FACTS

Location: Central Europe, southeast of Germany

Area (only Total) total: 78,866 sq km

Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain: Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country

Population: 10,220,911 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Czech

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital (Name): Prague

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+1

Independence: 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

National holiday: Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day

March 23 Easter Day

March 24 Easter Monday

May 1 Labour Day

May 8 Victory in Europe Day

July 5 Saints Cyril & Methodius

July 6 Jan Hus Day

September 28 St. Wenceslas Day

October 28 Independent Czechoslovak State Day

November 17 Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day

December 24 Christmas Eve

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 St. Stephen's Day

Weekend Saturday, Sunday