Czech Republic
A little bit of history…
While humans have inhabited the land that is now the Czech Republic for years, it was not until around 800AD when the native tribes united to form the Great Moravian Empire. This encompassed a large section of central Europe. The empire was short lived and by 900AD it was already falling apart. The clashing tribes would not be united again until the end of the 10th century.
Thus the Czech Republic entered a period of rule by the Premysl dynasty that lasted just fifty years before the country was conquered by Germany and swallowed up by the Holy Roman Empire. Power passed between various kings before finally settling with Rudolph Habsburg who led the country into its golden age.
Over the next two centuries the country would endure attacks from the Roman Empire, religious intolerance and thirty years of war which would end in the Czechs losing their rights and their freedom.
World War II brought new challenges as the Czech's fell under the control of Nazi Germany. Thousands of Jews were killed, as were many of the country's more influential citizens. The Czech Republic was not completely freed of German control until the defeat of the Nazi's by the allied forced but in 1945 they successfully rebelled against the German forces in Prague and drove them out.
More trouble was to follow as the communist party gained control of the country. The strict regime which they introduced not only put the country's economy in danger but also cost people their lives as democratic believers suffered harsh punishments. Just as the country seemed about to escape this restrictive government, their hope was slashed as 58 members of the democratic opposition were killed.
Eventually, after further atrocities spurred the public into action, the communist government was replaced. The "Velvet Revolution" as it has become known, was surprisingly peaceful with no causalities throughout. The country's economy has been gradually improving ever since and it is hoped that it will continue to do so.
Best time to go
July and August are the most popular months to travel to the Czech Republic but that doesn't necessarily make them the best. The crowds during these months are almost unbearable and could quite easily drive you madness. On top of this, you will have to arrange accommodation and flights long in advance because they get booked up extremely quickly.
A better time to travel is between May and September when the crowds have died down a bit. It's not as hot during these months but it's more than worth it for the extra comfort. The same applies to April and October though temperatures during these months can be downright chilly. The winter months offer new pleasures with snow covering the city and great skiing conditions up in the mountains.
Getting around…
As always travelling by plane is the easiest and most comfortable way to get around. However it can also be expensive, especially during peak times. What's more, you might find that it is actually faster to travel by can or train.
Boasting one of the best train networks in Europe, the Czech Republic is one destination that is easy to explore by train. For longer journeys it's usually a good idea to opt for expres or rychlík trains, but if you're travelling a shorter distance you'll need the osobní vla. These last trains are pretty cheap so they're great for budget travellers but if you do want to travel longer distances on them they're likely to be slow. Keep your eyes open for the spěšný vlak which cost the same amount as local lines but stop less often.
Buses will take you to all the larger cities and many of the small towns as well (though you may have to change buses to reach your final destination). The main bus companies running here are CSAD and Čebus.
Renting a car is a great way to get around the country but you will need to be over 21 and have a valid drivers licence from your home country. International rental agencies are available but it's worth remembering that they will charge significantly more than local companies and that the service they provide is not guaranteed to be better.
Useful links…
www.lonelyplanet.com
Lonely Planet are leaders in the travel guide sector and their website is a great source of travel information.
www.fco.gov.uk
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's website provides up-to-date political news, travel advice and information on visas.
www.czech.cz/
The official website for the Czech Republic.
www.czechtourism.com/
The official travel site for Czech tourism.
www.czechsite.com/
A handy guide to the Czech Republic.
