The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country has borders with Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. Historic Prague, a major tourist attraction, is its capital and largest city. Other major cities include Brno, Ostrava, Zlín, Plze?, Pardubice, Hradec Králové, ?eské Bud?jovice, Liberec, Olomouc, and Ústí nad Labem.
The country is composed of two entire historic regions, Bohemia and Moravia, parts of Silesia and small sections of historic Lower Austria. The Czech Republic has been a member state of the European Union since May 1, 2004.