A young country with a long history, the Czech Republic has emerged from its "Velvet Revolution" and separation from Slovakia, as a free and spirited nation. For centuries a cultural crossroads, this new land offers an authentic view of Old Europe. Walk through rural villages, rich in folklore and tradition, wooded hills and tranquil lakes and medieval towns that seem to spring from the pages of a storybook. In Prague, a vital, modern spirit beats in the heart of this "Golden City" where art, music and liberty thrive. For a thousand years, Prague Castle has dominated the exquisite skyline, looking down over Baroque steeples, Gothic spires and the magnificent Charles Bridge that has spanned the Vltava River since the 15th century.