REGIONS

Central Bohemia

Central Bohemia is situated in the middle of the Czech Republic. Due to its area, number of urban areas and number of inhabitants this region occupies the first place among Czech regions. Its area covers almost 14% of Czech Republic. The region is divided into 12 districts, which make a ring around the capital, Prague. The landscape of the region belongs to the Czech Massiv, which is one of the oldest parts of the European continent.

The topography changes from mainly flatlands in the north along the river Elbe to the highlands in the south and southwest. The highest point of the region is the summit of the Brdy ridge called Tok in the Pribram district; the lowest is the Elbe water level in the Melnik district.
There are many valuable historical sights in Central Bohemia and several protected landscape areas. The highest number of sights can be found in Kutna Hora. Other places of interest are Karlstejn, Krivoklat, Ceský Sternberk, Kost and Kokorin.

A typical feature of Central Bohemia is mainly the developed agricultural and industrial production. The agricultural production gains from the perfect natural conditions in the south east of the region. The region excels mainly in vegetable production, growing of wheat, barley, and sugar beet, and in areas closer to Prague fruits, vegetables and flowers are grown. The fundamental industries are engineering, chemistry and food industry.

Skoda Mlada Boleslav became a company of national importance. Several important companies also represent glass industry, pottery and printing in the region. The minimum share in the region belongs to textile and clothing industries. Former traditional fields as coal mining, steel industry and boot industry decline in importance.

Hradec Kralove

Hradec Kralove region is the second region of NUTS 2 Northeast, neighboring on the Liberec Region to the west and the Pardubice Region to the south. Its historical, economic, and cultural centre is the town of Hradec Kralove. The region has 5 districts; Hradec Kralove, Jicin, Nachod, Rychnov nad Kneznou, and Trutnov. The total area of the region is 4,758 sq. km.

Industry and agriculture are characteristic of the Hradec Kralove Region and both sectors have a long tradition. The processing industry has always been dominant in the region, the major branch being the textile industry. Its importance somewhat declined in the 1990s due to reduced production, but it still ranks among the most important industrial branches of the region.

The important industrial branches in the region are engineering, electrical engineering, automobile component manufacture, the food, glass, and chemical industries, and plastic material production.

The great natural wealth of the region are the Krkonose Mountains, the highest Czech range, Orlicke Mountains, and the Bohemian Paradise. All are favorite destinations for Czech and foreign visitors and guarantee possibilities of tourism development.

Agriculture is traditional in the Hradec Kralove region, but its intensity depends on natural conditions. Agriculture is less developed in the mountainous areas in the north and east of the region.

Arable land is only a small part of farmland, mainly of wooded areas, fields, and pastures. The present trend is for putting arable land under woods. Environmentally friendly farming is being developed in the region.

Karlovy Vary

The area of Karlovy Vary region is very specific because of its inner differentiation concerning the natural conditions, industrial structure and environment. Structure of the industry in the region is varied.

In Karlovy Vary and Cheb Townships, the main priority lies in spas and tourist trade. Sokolov Township is specific by high concentration of coal mining, power industry, chemical and engineering production. The region also has several traditional industries as productions of glass, pottery, spirits (Becherovka), mineral waters, musical instruments and textile.

Karlovy Vary region is the most western part of the Czech Republic. More than half of the overall border creates the border with Germany. To the west it borders with Bavaria and to the north with Saxony.

To the south it borders with Pilsen region, to the east with Usti region. To the north of Ohre River are the mountain ranges Smrciny and Krusne hory, which create the natural border with Germany. To the south of Ohre river, on the Bavarian border are the famous forest areas Cesky les and, towards inlands, Slavkovsky les and Doupovske hory mountain ranges. South of the region is made of highlands called Tepelska vrchovina. The highest point of the region is Krusne hory peak called Klinovec, the lowest place is situated on the regional borders in Karlovy Vary Township.

Karlovy Vary region is the second smallest right behind Liberec region. Its area reaches 3,314 sq. km and takes up 4.2% of the Czech Republic overall area.

Karlovy Vary region is among the most damaged landscapes in the whole Czech Republic . The important issues destroying the nature are air pollution and landscape devastation. Typical for the region is the areal destruction of environment as a result of power industry and lignite mining development in the period between the sixties and eighties.

Since 1990 there is a constant decrease of the stress on the landscape as a positive result of legislative changes.

The largest protected area is the protected landscape area Slavkovsky les. This area is a unique unit with low population density and number of interesting and important localities (forests, meadows, moors, rock formations, sources of mineral water and gases). Also, the area is ancient cultural country. The most valuable locations are the moors near Kladska and the serpentine ridge near Prameny. There are 80 other protected locations of all possible categories. Very valuable area, also according to the international standards, is the moor and low moor with sources of mineral water and gas in Cheb Township , mountain moors in Krusne hory, pearl oyster habitats in As Township and geological localities around Doupovske hory. Nature parks are mainly situated in the mountains Krusne hory, Smrcina and Cesky les.

Even though the main attractions of the region are the spas, there are also many other places interesting for visitors as the historical centres of Cheb, Loket, Jachymov, Ostrov, Horni Slavkov and others. Preserved areas are to be found also in many other cities and villages. The visitors also look for specific cultural, technical and natural sights.

In the mountains, especially in Krusne hory and in part of Slavkovsky les, perfect conditions for winter sports can be found, with many slopes, cross-country tracks and other leisure tome activities.
The visitors can also use the special premises for golf and horse riding. During last couple years, the network of bike tracks is growing wider and wider. Visitors interested in culture are offered a wide choice of activities with many international events.

Liberec

Liberec region is situated in the north of the Czech Basin and spreads over the eastern part of the mountain ranges Luzicke hory, Jizerske hory and western Krkonose with Krkonose foothills. North border of the region is also a 20 km-long state border with German Saxony; region Lobau-Zittau and 130 km-long border with Poland , Dolnoslezske vojvodstvi. To the east it borders with Hradec Kralove region, to the south with Central Bohemia region and to the west with Usti region, with which it created the North Bohemia region since 1960.
The area of only 3,163 sq. km makes it the smallest region with the overall share of 4% of the Czech Republic overall area.

The region is mainly hilly, with several mountain ranges; Luzicke hory, Jizerske hory, western part of Krkonose, including the foothills.
The highest point of the region is the peak called Kotel near Harrachov in Semily Township. The lowest point can be found in Liberec Township.

The following raw materials are found in the region: glass and foundry sands, building stone, gravel and decorative stone.

The centre of Semily Township is known for coalfields from the Podkrkonosska basin. Until recently, the most important status had the radioactive material mines in the Ceska Lipa Township.

Liberec region is mainly industrial. Among the most developed industries are glass, costume jewelry, engineering, plastic production and processing together with processing industry which has close ties with automobile production. Traditional textile industry lost its dominant place as a result of the downfall during last couple of years. Many industries have foreign capital. The main products of agriculture, which has only supplemental role, are cereals and fodder crops in connection with cattle breeding. The fields of trade, building and transport increased their importance during last couple years. Travel industry is also very important for the region.

There is one very specific area in the region; the former military zone Ralsko in Ceska Lipa Township . This military training area was founded in the early fifties and resulted in destroying many villages. Since 1968, the former Soviet Union army was located here. After their departure the status of military zone was cancelled. Military use of the area left behind many objects and premises which future is not clear so far. 

Liberec region is very important for travel industry. Exceptional nature, nature formations, interesting places and historical sights of the region attract many domestic and foreign visitors. There are several specific areas in the region Krkonose (western part), Jizerske hory, Turnovsko-Cesky Raj, Doksy and surroundings, Luzicke hory, Podkrkonosi, which have very strong ties with travel industry. Among the objects with historical value and plenty of visitors are the strongholds and castles Bezdez, Lemberk, Frydlant, Valdstejn and many religious objects. The landscape also has many waters, among which the most popular is Machovo Jezero.

Moravia-Silesia

The Moravian-Silesian (North Moravian) region consists of the Bruntal, Frydek-Mistek, Karvina, Novy Jicin, Opava and Ostrava districts. The Moravian-Silesian region is located in the north-easternmost part of the Czech Republic; it borders Poland on the north and east, and Slovakia in the southeast. The regional territory has an area of 5,555 sq. km, (7.04% of the Czech Republic territory).

This area has a high potential for tourism and the spa treatment development. The full potential for the tourism development cannot be exploited due to bad transport accessibility, insufficient regional marketing, a low standard of co-ordination of the private and public sector activities in the improvement, enhancement and providing of services, the lack of financial sources for the recovery of tourist and cultural attractions and inadequate resources to support the development of tourism and the spa treatment.

There is a relatively high level of accommodation in the region, however not more than 30% of it is used by tourists. The overall standard of the restaurant and accommodation facilities, especially in the recreation zones, does not correspond with international standards and therefore requires development and modernization. The Jeseniky and Beskydy mountains in particular, offer ideal locations and spa centres to the inland and foreign visitors.

Due to its short distances from the industrial area it is possible to gradually change the image of the region by offering a life style based on the extraordinary favorable combination of jobs and cultural activities in the cities together with access to the leisure time pursuits in the adjacent tourist centres and the natural amenities and views provided by the mountains.

Olomouc

Olomouc region is situated in the north-central Moravia. Border with Poland is 104 km long. The area of 5,139 sq. km has a big share of large protected landscapes Jeseniky and Litovelske Pomoravi 10.8%. The region consists of the following townships: Jesenik, Olomouc, Prostejov, Prerov, Sumperk and places eighth among the 14 Czech regions. The highest point of the region is the peak Praded in Jeseník Township. The lowest point is the surface of Morava River near Kojetin in Prerov Township.

Olomouc region has a rich historical tradition, which can be noticed in the number of structural and historical sights and cultural amenities. Among the institutions of national importance are, for example, the Moravian Theatre in Olomouc, Zoo on Svaty Kopecek, number of museums, and galleries all around the region. Important status in the region has the Olomouc National Scientific Library. There are also 549 other libraries in other places around the region.

Olomouc region is a very important area from the tourist industry point of view. The landscape is exceptional, with many interesting places, natural formations and historical sights.

There are several specific areas in the region (Jeseniky, Rychlebske hory, caves Javoricske and Mladecske and others), which have even stronger ties to the travel industry. The bike track network in the region is well developed and quite wide. Among the objects of historical importance are mainly the castles and strongholds (Bouzov, Helfstyn, Usov, Sovinec and others) and many religious objects.

Pardubice

Pardubice region is situated in the eastern part of Bohemia. Location of the region is also determined by the bordering regions; Central Bohemia, Kralovehradecky, Olomouc, South Moravia and Vysocina. Together with the regions Hradec Kralove and Liberec they create the so-called NUTS 2 - Northeast. Part of the northeast border of the region is also border with Poland.

From here, it is enclosed by the southern part of the mountain ranges called Orlicke hory and the most western slopes of Hruby Jesenik. South and southeast are bordered by the highlands called Zdarske vrchy and Zelezne hory. The river Elbe and the lowlands called Polabska nizina dominate central and western parts. Orlicke hory, Zdarske vrchy and Zelezne hory are among the protected landscape areas of the region.

The area reaches 4,519 sq. km (5.73% of the whole Czech Republic). This makes the region the fifth smallest in the Czech Republic. The highest point of the region, the peak called Kralicky Sneznik is also the third highest in the Czech Republic. The whole area of Kralicky Sneznik with the remains of original flora and with high moors is the national nature preserve. The lowest point of the region is the Elbe river surface near Kojice, close to the west border of the region.

Pardubice region is known for its variety of natural conditions, settlements and both industrial and agricultural productions. This fact also causes different qualities of environment. Among the areas with the smallest damage caused by anthropogenic pollution are the foothills and highlands (without larger settlements) in the centre and north of the Usti nad Orlici Township and in the southern part of Chrudim Township. The most serious damage to environment is in the area with concentrated industrial production, settlements and transport junctions; agglomeration Pardubice, where the level of damage caused especially by the chemical industry and power industry reaches the point of one the most serious environmental problems in the Czech Republic (Paramo, power plants Opatovice and Chvaletice).

Pardubice region has many favourable conditions for travel industry development. There is a beautiful landscape in the region, both hilly and flat, good climatic conditions and many opportunities for swimming, water sports, hiking, biking and winter sports. Agro tourism develops on the whole area (especially in the foothills), specialized in traditional horse breeding. The area of Kralicky Sneznik on both Czech and Polish sides has incredible natural significance, which should be preserved for the future.

The tourist industry is connected with the offer of cultural events and sights. Among the most important are the Pardubice castle, where you can see expositions of the East Bohemia Museum and East Bohemia Gallery. In Chrudim Township, the Puppet Museum attracts many tourists, in the city of Holice visitors can see the Dr. Emil Holub Monument; African Museum. Pardubice region is also famous for music. The most popular are Pardubicke hudebni jaro and well-known Komorni filharmonie, which represents our country on the international level. There is also Smetanova Litomysl and the music festivals in Policka. Among theatres, the most famous is the East Bohemian Theatre in Pardubice. Prelouc is known for its film dub awards called 'Frantisek Filipovsky Award'.

In the sports area, the most famous is the Pardubice turf where the Velka pardubicka steeplechase takes place. Those who love strong engines come to watch the traditional motorcycle race 'Zlata prilba Ceske republiky'. Pardubice region is well known in many other sports activities. Pardubice ice-hockey club produced many players famous around the world.

Local tennis courts have seen almost all Czech tennis celebrities, because Pardubice junior team opened the gates to the world-class sport for them.

Plzen

Plzen region is situated in the southwest of the Czech Republic. To the west it borders with Bavarian region in Germany, to the northwest with Karlovy Vary region, to the northeast with Central Bohemian region and to the southeast with South Bohemian region.

Nature in Sumava is protected by National Park and protected landscape area Sumava. Soon, there will also be protected landscape area status for Cesky les. There are 165 smaller protected areas in the region together with nature parks protecting variety of the nature. The only exception is Plzen and surrounding areas, where the environment is severely damaged.

Prague

Prague is situated almost in the centre of Europe. Prague is surrounded by Central Bohemia and its suburbs Prague-East and Prague-West. It is spread on the area of 496 sq. km, which is 0.6% of the Czech Republic only.

The area is situated in the middle part of the Czech Highlands and the current situation of the town is a result of erosive and accumulative influences of the river Vltava, along which Prague is located. As far as geomorphology of Prague is concerned, there are contrasts as the flatland topography of the highest places and deeply carved valleys of Vltava and its affluent rivers. The most rugged topography developed on the left bank of the river. The highest spot is the flattened landscape southwest of Zlicin, the lowest is the Vltava river surface on the north edge of the town.

The area of the capital, 496 sq. km, is a result of a long-term development and natural historical circumstances. As a beginning could be considered the second half of the 9th century, when the Prague Castle was founded. Under its protection the independent smaller settlements around it could develop. These later became individual Prague towns: the Old Town, the Lesser Town, the New Town and Hradcany.

The air quality in Prague is considered to be, even though there were some improvements over the last 10 years, unsatisfactory.
Out of the physical issues having a strong influence on the environment, the most serious are noise emissions. From this point of view, Prague is the worst affected region in the whole of the Czech Republic.

From the point of view of the environment preservation, there are 4 state nature preserves in the area of Prague (Prokop Valley, Radotin Valley, Roztoky Grove, Satalice Pheasantry), 2 preserved natural areas (Petrin Rocks, Royal Preserve), 2 protected habitats and 75 protected natural monuments.

South Bohemia

Core of the region is the South Bohemian basin. The southwest borders with Sumava, northwest borders with Brdy, north with Central Bohemian granite Highlands, east with Bohemia-Moravian Highlands and to the southeast it borders with Novohradske Mountains.

The South Bohemian basin consists of 2 smaller basins called Ceskobudejovicka and Trebonska. South and west borders of the region also create the state borders with Austria and Federal Republic of Germany. The region also borders with Plzen and Central Bohemian regions and with Vysocina region. The region spreads on the area of 10,055 sq. km, which is 12.8% of the Czech Republic overall area.

The highest point of the region is the Sumava peak called Plechy; the lowest point is the surface of the dam called Orlicka prehrada in Pisek Township.

Area of the region belongs to the upper and middle Vltava river basin with the affluent Otava, Luznice, Malse, Blanice and many others. In the past, more than 7,000 ponds were built here. Their overall area today reaches more than 30,000 hectares. The largest fishponds are Rozmberk with 490 hectares, Bezdrev with 450 hectares and Horusice fishpond with 415 hectares. These are also the largest fishponds in the Czech Republic. Also, there were other water schemes built in the region, as the dam Lipno (the largest water area in the Czech Republic with 4 870 hectares), Orlík with many recreation areas and Rimov, which supplies most of the region with water. During last couple years a new water reservoir was built in Hnevkovice, as a result of building the nuclear power plant in Temelin.

The South Bohemian region is not an area rich for raw materials and there are almost no sources of energy materials. Very important wealth of the region lies in the large forests, especially in Sumava and Novohradske Mountains. These forests are mainly coniferous, spruce and beech. The raw materials found here are sand and gravel sand, brick-clay, stone and glass sand. Among other important materials are turf and, in some parts of the region, also limestone, infusorial earth, granite, gneiss and graphite.

Among the municipal protected preserves are the historical centres of Ceske Budejovice, Cesky Krumlov (included among UNESCO landmarks), Jindrichuv Hradec, Trebon, Slavonice, Prachatice and Tabor. There are also many historical sights in the region as the castles in Hluboka nad Vltavou, Cesky Krumlov, Blatna, Cervena Lhota, strongholds Zvikov, Orlík. Also a very famous sight is the Holasovice, which was placed on the UNESCO list in the year 1998.

The natural environment with high percentage of forests, waters and many cultural sights (almost 6,000 objects) is used for visits and recreation stays by citizens from all over Czech Republic and also by many foreign tourists. During summer the most favorite are the areas Lipno, Orlík, South Bohemian fishponds and also Sumava. During winter the most popular are Sumava ski-areas Churanov and Zadov.

South Moravia

The South Moravian Region consists of the districts of Blansko, Brno-city, Brno-district, Breclav, Hodonin, Vyskov and Znojmo. Occupying an area of 7,062 sq. km it is the fourth largest region in the Czech Republic. Its population places the region third in the Czech Republic.

The region's metropolis is Brno; the largest Moravian city and the second largest city in the Czech Republic.

The number of inhabitants together with the city's economic importance places it unambiguously above other cities in the region.  The region's geographical position is one of its advantages. It is placed on the historical route between the North and South of Europe. It borders Austria and Slovakia.

Within the Czech Republic, it borders the regions of Budejovicky, Vysocina, Olomoucky, Pardubicky and Zlinsky. Together with the Vysocina region it forms a NUTS 2 unit. Natural conditions within the region vary and impact the way they are used as well as the way of life.

Within the region, the following types of landscape dominate: the southern edge of the Czech and Czech-Moravian Highlands, the Boskovicka Furrow, the Brno Massive, the Moravian Karst and the Drahanska Highlands; the Moravian Vale (the Dyjsko-svratecky and the Dolnomoravsky vales and the Vyskov Gate) and the Carpathian Highlands (the South-Moravian Carpathians; the Palava and Dunajovicke Hills), the Central-Moravian Carpathians (the Zdanicky Forest and the Litencicke Hills) and the with its foot-hills.

There are many important historical monuments and localities suitable for recreational leisure time use (hiking, cycling, etc.) in the South Moravian Region. The region has a total of 68 museums, 15 theatres, 70 cinemas and 161 public libraries.

Usti nad Labem

This region is situated in the northwest of the Czech Republic, along the border with Federal Republic of Germany.

To the northeast it borders with Liberec region, to the west with Karlovy Vary region and a small part of Plzen region.

To the south it borders with Central Bohemian region. The north border of the region is also the border with German Saxony region.

Along the border with Germany, the area is enclosed by Krusne hory, Labske piskovce and Luzicke hory mountain ranges. The southeast of the region consists of flat land, from which rises Ceske stredohori.

Owing to its rich settlement history, Usti region has many historical sights. Among the most popular are the baroque castle in Duchcov, Romanesque rotunda on Rip, gothic church in Most, monastery in Osek and the castles Ploskovice and Libochovice. In the regional gallery in Litomerice exceptional painting collections can be found.

From the natural beauties, the most famous is the National Park Ceske Svycarsko with well-known Pravcicka brana.

Vysocina

The name of the Vysocina Region derives from the name of the Ceskomoravska vrchovina (Bohemian-Moravian Highlands), a hilly, undulating countryside situated between the 2 historical lands of the Czech Republic. Vysocina reaches over 800 m in altitude, in the 2 distinct mountain ranges of Zdarske vrchy in the north of the region and Jihlavske vrchy in the south-west.

The main European water divide, echoing the former frontier between Bohemia and Moravia, divides the region into 2 parts almost equal in area.

Bordering the South-Moravian Region to the east, the South-Bohemian and Middle Bohemian Regions to the west, and sharing a border with the Pardubice Region to the north-east, the region is situated in the very heart of the Czech Republic.

The economy of the region's eastern part is influenced by the neighbouring urban centre of Brno, while the north-eastern part is within the sphere of influence of the capital of Prague.

The history of the region has, to a great extent, been influenced by natural conditions. Medieval colonization, as well as the industrialization of the 19th century, affected the area of what is the present region later than was the case in the Bohemian and Moravian lowlands. Although this situation was to blame for Vysocina's traditional position among the poorer of the country's regions, the region was, on the other hand, spared environmental pollution and the devastation of large areas by developing industry. This is perhaps why Vysocina now ranks among the fastest-developing regions in the Czech Republic.

With annual temperatures of 5-7 °C, Vysocina is one of the colder regions of the Czech Republic. The original virgin forest was transformed by human activity into an undulating cultivated steppe, with low hills and valleys and a wealth of woods and groves. A mass of cultivated forest covers most of the highest areas of the region. The many streams form a number of ponds, which fulfill functions from economic to recreational to landscaping. The lack of large ore deposits has spared Vysocina from devastation due to mining activity.

Vysocina boasts its pristine environment. The natural as well as the transport conditions in the region, have attracted mainly businesses that do not pollute the environment. Any new investments are based on established strict environmental standards. The D1 (E55) motorway can clearly be identified as the most serious air-polluting factor in the region; compared with other regions, soil contamination is negligible in Vysocina. The region may be regarded as an island of health wedged between the 3 urban centres of Prague, Brno, and Vienna. This is why, among other reasons, the Vysocina Region was the first to become a member of the Association of Healthy Towns and Regions, and acquired the official title 'The Healthy Region'.

History has provided Vysocina with a number of monuments, 3 of which, the historical centre of Telc, the Pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk at Zelena Hora near Zdar nad Sazavou and the Jewish Ghetto together with the St. Prokopus Basilica in Trebic have been classified as international UNESCO monuments. The landmarks left by history complement the way people have changed the countryside, completing its beauty.

Zlin

Zlin region was founded on January 1, 2000 and based and was created by merging townships of Zlin, Kromeriz and Uherske Hradiste, which belonged to the South Moravian region and township Vsetin, which belonged to the North Moravian region.

The region is situated in the eastern part of Czech Republic, where its eastern part creates border with Slovakia. To the southwest it borders with South Moravian region, to the northwest with Olomouc region and to north with Moravian-Silesian region. The area of 3,964 sq. km makes the region third smallest in the Czech Republic.

The area has a very rugged nature. Majority of the landscape is hilly, mountain and upland type. Part of the region, in Morava drainage area, is a fertile flat land; Hana in Kromeriz Township and Slovacko in Uherske Hradiste Township.

The northern part of the region is enclosed by the mountain ranges, called Moravskoslezske Beskydy, Javorniky on the north with the highest peak Velky Javornik and Bile Karpaty towards south with the highest peak Velka Javorina. This mountain range also creates natural border with Slovakia. Southward of Moravskoslezske Beskydy are the highland areas called Hostynsko; Vsetinska and Vizovicka.

To the southwest of the region is the Chriby mountain range with the highest peak Brdo. Among Chriby and the earlier mentioned highlands stretches towards the west from Olomouc Township a ravine called Hornomoravsky uval, which runs through Kromeriz Township all the way to the Zlin Township. Along the river Morava, in Uherske Hradiste Township, stretches the ravine called Dolnomoravsky, which continues to the South Moravian region.

From west to the south, across both ravines, flows the biggest river in the region, Morava. Most of the rivers in the region flow to Morava.

Among the most important are the river Becva to the north and Otava to the south. Zlin region has a large amount of the protected landscape areas. The large areas consist of 2 protected landscape areas; Beskydy and Bile Karpaty, which together make approximately 30% of the protected landscape area (CHKO) Bile Karpaty and belong to the top 10 biosphere UNESCO preserves in the Czech Republic.

In the region, there are also many natural preserves and nature sanctuaries.