What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on Twitter on 9 October 2022.

Zásmucká was built in 1935.

Zásmuky is a town of 2,100 people, 16 km to the south-west of Kolín, first mentioned in 1285.

Originally owned by the Zásmucký family (originally enough), it was acquired by the Šternberk clan, one of the oldest Bohemian noble families, in the 17th century.

Adolf Vratislav ze Šternberka founded a Franciscan monastery here in 1694.

In 1948, the Šternberks were deprived of their property, and the town’s castle was used by the army. The Šternberks got their property back in 1992.

Not to suggest that my muted enthusiasm for this batch of named-after-towns streets is justified or anything, but, if you search for news articles about Zásmuky on Google, one of the first ten hits is from 2009.

But, on the corner of Zásmucká, you’ll find one of Prague 3’s most modern buildings, The Crystal.

Designed by Czech studio ra15, it’s got 14 floors and certainly stands out (or doesn’t fit in with the surroundings – your vote).

https://www.archdaily.com/895431/the-crystal-ra15

Searching Google for ‘crystal Praha’ has turned out to be utterly useless, given I’m not a tourist* and have zero interest in meth.

* When I’m in Prague, that is – this is actually being posted from an Amtrak train to Santa Barbara, where I will very much be a tourist.