SEARCHING FOR THE TERRITORIAL SHAPE OF A REGION IN REGIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS: THE ČESKÝ RÁJ (BOHEMIAN PARADISE), CZECH REPUBLIC

Abstract

The concept of "region" as a social construction is discussed in this paper, as well as the question of how such a conceived region can be defined. The discourse of different territorial delimitations and mental maps of respondents are used in a case study of Český ráj (Bohemian Paradise).

With these methods, we are able to prove the possibility of defining a region and its loose boundaries through exploring regional identity.

Keywords

• new regionalism
• boundaries
• regional identity
• cognitive maps
• Český ráj (Bohemian Paradise)