Czech Republic: CD Cargo Class 771 locomotive passes Ostrava-Stodolni on a freight train
Czech Republic: CD Cargo Class 771 locomotive 771 137-7 passes Ostrava-Stodolni on a freight train.
Clip recorded 5th July 2017.
The locomotive class 771 is a dieselectric locomotive ( diesel locomotive with electric power transmission ) designed for heavy shifting and transport of heavier freight trains . It was produced in the years 1968 - 1972 by Strojárske a metallurgické závody Dubnica nad Váhom (SMZ) as an improved version of older machines of the 770 series .
195 machines with a standard gauge of 1435 mm were delivered to ČSD , another 12 machines for a wide gauge of 1520 mm. These were intended for the eastern Slovakian transit point ( Čierna nad Tisou and Maťovce ), where they usually work in pairs to increase the tow force (the weight of the sets is up to 4,000 tons here).
Most of the locomotives were shut down in the Czech Republic until 2010 and today only a small number of machines owned by ČD Cargo , deposited in SOKV České Budějovice and Ostrava. Their main mission is still a heavy shifting and dragging of sets between cargo stations, where only two pairs of four-axle machines with higher consumption could replace them. The only machine of this series on which EDB is mounted (since 1999 ) is 771,182, home in Ostrava. Czech Railways deployed the latest locomotive 771,172 in Česká Třebová sporadically as needed, and in the future it is counted as a museum machine.
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Ostrava (Polish: Ostrawa, German: Ostrau or Mährisch Ostrau) is a city in the north-east of the Czech Republic and is the capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region. It is 15 km (9 mi) from the border with Poland, at the meeting point of four rivers: the Odra, Opava, Ostravice and Lučina.
Ostrava is the transport and logistics hub of the north-eastern part of the Czech Republic. 25 km (16 mi) south of the city centre is an international airport, Leoš Janáček Airport Ostrava, which links the city with several European destinations (IATA code: OSR; ICAO code: LKMT). It is the first airport in the Czech Republic to have its own rail link.
Ostrava is also a major railway hub, sited on Railway Corridors II and III and serving as an important centre for cargo and passenger transport between the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. The city's largest railway stations are the main station (Ostrava-hlavní nádraží) and Ostrava-Svinov. These stations are important railway junctions. All trains of all three railway companies (Czech railways, RegioJet and LEO Express) call at Ostrava on trains to Olomouc, Pardubice and Prague.
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České dráhy (ČD) or Czech Railways is the main railway operator in the Czech Republic. In 2010 its consolidated revenues reached CZK 41.0 billion (€1.6bn, $2.1bn). Revenues from passenger transport amounted to CZK 18.7 billion (65% transfer payments from the government, 25% intra-state transport, 10% international transport), revenues from freight transport operated by subsidiary ČD Cargo amounted to CZK 11.8 billion, revenues from traffic control invoiced to state-owned railway infrastructure operator SŽDC amounted to CZK 5.2 billion. With thirty-eight thousand employees ČD Group is the largest Czech company by the number of employees.
The company was established in 1993, after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia as a successor of the Czechoslovak State Railways. It is a member of the International Railway Union (UIC Country Code for Czech Republic is 54), Community of European Railways and the Organization for Railways Cooperation (Asia and Europe).
Until 1 July 2008, České dráhy was the biggest employer in the Czech Republic. After experiencing regular losses and requiring government subsidies, the railway reported its first ever profit in 2007 although it receives government subsidies. Attempts to make it more efficient are currently ongoing and a recent plan to move passenger transport to an independent subsidiary was approved by the Czech government in January 2008.
ČD operates trains; fixed infrastructure (such as tracks) is managed by SŽDC. In December 2010, the Czech government proposed bringing SŽDC and ČD together in a single holding company. The government has also changed the subsidies available to ČD and SŽDC.
ČD Cargo, the cargo subsidiary, mainly transports raw materials, intermediate goods and containers. As of 2009, it is ranked in the top five largest railway cargo operators in Europe.
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The Czech Republic (officially known by its short name, Czechia) is a small landlocked country in Central Europe, situated southeast of Germany and bordering Austria to the south, Poland to the north and Slovakia to the southeast.
The Czech Republic is not a geographically large country, but it has a rich and eventful history. From time immemorial, Czechs, Germans, Jews and Slovaks, as well as Italian stonemasons and stucco workers, French tradesmen and deserters from Napoleon’s army, have all lived and worked here, all influencing one another. For centuries they jointly cultivated their land, creating works that still command respect and admiration today. It is thanks to their inventiveness and skill that this small country is graced with hundreds of ancient castles, monasteries and stately mansions, and even entire towns that give the impression of being comprehensive artifacts. The Czech Republic contains a vast amount of architectural treasure, as well as beautiful forests and mountains to match.
Regions:
The Czech Republic has 14 political regions (kraj) which can be grouped together into eight general regions:
Central Bohemia (Prague, Kutná Hora, Karlštejn)
The metropolitan centre of the Czech Republic with its capital city, known for its river valleys, extinct volcanic mounds, and green pastures.
West Bohemia (Pilsen, Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, Františkovy Lázně)
A forested and mountainous region, home of the pilsner beer, numerous spas towns, and the Bohemian Forest (Šumava).
North Bohemia (Liberec, Ústí nad Labem, Děčín, Bohemian Paradise)
A mountainous and coal mining region with a strong industrial past, and the location of the Ore Mountains (Krušné hory) and parts of the Giant Mountains (Krkonoše). Site to numerous winter resorts.
East Bohemia (Hradec Králové, Pardubice, Litomyšl, Špindlerův Mlýn)
Main location of the highly-popular Giant Mountains (Krkonoše) and the Czech Republic's highest peak, Sněžka.
South Bohemia (České Budějovice, Český Krumlov, Třeboň)
Hilly, forested landscapes, and the source of the Vltava River. A highly popular area for rafters in the summer.
Bohemian-Moravian Highlands (Telč, Třebíč, Žďár nad Sázavou)
A very green and uneven region, considered the geographic heart of the country.
North Moravia (Ostrava, Olomouc, Opava, Litovel)
A highly industrial region which includes Czech Silesia, although dotted with beautiful hills and mountains.
South Moravia (Brno, Znojmo, Zlín, Lednice-Valtice)
Well-known for its rural and slow pace of life, warm summers, rolling vineyards, and its potent plum brandy (slivovice).
Cities:
Prague (Praha) — the country's capital and largest city, and one of Europe's premier tourist destinations. Its large and beautiful historical core is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Brno — the largest city in Moravia and the republic's second city, with several excellent museums, an accessible old town, a stunning cathedral, and the annual Grand Prix.
České Budějovice – known also as Budweis, an attractive city in South Bohemia with an impressive old town square.
Český Krumlov — a stunning medieval and Renaissance town in South Bohemia, home to the country's second largest palace, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Karlovy Vary — a historic spa resort and the republic's largest, especially popular with German and Russian tourists, and the site of the country's most prestigious film festival.
Kutná Hora — a historical medieval town in Central Bohemia, home to St. Barbara's Church, old silver mines, and the Sedlec Ossuary, decorated with tens of thousands of human remains. Its attractions are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Olomouc — a riverside university town with a thousand-year history, and the second largest historical centre in the Czech Republic after Prague.
Ostrava — a vibrant and sometimes gritty blue collar city with a strong subculture, and a long history of coal mining and steel production.
Opava — the former capital of Silesia.
Pilsen (Plzeň) — home of the original Pilsner Urquell beer and the Škoda Works, and the largest city in West Bohemia.
Telč — a perfectly preserved Renaissance town centre surrounded by shallow man-made lakes. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Zlín - Beautiful example of functionalistic architecture inspired by garden cities of Le Corbusier and rebuilt by Baťa shoemaker family. The town is set in small hills, nature, zoo and spa literally behind a hill.
#czechrepublic #czechia #travel
Ostrava - Old Town (Staré Město), Czech Republic (Česká republika) [HD] (videoturysta)
[PL] Zwiedzamy stare miasto w Ostrawie. Plac Masaryka jest centralnym placem w Ostrawie z otaczającymi budynkami pokrytymi zdobionymi elewacjami, religijnym rzeźbami i ładną fontanną. Najstarszym, zachowanym budynkiem na rynku jest Stara Radnice (Stary Ratusz) z XVI wieku, gdzie obecnie znajduje się Muzeum Ostrawskie. Spacerujemy uliczkami oglądając przyjemnie odnowione kamienice z XIX i XXw. Najbardziej charakterystycznym kościołem jest katedra Boskiego Zbawiciela z XIXw. - druga co do wielkości świątynia na Morawach, będąca obecnie siedzibą diecezji ostrawsko-opawskiej.
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[EN] We visit the Old Town of Ostrava. The Masaryk Square is the Ostrava's central square, with the buildings lined with colourfully adorned facades, religious statues and a nice fountain. The oldest preserved building on the square is Stara Radnice (Old Town Hall) from the sixteenth century, currently acting as the Museum of Ostrava. We walk the streets looking at nice buildings from the nineteenth and twentieth century that encircle the main square. The most characteristic of the churches is the cathedral church of the Divine Savior from the 19th century. This is the second largest temple in Moravia, which is now the seat of the Diocese of Ostrava-Opava.
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HISTORICAL PLACES OF CZECH REPUBLIC IN GOOGLE EARTH PART FOUR ( 4/6 )
Happy Bee Surf by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (
Source:
Artist:
1. CASTLE SILESIAN,OSTRAVA,MORAVIAN 49°49'49.55N 18°17'58.45E
2. CHURCH.PROKOP,PRAGUE 50° 5'2.66N 14°27'1.99E
3. ST.ANNY CHURCH,LIBEREC 50°43'21.87N 15°10'6.24E
4. LOWER CEMETERY,ZD'AR NAD SAZAVOU 49°35'7.03N 15°56'2.33E
5. ZÁMEK KOSMONOSY,KOSMONOSY 50°26'25.57N 14°55'26.75E
6. ST. APOLLINARIS CHURCH,PRAGUE 50° 4'15.13N 14°25'25.69E
7. CASTLE ŠVIHOV,ŠVIHOV 49°28'43.81N 13°17'6.64E
8. JUBILEE SYNAGOGUE,PRAGUE 50° 5'4.79N 14°25'56.12E
9. PAMATNIK CS TANKISTU,OSTRAVA 49°50'16.77N 18°17'52.13E
10. CATHEDRAL OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW,KOLIN 50° 1'35.64N 15°12'5.90E
11. TRUTNOV CHURCH,TRUTNOV 50°33'42.70N 15°54'51.38E
12. CHURCH OF ST.NICHOLAS,PRAGUE 50° 5'16.82N 14°24'11.87E
13. CHURCH OF THE VISITATION,SVITAVY 49°45'23.29N 16°28'1.08E
14. ST.LUDMILLA CATHEDRAL,PRAGUE 50° 4'31.32N 14°26'14.11E
15. EVANGELICAL CHURCH,BOSKOVICE 49°29'23.20N 16°39'51.20E
16. ZOFIN PALACE,PRAGUE 50° 4'44.42N 14°24'45.89E
17. BASILICA OF VIRGIN MARY,FRÝDEK-MÍSTEK 49°41'23.29N 18°20'48.52E
18. WATER TOWER,PRAGUE 50° 5'32.03N 14°25'42.09E
19. CHURCH. HEDWIG HANY KVAPILOVÉ,OPAVA
49°56'29.31N 17°53'32.55E
20. MUSEUM OF DECORATIVE ARTS,PRAGUE 50° 5'23.55N 14°24'59.33E
21. CASTLE HRAD CHEB,KARLOVY VARY 50° 4'52.09N 12°21'58.11E
22. ST. LEOPOLD CHURCH,BRNO 49°11'5.77N 16°35'44.26E
23. CASTLE HRAD SIROTCI,MORAVIAN 48°50'43.69N 16°38'26.30E
24. CHURCH OF ST.MIKULASE&ALZBETY,KARLOVY VARY
50° 4'50.43N 12°22'12.80E
25. CITY HALL,ZNOJMO 48°51'19.78N 16° 2'55.41E
Pardubice - A Beautiful Czech Jewel in Eastern Bohemia
Pardubice in Eastern Bohemia is a city on the Elbe river which is navigable downstream from here. Coming from the train station you enter the old town through the Green Gate. Around the main square there are magnificent buildings from several periods: late Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassicism. Not far from the place where the Chrudimka river flows into the Elbe is the Château, which has still strong traits of a castle, and its facade is decorated with sgraffito. Its entrance gate opens onto the city. Also worth seeing is the East Bohemian Theatre (Východočeské Divadlo) from the Art Nouveau period.
Pardubice in Ostböhmen, zu deutsch Pardubitz, ist eine Stadt an der Elbe, die ab hier flussabwärts schiffbar ist. Vom Bahnhof kommend betritt man die Altstadt durch das Grüne Tor. Um den dahinterliegenden Pernsteinplatz liegen prächtige Bürgerhäuser aus mehreren Epochen: Spätgotik, Renaissance, Barock und Klassizisimus. Unweit davon fließt das Flüsschen Chrudimka in die Elbe; dort ist auch das Schloss, das immer noch starke Züge einer Burg aufweist und dessen Fassade mit Sgraffiti verziert sind. Sein Zugangstor öffnet sich zur Stadt. Sehenswert ist auch das Ostböhmische Theater (Východočeské divadlo) aus der Zeit des Jugendstils.
Pardubice en Bohemia Oriental es una ciudad a orillas del Elba que es navegable aguas abajo desde aquí. Llegando de la estación se entra en el casco viejo por la Puerta Verde. Alrededor de la plaza mayor están magníficos edificios de varias épocas: gótico tardío, renacimiento, barroco y neoclásico. No muy lejos del lugar donde el río Chrudimka desemboca en el Elba está el palacio que tiene aún fuertes rasgos de un castillo, y su fachada está decorada con esgrafiados. Su puerta de entrada se abre hacia la ciudad. También vale la pena visitar el Teatro de Bohemia Oriental (Východočeské Divadlo) de la época del modernismo (Art Nouveau).
Pardubice, en Bohême de l'Est, est une ville sur l'Elbe qui est navigable en aval à partir d'ici. En venant de la gare, vous entrez dans la vieille ville par la Porte Verte. Autour de la place principale, il ya de magnifiques bâtiments de plusieurs périodes: tard gothique, renaissance, baroque et néo-classicisme. Pas loin de l'endroit où la rivière Chrudimka se jette dans l'Elbe, c'est le Château, qui a encore de fortes traits d'un château, et sa façade est ornée de sgraffites. Sa porte d'entrée s'ouvre sur la ville. A voir aussi le Théâtre Bohême de l'Est (Východočeské Divadlo) de l'époque de l'Art Nouveau.
[Pardubice ve východních Čechách je město na řece Labi, která je splavná po proudu od zde. Již od vlakového nádraží zadáte staré město přes Zelené brány. Kolem náměstí jsou nádherné budovy z několika období: pozdě gotické, renesanční, barokní a neoklasicismus. Nedaleko od místa, kde řeka Chrudimka vlévá do Labe je zámek, který má stále silné rysy hradu a jeho fasáda je zdobena sgrafity. Jeho vstupní brána se otevírá do města. Také stojí za to vidět, je Východočeské divadlo (Východočeské Divadlo) z období secese.]
POZOR VLAK / THE TRAIN - 75. [FULL HD]
- Základy modelové železnice - lokomotivy a vagóny
- EXPRES: Přehled událostí na železnici
- Česká sedadla do vlaků BORCAD
- COURÁK: Krnov
- ÚŽASNÉ NÁVRATY: Motorový rušeň T 679.1
- ZARÁŽKA: Když vlak jede mimo koleje
Presentation of Ostrava, my hometown
See this video and visit Ostrava :-) Come NOW !
POZOR VLAK / THE TRAIN - 72. [FULL HD]
- Rekonstrukce návratu T. G. Masaryka z exilu v USA
- EXPRES: Přehled událostí na železnici
- MTW 100.002
- Courák: Kubova Huť
- Báňské spěšné vlaky
- Úžasné návraty: Odvětví elektrotechniky a energetiky
- Zarážka: Odborníci přejí české železnici do roku 2019
two otis elevators@clarion congress hotel, ostrava, czech republic
big thank you for invitation to elevator ride goes to director of this nice hotel and friendly receptionists
POZOR VLAK / THE TRAIN - 55. [FULL HD]
- SupraTrans / Levitující drážní vozidlo
- EXPRES: přehled událostí na železnici
- Létající 810
- Výtopna Jaroměř
- Drážní kalendárium
- ÚŽASNÉ NÁVRATY: Konec slavné epochy
- ZARÁŽKA: Japonský drážní systém MonoRail
Czech Republic | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Czech Republic
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written
language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through
audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio
while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using
a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
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This video uses Google TTS en-US-Standard-D voice.
SUMMARY
=======
The Czech Republic ( ( listen); Czech: Česká republika [ˈtʃɛskaː ˈrɛpublɪka] ( listen)), also known by its short-form name, Czechia ( ( listen); Czech: Česko [ˈtʃɛsko] ( listen)), is a landlocked country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east and Poland to the northeast. The Czech Republic covers an area of 78,866 square kilometres (30,450 sq mi) with a mostly temperate continental climate and oceanic climate. It is a unitary parliamentary republic, with 10.6 million inhabitants; its capital and largest city is Prague, with 1.3 million residents. Other major cities are Brno, Ostrava and Pilsen. The Czech Republic is a member of the European Union (EU), NATO, the OECD, the United Nations, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe.
It is a developed country with an advanced, high income export-oriented social market economy based in services, manufacturing and innovation. The UNDP ranks the country 14th in inequality-adjusted human development. The Czech Republic is a welfare state with a continental European social model, a universal health care system, tuition-free university education an is ranked 14th in the Human Capital Index. It ranks as the 6th safest or most peaceful country and is one of the most non-religious countries in the world, while achieving strong performance in democratic governance.
The Czech Republic includes the historical territories of Bohemia, Moravia, and Czech Silesia. The Czech state was formed in the late 9th century as the Duchy of Bohemia under the Great Moravian Empire. After the fall of the Empire in 907, the centre of power transferred from Moravia to Bohemia under the Přemyslid dynasty. In 1002, the duchy was formally recognized as part of the Holy Roman Empire, becoming the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1198 and reaching its greatest territorial extent in the 14th century. Besides Bohemia itself, the king of Bohemia ruled the lands of the Bohemian Crown, he had a vote in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor, and Prague was the imperial seat in periods between the 14th and 17th century. In the Hussite Wars of the 15th century driven by the Protestant Bohemian Reformation, the kingdom faced economic embargoes and defeated five consecutive crusades proclaimed by the leaders of the Catholic Church.
Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526, the whole Crown of Bohemia was gradually integrated into the Habsburg Monarchy alongside the Archduchy of Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary. The Protestant Bohemian Revolt (1618–20) against the Catholic Habsburgs led to the Thirty Years' War. After the Battle of the White Mountain, the Habsburgs consolidated their rule, eradicated Protestantism and reimposed Catholicism, and also adopted a policy of gradual Germanization. This contributed to the anti-Habsburg sentiment. A long history of resentment of the Catholic Church followed and still continues. With the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, the Bohemian Kingdom became part of the Austrian Empire and the Czech language experienced a revival as a consequence of widespread romantic nationalism. In the 19th century, the Czech lands became the industrial powerhouse of the monarchy and were subsequently the core of the Republic of Czechoslovakia, which was formed in 1918 following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I.
Czechoslovakia remained the only democracy in this part of Europe in the interwar period. However, the Czech part of Czechoslovakia was occupied by Germany in World War II, while the Slovak region became the Slovak Republic; Czechoslovakia was liberated in 1945 by the armies of the Soviet Union and the United States. The Czech country lost the majority of its German-speaking inhabitants after they were expelled following the war. The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia won the 1946 elections and after the 1948 coup d'état, Czechoslovakia became a one-party communist state under Soviet influence. In 19 ...
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Průvodce Olomoucí s českými, ruskými a anglickými titulky
Moravia | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Moravia
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
Moravia ( maw-RAY-vee-ə, -RAH-, moh-; Czech: Morava; German: Mähren ; Polish: Morawy; Latin: Moravia) is a historical country in the Czech Republic (forming its eastern part) and one of the historical Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Czech Silesia. The medieval and early modern Margraviate of Moravia was a crown land of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown (from 1348 to 1918), an imperial state of the Holy Roman Empire (1004 to 1806), later a crown land of the Austrian Empire (1804 to 1867) and briefly also one of 17 former crown lands of the Cisleithanian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867 to 1918. During the early 20th century, Moravia was one of the five lands of Czechoslovakia from 1918 to 1928; it was then merged with Czech Silesia, and eventually dissolved by abolition of the land system in 1949.
Moravia has an area of over 22,000 km2 and about 3 million inhabitants, which is roughly 2/7 or 30% of the whole Czech Republic. The statistics from 1921 states, that the whole area of Moravia including the enclaves in Silesia covers 22,623.41 km2. The people are historically named Moravians, a subgroup of Czechs (as understood by Czechs). The land takes its name from the Morava river, which rises in the northern tip of the region and flows southward to the opposite end, being its major stream. Moravia's largest city and historical capital is Brno. Before being sacked by the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War, Olomouc was another capital.Though officially abolished by an administrative reform in 1949, Moravia is still commonly acknowledged as a specific land in the Czech Republic. Moravian people are considerably aware of their Moravian identity and there is some rivalry between them and the Czechs from Bohemia.
Czech Republic | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Czech Republic
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written
language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through
audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio
while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using
a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
In case you don't find one that you were looking for, put a comment.
This video uses Google TTS en-US-Standard-D voice.
SUMMARY
=======
The Czech Republic ( ( listen); Czech: Česká republika [ˈtʃɛskaː ˈrɛpublɪka] ( listen)), also known by its short-form name, Czechia ( ( listen); Czech: Česko [ˈtʃɛsko] ( listen)), is a landlocked country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east and Poland to the northeast. The Czech Republic covers an area of 78,866 square kilometres (30,450 sq mi) with a mostly temperate continental climate and oceanic climate. It is a unitary parliamentary republic, with 10.6 million inhabitants; its capital and largest city is Prague, with 1.3 million residents. Other major cities are Brno, Ostrava and Pilsen. The Czech Republic is a member of the European Union (EU), NATO, the OECD, the United Nations, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe.
It is a developed country with an advanced, high income export-oriented social market economy based in services, manufacturing and innovation. The UNDP ranks the country 14th in inequality-adjusted human development. The Czech Republic is a welfare state with a continental European social model, a universal health care system, tuition-free university education an is ranked 14th in the Human Capital Index. It ranks as the 6th safest or most peaceful country and is one of the most non-religious countries in the world, while achieving strong performance in democratic governance.
The Czech Republic includes the historical territories of Bohemia, Moravia, and Czech Silesia. The Czech state was formed in the late 9th century as the Duchy of Bohemia under the Great Moravian Empire. After the fall of the Empire in 907, the centre of power transferred from Moravia to Bohemia under the Přemyslid dynasty. In 1002, the duchy was formally recognized as part of the Holy Roman Empire, becoming the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1198 and reaching its greatest territorial extent in the 14th century. Besides Bohemia itself, the king of Bohemia ruled the lands of the Bohemian Crown, he had a vote in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor, and Prague was the imperial seat in periods between the 14th and 17th century. In the Hussite Wars of the 15th century driven by the Protestant Bohemian Reformation, the kingdom faced economic embargoes and defeated five consecutive crusades proclaimed by the leaders of the Catholic Church.
Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526, the whole Crown of Bohemia was gradually integrated into the Habsburg Monarchy alongside the Archduchy of Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary. The Protestant Bohemian Revolt (1618–20) against the Catholic Habsburgs led to the Thirty Years' War. After the Battle of the White Mountain, the Habsburgs consolidated their rule, eradicated Protestantism and reimposed Catholicism, and also adopted a policy of gradual Germanization. This contributed to the anti-Habsburg sentiment. A long history of resentment of the Catholic Church followed and still continues. With the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, the Bohemian Kingdom became part of the Austrian Empire and the Czech language experienced a revival as a consequence of widespread romantic nationalism. In the 19th century, the Czech lands became the industrial powerhouse of the monarchy and were subsequently the core of the Republic of Czechoslovakia, which was formed in 1918 following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I.
Czechoslovakia remained the only democracy in this part of Europe in the interwar period. However, the Czech part of Czechoslovakia was occupied by Germany in World War II, while the Slovak region became the Slovak Republic; Czechoslovakia was liberated in 1945 by the armies of the Soviet Union and the United States. The Czech country lost the majority of its German-speaking inhabitants after they were expelled following the war. The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia won the 1946 elections and after the 1948 coup d'état, Czechoslovakia became a one-party communist state under Soviet influence. In 19 ...