Position in the heart of Europe, on the crossroad of different cultures, made it, that Czech Republic (shorter Czechia) might boast with numerous cultural and historical sights, which attracts the attention of tourists from all over the world. Prague, Český Krumlov, chateaus Hluboká and Karlštejn or the spa triangle of cities Karlovy Vary, Mariánské lázně and Františkovy lázně are well known and tourists heavily visited. However, Czechia offers much more than this “classic”. Do you know what is Terezín famous for, which beverage is being produced in Pilsen or which oldest sight can be found in Písek? That you do not know. Czech Republic involves 3 historical lands (Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia) and 14 regions with its specifics, which are waiting for discovery.

Czech Republic borders with Slovakia, Austria, Germany and Poland. There are several natural beauties. The tallest mountain Sněžka (1602 m) in Krkonoše mountains (Giant Mountains), Orlické hory (Eagle Mountains), Hrubý Jeseník (High Ash Mountains), moorland Rejvíz, the spring of the river Odra or Ostrava-Karviná coal basin build the Czech-Polish border area. These and other mountains like Krušné hory (Ore Mountains), Šumava or Beskydy (Beskids) build Czech natural borders. These are mostly mild forested hills with grasslands, which are perfect place for tourism, cyclotourism and winter sports. South Moravia represents a paradise for all wine lovers and Southern Bohemia is an important fishponds location. Among the largest are Rožmberk and Svět. Czechia is thanks to its position in the centre of the European continent called a roof of Europe. Water, which rains or springs here, are being taken away with rivers to three seas: the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the North Sea. All watermen makes happy the navigability of several rivers e.g. Vltava, Labe and Morava among others.

History of Czech statehood is rich. It begins in the 9^th century with Great Moravian Empire, and then continues as Přemyslid Principality, later on as Kingdom, whose biggest fame turned the pick under the rule of the Emperor Charles IV from House of Luxembourg. Plenty of castles and fundaments of today’s cities date back to this period. At that time, fruitful contacts with Poland have been cultivated also thanks to weddings between royal families. The Jagiellonian dynasty undertook the Czech throne in the second half of the 15^th century. After the battle of Mohács (1526) where the Czech King Louis II died, Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia became for almost 400 years part of the Habsburg Monarchy and later on part of Austria-Hungary.

The collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of the WWI enabled the creation of independent Czechoslovakia and Poland. The relations with Poland went through several periods of rapprochement and partnership changing with strikes and mistrust, even military conflicts. Cultural and civic contacts have always been very rich not only because of the language closeness.

After the WWII, communists took the power and Czechoslovakia as well as Poland became members of the Eastern Block, the Warsaw Treaty Organisation and the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance. At that time, a significant cooperation between the anti-communist opposition emerged, which subsequently led to establishment of the Polish-Czechoslovak Solidarity.

Thanks to the fall of communism in 1989, gained the relations deeper cooperation of an unprecedented movement in the political, trade and security field. In 1991, Visegrád Group was set up, which provided a scope for mutual support when fulfilling the common strategic goal – joining both the NATO and the European Union. Czech-Polish relations are friendly nowadays and they mark with a huge intensity of contacts not only at governmental as at regional level. Until present, more than 200 partnerships between Czech and Polish cities and municipalities have been established.

Taking into account that the Czech Republic is four times smaller than Poland, the number of monuments added to the UNESCO list is almost the same. Among these sights are:

1992 Historical city centre of Prague

1992 Historical city centre of Český Krumlov

1992 Historical city centre of Telč

1994 Pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk at Zeleená hora

1995 Kutná Hora: Historical city centre with St. Barbara's Church

1996 Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape

1998 Holašovice - skansen

1998 Kroměříž Castle with Flower Garden

1999 Litomyšl Castle

2000 Olomouc - Holly Trinity Column

2019 Ore Mountain Mining Region

2019 National Stud Kladruby nad Labem

The majority of these jewels are situated outside big cities. Thanks to a wide road, highway and railway net and a huge number of carriers is travelling around Czechia comfortable and price affordable. There is no need for accommodation due to a large offer of accommodation facilities of all types.

There are several options how to get to Czechia. Taking international train or bus connection or using own car crossing borders from any of the neighbour country. Each big city dispose via airport.

Everyone has ever heart about the capital, hundred towers Prague. Since the very early history, Prague played a significant role in the history of Czech nation, Czech land as well as whole Europe. It is being considered as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Visitors are fascinated with the size of Prague Castle, tiny streets of gothic centre and many churches, from which is the well known the Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague. Who wants to admire the beauty of Prague from bird perspective has to climb 299 steps to Petřín Lookout Tower. In 1992, the historical centrum of the capital city of Prague about 866 ha was declared to the list of the world cultural heritage UNESCO.

In addition, what more to visit? In Central Bohemia e.g. Kutná Hora with St. Barbara's Church or the museum of mining there or Mělník, famous for planting common grape vine and the production of delicious Mělník wine. With the history of the well-known Czech car vehicle deals the Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav. Very popular activity of free time spending in Czechia is getting to know the local castles, chateaus, museums and lookout towers, which count in hundreds.

The second largest city after Prague is Brno, the city of fairs, exhibitions and motorial race MotoGP. The Wallachian Open Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm presents an extraordinary location for getting to know the local folklore. You might admire the traditional Ride of the Kings in Vlčnov in the south of Moravia together with the wine region of Pálava.

The city of Olomouc organize four time per a year in every season Flora Olomouc, a popular garden fair. Close to this university city known for its 25 fountains finds pilgrimage place Svatý Kopeček (The Holy Hill).

20 km from Polish borders on the east of the CZ can be found Ostrava, industrial centre with the label of “dirty city” in the past, however one of the greenest city in the Czech Republic now. Mining and metallurgic history commemorates only Landek park and factory complex of Dolní oblast Vítkovice (The Lower Vítkovice Area), which hosts annually the most popular musical festival Colours of Ostrava. In the surroundings of Ostrava, at the Mošnov Airport, lovers and fans of military techniques might participate in the NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days every September.

If someone says Pilsen, everyone will certainly associate this city with the golden beverage, which is being produced in local brewery or one of the Czech successful football teams. The fifth largest city behind Prague, Brno, Ostrava and Pilsen is Liberec with its Neo-Renaissance town hall.

The noise of a huge city can change a walk in smaller towns, also very beautiful. In southern Bohemia it is for example Písek, where is among others the oldest stone bridge in the Czech Republic or Tábor, famous for the Hussites movement in the 15^th century.

Not all places link to bright history but it is worthy to visit them. Jáchymov - another spa - known for radioactive sources and uranium mines, where opponents of communist regime worked. Tourist highly visited place is Terezín - fortress from the end of the 18^th century, which during the WWII served Nazis as a concentration camp or the village Lidice, which was completely annihilated in June 1942 by them.

If you feel hungry while discovering Czech beauties, Czech cuisine is rich and full to offer. Taste delicacies like “vepřo-knedlo-zelo” - thin slices of pork and bread dumplings with sauerkraut, “svíčková” - sirloin steak with cream and bread dumplings served with whipped cream and cranberries or fruit dumplings. Good appetite. If you have ever come in touch with a soft drink Kofola, or olomoucké tvarůžky (cheese), pardubický gingerbread or Štramberk ears (corn-shaped gingerbread) all of them have one in common – produced in the Czech Republic.

You may lose some overweight kilos by doing any physical activity. There are plenty of options which to choose from. Czechs are known sport lovers. Among the popular undertaking activities, dominate football, ice hockey and tennis. This illustrates rich sport complexes and number of competitions. Running lovers takes part in Prague International Marathon and huge winter event represents long cross-country ski race Jizerská 50. About the current events in the Czech Republic inform the webpage of CzechTourism.