Europe · Eastern Europe

Czech Republic

Capital: Prague
Population: 10,698,896
Region: Europe
Languages: Czech, Slovak

Fun fact

The Czech Republic is globally recognized as the castle capital of the world, boasting the highest density of castles and chateaux per square kilometer of any country. Prague Castle itself holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest ancient castle complex on earth, spanning over 70,000 square meters. Beyond architecture, the nation is the birthplace of the soft contact lens, which was invented by chemist Otto Wichterle in 1961 using a homemade apparatus. Furthermore, the Czech people are the world's leading consumers of beer per capita, a tradition deeply woven into their national identity and social fabric.

Currency

The national currency is the Czech koruna, or crown, identified by the ISO code CZK. Historically, it is one of Europe's oldest currency names, tracing its roots back to the Austro-Hungarian krone which was introduced in 1892.

Flag symbolism

The flag consists of two equal horizontal bands of white and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side. The white and red colors are derived from the ancient coat of arms of Bohemia, representing peace and courage respectively. The blue triangle was added later to represent Moravia and to distinguish the flag from the similar banner of Poland. This geometric addition was intended to symbolize the unity of the Slavic people and the strength of the combined territories.

Emblem history

The Greater Coat of Arms is a quartered shield featuring two silver double-tailed lions and two eagles, representing the historical regions of the Czech Crown. The double-tailed lion signifies the Kingdom of Bohemia and is a symbol of power and sovereignty dating back to the 13th century. The red-and-silver checkered eagle represents Moravia, while the black eagle with a white crescent represents Silesia. This heraldic design was officially readopted in 1992 to honor the historical continuity of the Czech lands following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.