Czech Republic Flags
Flag of the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a young nation, but the flag of the Czech Republic is much older than the nation itself. The Czech Republic flag is identical to the former flag of Czechoslovakia, but the origins of the design go back as far as the medieval Kingdom of Bohemia.
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country located in Central Europe covering a total area of 78 866 km². It is bordered by Poland, Germany, Austria and Slovakia and has a current population of 10.3 million people. The capital and largest city is Prague which is over 1000 years old. The historic architecture and different styles of architecture makes Prague a popular location for international filmmakers. Mirek Topolanek is the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. Manufacturing is a major economic activity with automobiles, engineering products and machine tools. The landscape of the Czech Republic is 95% hills and mountains, perfect for skiing, mountain biking and hill walking. Famous Czechs include the Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha, composers Antonin Dvorák and Bedrich Smetana, marathon runner Emil Zátopek and the writers Franz Kafka and Milan Kundera.
- Capital of Czech Republic: Prague
- Area of Czech Republic: 77,276 sq. km
- Languages used in Czech Republic: Czech
- Religions in Czech Republic: Roman Catholic, Protestant
Colors and Symbolism of the Czech Republic Flag
Czech Republic flags feature two equal stripes of white and red with a blue triangle along the hoist. The symbolism of the Czech Republic flag reaches back to the ancient symbolism of heraldry. The red stripe represents hardiness and courage in battle, while the white represents the contrasting virtues of peace and honesty. The blue triangle represents justice, truth, and loyalty.
History of Czech Republic Flags
Red and white have represented the Czech people for many years. The Kingdom of Bohemia was a medieval predecessor to the modern nation, and the kingdom's banner provided the red and white pattern for the modern flag of the Czech Republic. The nation of Czechoslovakia formed in the aftermath of the first world war, and it directly adopted the kingdom's old flag for its own use as a link to its ancient heritage. The government only adopted the modern flag in 1920 when it added a blue triangle to distinguish its own flag from that of Poland. The flag fell out of use for a few years during the second world war, when it was banned during the Nazi occupation. Czechoslovakia started using the flag again as soon as the war was over, and kept using the flag until the nation dissolved in 1993. The Czech Republic had initially intended to adopt a new flag when it became an independent state, but the government decided that Czech Republic flags should maintain a strong link to the past and opted to keep the old flag of Czechoslovakia and the Kingdom of Bohemia to represent the new country.