A Guide to the Czech Republic By Tomer Levi, a tourist guide
The Czech Republic is a member of the European Union, NATO and the Visegrad Group explain
Tomer Levi, a tourist guide. It is an enlightened, progressive and culturally rich country with many interesting sights.
The Language
Czech is the national language and is spoken by most citizens, but there are also a number of Slovak speakers in the country as well. Although both languages are mutually intelligible up to a certain point, there are often significant differences in pronunciation.
Culture
Czech culture is rooted in the traditions of the country. It has a long history of folk music, dances and crafts which are still practiced by the majority of its population. It is a relatively free and tolerant society and is not afraid of different religions or lifestyles.
Food and Drink
Traditional Czech cuisine is based on meat, potatoes and dumplings (knedliky). Soups are an important part of the daily meal. The main dish is usually based on fatty meat, such as pork, beef or chicken. In addition to this, a variety of vegetables are served with soups and dumplings.
Sweets
There are a few traditional Czech treats, including knedlo or trdelnik (a medieval style sweet roll) and Jablkovy zavin (apple strudel), which is available at dedicated sell-points in Prague. Other treats include medovnik, which is a brown high cake made of gingerbread, honey and walnuts.
Beer
Czech beer is the national drink, produced by Czech brewers and sold in all major markets. It is popular and can be found in many bars and restaurants around the country.
Local beer is a strong, bitter lager with a fruity, nutty flavor. It is not as sour as German or Austrian beer, but can be quite potent.
The Czech diet is a heavy one, as it is mainly based on meat and potatoes. It contains a large amount of animal fats and butter, which make it highly calorie-laden.
Some other popular dishes are moravsky vrabec or ‘Moravian Sparrow’, which is a pork-based stew that is served on Christmas Eve. Smazeny kapr, fried carp breaded with potato and served with a rich potato salad, is also a common dish.
Sunday Dinners
A typical Czech Sunday dinner is a large meal of roasted pork chop or goose with sauerkraut and knedliky, and sometimes a side dish of a creamy potato soup. Other dishes can be a roast duck, pecene veprove koleno, which is a whole pork knee, with mustard and horseradish, or a stuffed pig’s thigh, called ovarove s koprenem, a traditional Easter dish.
Almost all meals are eaten with bread, with rye bread being the most common and a popular choice for dipping. A sprinkling of paprika, garlic or herbs adds flavour and colour to many Czech dishes.
Alcohol is a huge part of Czech culture and it is considered to be an important social institution. Besides wine, the country also produces a wide range of spirits and beer.
Foreign Policy
The Czech Republic is a member of the EU, NATO and the Visegrad Group, and it has signed treaties with many countries. The president, the Prime Minister and other political leaders play a central role in deciding the nation’s foreign policies.