What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on X on 1 September 2023.

Carl Bernhard Graf Chotek von Chotkowa und Wognin was born in Vienna in 1783.

His father, Johann Nepomuk Rudolph Graf Chotek von Chotkow und Wognin, after serving as finance minister in Vienna, became Supreme Burgave of Bohemia from 1802 to 1805; in this role, he was responsible for, amongst other things, the opening of Stromovka.

It was also in 1802 that Karel, having studied law in Vienna and Prague, joined the civil service in Prague, later serving as regional governor in Hranice na Moravě and Přerov.

Having served successfully in the Austrian Army in the Napoleonic Wars, he was rewarded with the governorship of a slightly more faraway location – Trieste, where he managed to make a decent contribution to the development both of Trieste and Istria.

In 1826, he followed in his father’s footsteps and became Supreme Burgrave of Moravia. In the role until 1843, he helped make huge improvements to Prague’s infrastructure: streets, squares, sewers, public parks and social services were all created in this time.

He saw to the construction of what is now Most Legií / Legion Bridge, which, in 1841, became only the second bridge over the Vltava in the city, after the obvious one.

A year before, Chotkovy sady – opened in 1832 as the first public park in Prague – had been named after him.

Resigning as burgave in 1843, he withdrew from public life and moved to Březno Castle, ultimately dying in Vienna in 1868. The role of Burgrave was never filled by a Czech again after 1843.

And you know what else is pretty cool? This 1839 snap of Chotek and his family is the oldest Czech photograph ever.

Meanwhile, Chotkovy sady, to state the bleeding obvious, has excellent views. If you’re visiting Prague and you’ve forgotten which tram route they most recommend to tourists, it’s the 22 and 23 along here.

As well as this impressive monument dedicated to writer Julius Zeyer (1841-1901).

And this 1991 monument by Pavel Krbálek, celebrating the restoration of democracy in 1989.

On Chotkova itself, during the Prague Uprising, Protectorate Minister of Education and Public Education and general awful pro-Nazi person Emanuel Moravec shot himself in the head on 5 May 1945, while driving away to avoid capture. Prague would be liberated four days later.

Graphic artist Jiří Balcar was also lose his life on this street, as a result of his a car accident in 1968, just a week after Soviet troops invaded Czechoslovakia. You can see some of his brilliant film posters here: https://www.terryhoponozky.cz/plakaty/parametr-1-autori/1-balcar-jiri

Chotkova also includes a footbridge between Chotka and Letenské sady (famously described as ‘hideous’ by Václav Havel).

And a sculpture of the Czech Lion, created by Josef Max in 1952 to commemorate Czech soldiers who died in Italy in 1848. It’s been here since 1953.