What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on the other place on 18 October 2023.

A short one today, as befits a short street (only six addresses or thereabouts).

Until the 19th century, the street was known as Ke stupňům (‘Towards the stairs’), with said stairs being these: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-40-zamecke-schody/).

From 1829, it had the same name as the steps did – Nové zámecké schody – or was also named after its location directly under them (Pod Novými zámeckými schody).

In 1870, the street got its current name. Zámecká is an adjective from zámek – i.e., a castle.

I’m sensing somebody is going to ask in the comments what the difference is between a zámek and a hrad, so:

A hrad is a fortified, fenced-off place, whereas a zámek is also closed off, of course, but it doesn’t serve a military purpose and is generally just a very nice place to live.

Hrady were more of a thing in the Middle Ages, whereas we reached Peak Zámek Era in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Obviously, the difference between these two things can be quite imperceptible – which is probably why this street refers to a zámek and not a hrad.

Another difference is that my Mac doesn’t insist on repeatedly changing zámek to ‘hard’.

But when it changes ‘hrady’ to ‘Hardy’, at least I have an excuse to listen to one of my all-time favourite songs: