Beekeeping in the Czech lands has a long history. Under the Habsburgs, Empress Maria Theresa supported beekeepers with tax relief and organised lectures at court. The Czech Beekeepers Union traces its origins to this period (1776).
The Carniolan bee and modern foundations
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Carniolan bee (Apis mellifera carnica) gradually replaced the earlier Black Bee in the region. This shift made beekeeping easier and more productive. When Czechoslovakia was founded, setting up a beekeeping research institute was among the state’s early priorities.
Today’s practice
Czech beekeeping remains largely in the hands of small and part-time beekeepers. They use Czechoslovak-style hives and focus on the Carniolan bee. Varroa control, developed with the Bee Research Institute at Dol, is strictly applied and antibiotics are not used.
Further reading
Radio Prague has covered Czech beekeeping and its popularity in cities such as Prague (english.radio.cz). The Czech Beekeepers Union provides current information on beekeeping in the Czech Republic.
For honey varieties, see Types of Czech honey. For how apiaries are run, see Apiaries in the Czech Republic.