What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on X on 25 March 2023.

Lípová was built in the 14th century.

Until the 17th century or so, this was Svaté Kateřiny (St Catherine’s), after the convent-then-monastery: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/28/prague-2-day-128-katerinska/

It then became Lípová or U Lip until about 1800, before turning into Zadní Lipová until 1880, at which point the name ‘Lípová’ stuck.

A lípa is a linden tree, and, much like with Pod Lipami in Žižkov (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/20/prague-3-day-48-pod-lipami/), the street was so called because of the presence of these trees in the surrounding area.

In June 1848, the Prague Slavic Congress was held. It was the first occasion, or one of the first occasions, in which a multitude of voices from different Slavic groups were heard.

Like so many momentous events, it also suffered from a lack of clear objectives, as well as the fact that many of the attendees wanted completely different things. However, one thing that was agreed on was that the linden tree should be the national tree for Czechs.

It’s also the national tree for Slovaks, Slovenes, and the somewhat less Slavic Latvians (although they’ve decided to have the oak as a national tree too).

Logically, linden branches have also found their way onto the flag of the President of the Czech Republic:

Apparently, disparaging the flag can land you a fine of up to CZK 10,000, so please comment carefully.

But please also enjoy this quality moment in which I remind you all that the President of the Czech Republic is no longer Miloš Zeman.

From 1990 until 31.12.1992, the Pravda vítězí part was actually Veritas vincit instead, in order to not ruffle any Slovak feathers at a time when people were falling out over hyphens and stuff.

Things whose names originate from lipa include lipanj (Croatian June), lipiec (Polish July), липень (Ukrainian July), the 100 lipa which made up a Croatian kuna until they adopted the Euro this year, Lipizzan horses, and Leipzig.