PRAGUECZECH REPUBLIC

Puok, CambodiaFebruary 2012

Where do we come from?

Czech RepublicCzech Republic

CambodiaCambodia9000 km

9000 km

• 1918 – declaration of independence from the Austro-Hungarian EmpireCzechs, Slovaks, Jews and Germans live in peace along

Modern history of Czechoslovakia

T. G. Masaryk1st president of Czechoslovakia

• 1939 – German occupation → World War II

• 1945 – end of war, liberation by Soviet and American Armies

• 1948 – communistic putschStalinism, oppression, normalisation, secret police, censorship

Modern history of Czechoslovakia

Iron Curtainborder between East and West

• 1989 – Velvet Revolutionpeaceful comeback to democracy, Charter 77

Modern history of Czechoslovakia

Václav Havel (1936-2011)1st president of Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic after the fall of communism

• the capital of the Czech Repulbic• “Heart of Europe”• one of the most beautiful cities in the world

with ancient history and dynamic presence• the extensive historic centre of Prague was

included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1992

• historic melting pot of European civilisation and religions

PraguePraha (in Czech)

Old Jewish Cemeteryin use from 15th to 18th century

baroque interior of St. Catharina catholic church

Panorama of the Prague Castlewith the main cathedral of the country, St. Vitus Cathedral

River Vltava, with its numerous bridges, forms a natural axis of the city of Prague