What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on Twitter on 5 January 2023.

U Zvonařky was built in 1889.

Zvonařka (English: bellfoundery? Or something that’s actually a word) is a homestead that was one located here. There were probably vineyards in this spot as early as the 12th century.

It’s documented that the vineyard, in the mid-16th century, was owned by one Brikcí z Cinperka – and, during the Nazi occupation, the street was named Cinpergova or Cimpergova after him.

However, the name Zvonařka didn’t appear until it was owned by one Václav Arnošt Krieger, who had worked as a chamberlain there and was gifted it in 1688 by his master due to his good service. He merged it with a neighbouring vineyard, and it flourished.

A later owner was Josef Emanuel Canal, who you can read about here: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/01/29/prague-2-day-22-u-kanalky/. He then sold it to one Jakub Wimmer. In the late 19th century, the homestead was destroyed so that Vinohrady could be expanded.