Culture

Since the fall of communism, the Czech Republic has placed high priority on renovating historical sites and preserving a rich collection of art treasures.

Music is central to the Czech culture. There's even a saying, 'Co Čech, to muzikant', which translates 'every Czech is a musician'. The country's musical roots are in high culture opera and symphony and the traditional folk music of Bohemia and Moravia.

Cross-cultural diversity are key to Czech music, and composers are influenced by many styles, including traditional folk, jazz and bluegrass.

Notable Czech composers include Antonín Dvořák, Gustav Mahler and Bedřich Smetana. Beethoven and Mozart were also connected to the Czech Republic throughout the period of the Habsburg Empire.

Food and drink

Czech beer has a huge reputation for quality, and produces some of the best known, most loved beers worldwide.

The biggest Czech brewers include Staropramen and Budvar, but there are many more smaller, family-run breweries, often run as part of a restaurant or bar.

Many breweries run tours, which gives you a great chance to sample Czech beer where it's made.

Czech cuisine features many meat dishes, often with gravy and dumplings or potatoes. Pork, beef and chicken are all popular meats, as well as goose, duck, rabbit and wild game, always served with vegetables. While fish is not generally so popular, fresh trout and carp are traditional at Christmas.

Did you know?

In the Czech Republic, red is commonly worn in spring, and symbolises joy, health, happiness and new life.

Pointing with the index finger is considered rude in the Czech Republic.

Facts and figures

• Brno
• Ceske Budejovice
• Cesky Krumlov
• Ostrava
• Prague
• Marianske Lazne
• Pilsen