The Czech Republic is situated in Central Europe landlocked between Poland, Germany, the Slovak Republic and Austria. With Prague as its fairytale capital this country offers a landscape of hillsides and picturesque sites.
The official language is Czech, English and German are also spoken throughout the country. Although its surface area is quite small, this country is a treasure trove of history, teeming with enchanting mediaeval castles and towns, magnificent national parks, elegant spa resorts, museums and art galleries.
Some of the sites not to miss are the historic towns of MělnÃk and Kutná Hora, and castles like Karlštejn and Konopiště as well as the spa resort of Karlovy Vary. The country also boasts 11 UNESCO World Heritage sites, notably the picturesque town of Českà Krumlov, the chateaux and landscaped gardens of Lednice-Valtice, and the Renaissance architecture of Telč.
For nature lovers the Šumava National Park offers forested mountains and lakes, rock pinnacles, gorges, spectacular caves and underground rivers at the sites of Adršpach-Teplice Rocks and Moravian Karst. The wooded hills and vineyards of Moravia boast majestic castles, folk art and of course wine.
The climate is hot in summer and cold in winter, with rainfall during spring and summer.