The tales of Czech history have been written across centuries featuring huge cultural influences, political turmoil and resilience. The Přemyslid dynasty made sure that the Kingdom of Bohemia was taken seriously during the 9th century. The mediaeval castle in Prague made ruling easy as it was transformed into the nucleus of the kingdom. After the Bohemian crown annexed Silesia and Moravia, the Roman Empire took over. King Charles IV’s reign is considered the best time for the flourishing of arts,education, urban development and culture, often referred to as the Golden Age. Later, The Bohemian landscape was then transformed into a battleground for radical political and religious ideologies. This period also experienced immense internal friction and external intervention. Ultimately the Habsburg dynasty stabilised the Czech lands and began Austrian reign.

Once the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed in the 20th century, Czechoslovakia was established in 1918. Even though the independent lands gained much economic and cultural advancement, it was ceded to Nazi Germany in 1938. Czechoslovakia also fell under Soviet reign once the war was over. Peaceful protests brought an end to the communist era and the Czech Republic and Slovakia then became two independent nations.

Czech culture is a vivid mosaic of history, cuisine and traditions that have evolved over centuries. The nation is a treasure trove of historical artefacts, brilliant Gothic and Baroque cathedrals and many other iconic landmarks like the Prague Castle and Charles Bridge. Artists like Alphonse Mucha, renowned for his Nouveau art pieces, have left a huge mark on history and culture. Puppetry and marionette theatre are also very highly respected and enjoyed art forms.

Famed musical composers like Antonìn Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana hail from these lands and their legacy is carried on by the Prague Symphony and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestras. Folk dance tunes are often composed on traditional instruments like the accordion and fiddle. These dances are fast tempo foot tappers which include lively routines. Writers like Franz Kafka and Milan Kundera, who are globally acclaimed, also call this palace home. Prague has also been referred to as a place that provides inspiration to great writers.

Czech festivals and holidays are mostly tied in with religious events like Christmas and Easter. The Maypole raising event can usually be seen in villages which marks the onset of spring.

Czech Koruna or the Czech Crown is the official currency of the country. It is denoted with the letters ‘CZK’ or the symbol ‘Kč’. This is a unique occurrence as the Czech Republic is a part of the European Union but has not adopted the Euro. CZK is the only legal tender accepted across the country and it is regulated by the Czech National Bank (Česká národní banka).

There are both coins and notes with different denominations available. While coins come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 CZK banknotes can be found with larger denominations like 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000.

You do not need to exchange your entire budget into CZK as the country’s establishments in urban areas widely accept credit and debit cards issued by MasterCard and VISA. Additionally, there are tons of ATMs across the cities that will gladly dispense cash on your command. Alternatively, you can also get your currency exchanged at the airport, banks or stand alone kiosks. It is always wise to carry some local cash with you while shopping for small items at local markets. This gives you the upper hand to haggle more.

Contactless payment systems like mobile and digital modes are also widely accepted in major cities like Prague.