 If you’re looking for the heart of Europe, you’ll find it in the Czech Republic. This is the land of real spirit, where folk traditions have survived through the ages, where a plethora of castles and chateaux fill visitors with wonder and awe. From the Golden City of Prague to the glorious peaks of the High Tatras, the sensations and the warmth of its people leave unforgettable impressions. Classic hotels, breathtaking beauty, and a tourist-friendly infrastructure make Czech, in many ways, a traveller’s dream destination.
Tourism has largely focused on Prague, with its great museums, galleries, concerts and other attractions. Many day trips are possible from Prague, including the great western spa towns of Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Láznì, early settlements like Kutná Hora and castles like Karlstejn. However, the rest of the country has much to offer the independent traveller. Although prices have risen over the past decade, the country still represents very good value for money in accommodation, dining and activities.
The Sumava Mountains of south Bohemia offer excellent rambles and a range of sports, and well-preserved medieval towns like Èeský Krumlov. North-eastern Bohemia’s mountains, like the Èeský Ráj, offer superb hiking amidst unusual scenery. In Moravia, the eastern half of the country, life is even less hectic. Brno provides an excellent base for exploring important historic towns like Olomouc.
 The country possesses an immense number of fascinating castles, churches and other architectural gems. It has always been known for its musicians, and there are an enormous number of all types of concerts and festivals to choose from. It also has a rich cultural heritage represented by classical composers such as Dvorak and the prolific writer, Franz Kafka.
History
 Before the arrival of the Slavs in the 6th century, the area currently known as the Czech Republic was inhabited by Germanic and Celtic tribes. The area was under reign of many rulers from the 7th to 19th centuries, such as Emperor Charles IV and Emperor Rudolf II. During the reign of Charles IV (1346-78), as king of Bohemia and Holy Roman emperor, Prague grew into one of the largest cities in Europe. It acquired its fine Gothic face and landmarks including Charles University, Charles Bridge and Saint Vitus Cathedral. In the second half of the 16th century the city experienced great prosperity under Emperor Rudolf II and was made the seat of the Habsburg Empire. Rudolf II established great collections of art and renowned artists and scholars were invited to his court.
 At the beginning of the 20th century Bohemia was a part of Austrian Empire. After World War I in 1918 Czechoslovakia declared its independence. The new republic had three parts: Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia. The popular Tomas Garigue Masaryk became the first president. In October 1938 the Nazis occupied the Sudetenland, with the acquiescence of Britain and France, after the infamous Munich Agreement. In March 1939 Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia. Slovakia proclaimed independence as a Nazi puppet state. After World War II in 1945 Czechoslovakia was re-established as an independent state. In the 1946 elections, the Communists became the largest party with 36% of the popular vote and formed a coalition government.
In 1948 the Communists staged a coup d' etat and Czechoslovakia became a communist country. In the 1960s Czechoslovakia enjoyed a gradual liberalization under the reformist general secretary of the Czechoslovak Communist Party, Alexander Dubcek. But this short period was crushed by a Soviet invasion in August 1968. In 1969 the reformist Dubcek was replaced by the orthodox Gustav Husak and Czechoslovakia stayed a communist country under Soviet influence.
 The communist government resigned in November 1989 after a week of demonstrations known as the Velvet Revolution. The popular Vaclav Havel was elected president of the republic. At the end of 1992 Czechoslovakia split into Czech Republic (Bohemia and Moravia) and Slovak Republic (Slovakia). This peaceful splitting is called the Velvet Divorce. Twelve years later on 1 May, 2004 Czech Republic became a member of the European Union.
Weather
 Czech Republic lies in the temperate climate zone, which is characterized by cool summers and cold, cloudy and humid winters.
A nice time of the year to visit is late spring (mid-May to mid-June) and early fall (September to mid-October) when the weather can be quite pleasant, although it is still unpredictable. The best chance of warm and dry summer weather is from mid-July to mid-August. Spring and summer have the highest rainfall.
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