Czech Republic: Fascinating Facts You Didn't Know

The Czech Republic is **a unique and amazing, but still unknown*** part of the world. But for those who know, the Czech Republic is a jewel located in Central Europe. Visitors and professionals from all over the world travel to this wonderful country to live, work or raise a family. If you're considering going there, what should you know about this beautiful country?

Below we'll give you a few Czech Republic facts you probably didn't know and more importantly help you prepare for your trip!

It is home to the largest castle: Prague Castle

The country is home to the largest ancient castle in the world, as well as a number of picturesque castles. Prague Castle, dating from the 9th century, is 570 meters long and 128 meters wide. There are 700 rooms in the castle. Just to give you an idea, you can fit seven soccer stadiums in it.

Since its construction, Prague Castle has served as the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic. It has a number of exquisite architectural works that are historic buildings.

The Czech language has more than 10 million native speakers worldwide

The official language of the Czech Republic is Czech and more than 10 million people worldwide speak it as their first language. Czech is also recognized as a minority language in Serbia, Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Austria.

The Czech Republic is a member of the European Union

On May 1, 2004, the Czech Republic joined the European Union as a member state. This marked the end of a long period during which links to the European Communities were improved, starting with a sectoral trade agreement and progressively escalating into greater political and commercial cooperation.

The independent Czech Republic in particular developed a reputation for promoting deeper links with the European Union in all fields since it had made EU membership a top priority in its foreign policy.

Czech Republic ranks as one of the safest countries in the world

Every spring, before the peak travel season, a group of experts compiles rankings of the world's safest and most peaceful nations. The Czech Republic ranks consistently in the top twenty and recently rose to the ninth spot!

Low crime rates, political stability, freedom of speech, a good social system and education, reliable public transportation, respect for human rights, and almost nonexistent class tensions are just a few of the factors that make the Czech Republic rank as one of the world's most peaceful nations.

The Czech Republic has been split many times

This central Europe jewel has experienced numerous secessions and divisions. Depending on where in the country they lived, a 100-year-old person who spent their entire life in a village in the Czech Republic may have been a citizen of several different nations.

The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, the Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia and Poland. Before that, it was also a part of Moravia, the Kingdom of Bohemia, and the Holy Roman Empire.

The Czechs love mushrooms

Every year, more than two-thirds of the Czech citizens go mushrooming, often known as mushroom hunting. The Czechs find it astounding that people from other nations don't know how to pick their own houba, the Czech word for mushrooms, and prepare them because it is such a popular and familiar custom.

It is home to the Charles University

Charles University is the oldest university in Central Europe. It was established in 1348 and is located in the capital city of Prague. It was founded by Charles IV, the Holy Roman emperor who gave the institution its name. It was the region's first university. The Carolinum, one of the oldest university buildings still in use in the world, is one of its many buildings that are dispersed throughout Prague.

Soft contact lenses were invented in the Czech republic

Otto Wichterle, a Czech physicist, created soft contact lenses around the holidays in 1961. It wasn't a simple task. In fact, the Czechoslovak Ministry of Health halted contact lens development research at the beginning of that year.

Fortunately, Otto Wichterle persisted and carried out his studies at home.

Czech Republic has great national parks

The Czech Republic, one of the most beautiful countries in Central Europe, has 78,866 square kilometers of land area and is home to several tourist attractions. The area's tremendously diversified scenery provides thousands of tourists who come here every year with breathtaking sights. In the Czech Republic, there are four national parks, and each of them is worth visiting for a variety of reasons.

There are three historical Czech lands

Bohemia, Moravia, and Czech Silesia are the three historical regions that make up the territory of today's Czech Republic. They no longer have any official jurisdictional relevance and are now considered historical or cultural regions. However, throughout their history, they served both as independent political territories and as part of an even larger political whole.

The Prague Uprising is an important event in Czechoslovak history

Czech citizens and members of the Resistance launched a decisive offensive against the Nazis in Europe during the final phase of World War II. The five-day Prague Uprising became known as a symbol of Czech resistance during World War II.

Ice hockey is the most popular sport

One of the greatest forces in international men's field hockey is the men's national team. Numerous Czech athletes have achieved success in the NHL, most notably Jaromir Jagr, who is considered one of the game's all-time greats.

The Czech Extraliga is the highest ice hockey league in the country. With 14 professional clubs, the league normally runs from September to April.

Do you need a visa to travel to the Czech Republic?

Entry requirements for the Czech Republic may vary depending on your country of origin, the reason for travel, and the length of stay. Visitors from some countries can enter without a visa, while citizens from other countries must apply for a Czech Republic Schengen Visa.

For instance, residents of the 62 countries that make up the Schengen Zone will be required to get an ETIAS authorization before entering the Czech Republic, eliminating the requirement for a Schengen visa.

If you need tips for planning your trip and other activities, visit our Czechia Travel Guide.