• Norway!

    Norway: Sunnylvsfjord. Go Now!

    Norway
    Known for its natural beauty, Norway is home to isolated villages, fjords, and mountains that create a culture and landscape without compare. Begin Your Journey!

  • Vatican City!

    Vatican City: Vatican Museums. Go Now!

    Vatican City
    The smallest country in the world offers the heart of Catholicism and among the world's finest art collections, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms (ceiling pictured). Go to Vatican City!

  • Macedonia!

    Macedonia: Traditional architecture. Go Now!

    Macedonia
    Macedonia is a country still finding its unique identity, but its architecture is already one of a kind. Explore Macedonia!

  • Austria!

    Austria: Belvedere Palace. Go Now!

    Austria
    Belvedere Palace (pictured) is just one of many palaces found in Vienna. The capital is a good start to Austria, which also features the Alps, the Lakes District, and incredible history & food. Go Now!

  • Spain!

    Spain: Guell Park and Gaudi architecture. Go Now!

    Spain
    Fusion foods, lively music, historic ruins, and cultural events like the Running of the Bulls and La Tomatina make Spain and Barcelona (pictured) a favorite tourist destination. Explore Spain!

  • Ukraine!

    Ukraine: Traditional Village. Go Now!

    Ukraine
    Ukrainian culture is based on village life, particularly that found in the Carpathian Mountains (pictured). Begin Your Journey!

Culture & Identity of the Czech Republic

Introduction

The daily way of life in Czech Republic today is based on a number of factors, but the greatest differences come in the city versus the rural life. Prague is home to a huge number of people and here life is very international as tens of thousands of foreigners live in the city and tourists are impossible to avoid in most neighborhoods. However, life in the many towns and villages in the country move at a slower pace as the people are more intrigued by foreigners as time seems to matte a bit less.

Most of the people of Czech Republic are urbanized; nearly 75% of the people live in cities. Most of the people, no matter where they live, make a living in either heavy industry or the services sector; only about 3% of the working population works in agriculture. Many foreign companies have opened factories in the country, including numerous car companies.

For nearly every working person in Czech Republic the work day is fairly regular as most jobs begin at about 8:00 am and close at about 6:00 pm, but some factories have a second and third shift as many of the restaurants and bars in the cities are open late into the night. For children, school is also fairly regular and consistent. Schools runs from early September to mid-July and hours are also regular.

Evenings and weekends are generally free and the Czechs, in general, make enough money to enjoy their free time. Most evenings are focused on family or friends, but taking some down time to decompress from the work day is not unheard-of. While most families focus their free time on children, young singles often times prefer going out for dinner or drinks with friends. This is especially true in Prague and other large cities. However, in smaller towns hours are more limited and weekends are commonly spent with family or friends in the home or outdoors.

Identity

Czechs identify in multiple ways; the people of Prague often times attach themselves with the city, others identify as Bohemian or Moravian (the two main regions in the country), and still others identify as Czech. No matter what an individual's primary identity is, nearly everyone also identifies as Czech. This term is often used to refer to the Czech ethnicity and language, but can also refer to those who are citizens of the Czech Republic. Although generally Catholic, few people attach religion to any of the above mentioned identities and few people strongly identify with Catholicism or any other religion.

This page was last updated: November, 2013