What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on X on 17 October 2023.

In the 1300s, this area was given the hugely creative and cryptic name of ‘Pod stupni Pražského hradu’ (Under the steps of Prague Castle), and you can read about those steps here: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-40-zamecke-schody/

At some point, the name ‘Kavčí hora’ also appears, which will be hugely distracting to anyone who has worked with/at Česká televize. I think this translates as ‘Jackdaw hill’ but will gladly accept corrections.

From the 18th century, the lower part of the street was called Sklenářská (Glassmakers’ Street), the middle part was called Farní (Parish), and the upper part was called Thunovská. They’ve all been one street since 1870.

There’s been a building where the present-day Thun Palace is located since at least the 1300s. After the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48), it was acquired by one Walter Leslie, a Scottish soldier and diplomat.

This was a reward from Emperor Ferdinand II for Leslie’s role in killing General Albrecht von Wallenstein, who there will be a lot about in one of this week’s threads.

In 1659, Leslie sold the palace to one Guidobald von Thun und Hohenstein, Prince-Bishop of Salzburg.

It went through many modifications in the decades that followed (in order: baroque / classicist / classicist / classicist / English Gothic).

In 1919, the British moved in and made it their Embassy – which it still is.

This also explains the sculpture of a certain Mr Churchill outside.

I haven’t been indoors since 2007, back when you still had to renew your passport in person. The lady there told me that my old passport was in a terrible state and that I should be more careful in future. I responded like a ten-year-old but acknowledge she was probably right.

Thunovská also includes Palác Věžníků (the Věžníks were a noble family which died out in the 18th century). In the early days of Czechoslovakia, it was the German Embassy, and also used to host the Czechoslovak Red Cross.

Then there’s the Palace of the Lords of Hradec – also owned by the Thun family at one point – which was once lived in by Alfons Mucha.

It’s currently owned by the Italian government, and is part of their embassy complex (the main address of the embassy is just next door, on Nerudova): https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-37-nerudova/.