The Culture
People in Czechia are proud of their languages. Czech is the dominant language, but you will hear the Slovak language too. Older people tend not to speak English, so expect quizzical looks if you’re not attempting to speak in a local language – even trying just a little usually goes a long way in showing respect to your hosts in a new land. The younger generations speak English though, as it was taught in schools starting in 1990. Most Czechs speak a second if not a third language.
There are many sites to see around the country, but you could spend a whole trip in energetic and cultural Prague, if you wanted to. Between the buildings, events, nightlife, and historical past, Prague seems to have it all.
Prague Castle is an iconic landmark that overlooks the city. It’s the largest ancient castle complex in the world and has served Czech kings, emperors, and presidents over its history. Charles Bridge is a medieval arched bridge, completed in the early 15th century, that spans the swan-filled Vltava River in the heart of Prague. It was commissioned by King Charles IV in the 14th century and features an impressive and imposing thirty statues of saints on either side.
Prague street sculpture is an interesting one. Czechia, after all, the home of Franz Kafka, who is immortalized by several odd figures and attractions he put throughout the city. One is a beggar carrying a skull on his back, there’s an old East German car on legs, and a statue of Sigmund Freud clinging to life several stories above the ground. Prague certainly has its own personality – full of energy, music, cultural art, fine dining and events.