Ceko

Ceko is a term used in several languages to refer to the Czech Republic or to Czech people. In English, the standard terms are Czech for both the people and the language, and Czech Republic or Czechia for the country. The form Ceko derives from the ethnonym Čech and appears in some languages as an exonym or informal designation.

Geography and population: The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria. Its capital and largest city is Prague. The population is about 10.5 million. The official language is Czech, a West Slavic language with a long literary tradition. The country is historically divided into Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia.

History: The Czech lands formed the medieval state of Bohemia, later part of the Holy Roman Empire and then the Habsburg-ruled empire. In 1918 they became part of Czechoslovakia, which peacefully split in 1993 into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the event known as the Velvet Divorce. The Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004 and uses the Czech koruna (CZK); the euro has not been adopted.

Economy and culture: The Czech Republic has a developed economy with strong manufacturing, engineering and services sectors. It is famous for beer—Pilsner originated in the city of Plzeň—and a rich architectural heritage, especially in Prague, with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque monuments. The country has produced influential writers, scientists and composers, contributing to Central European culture.

Heritage: Prague's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, as are several other Czech towns and sites such as Český Krumlov and Telč.