After an infancy of democracy followed by decades of communist control, in 1993 Czechoslovakia was peacefully dissolved into two separate, democratic states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, in what was known as the Velvet Divorce.
The Czech Republic is bordered by Germany to the west, Poland to the east, and Austria to the south.
Manufacturing, iron and steel production, and agriculture are the nation's major economic sectors, and the Czech Republic is a member of the European Union.
The importance of its medieval history plays a large part in modern cultural festivals and tourism. Emperor Charles the IV is routinely honored as a great 14th century leader.
The center of the Central Bohemian region, Prague, the nation's capital, still retains beautiful gothic architecture. Highlights of the city include Prague Castle, Old and New Town, and the Vltava River.
The Czech Republic boasts more than 1,000 centuries-old castles and chateaus, including the famous Karlstejn Castle, built in 1348 by Charles the IV, and the Konopiste, a French-inspired castle from the 1200s.
