was Bedřich Smetana a guitarist? Was Božena Němcová a writer? Did Bedřich Smetana compose an opera