Originally published on X on 6 November 2023.
You’ll know who St Joseph was. The kid in his arms ended up being a pretty big deal too.
In 1655, the Discalced Carmelites, as founded by St Theresa of Avila, were called to Prague by Ferdinand III (a quick lesson about the Carmelites is here: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-39-karmelitska/).
They bought land from the Valdštejn family (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-46-valdstejnske-namesti/) to build a monastery and church.
The garden that they rebuilt still exists – see https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-58-u-luzickeho-seminare/ – and the Church of St Joseph was built between 1686 and 1692, when it was consecrated.
The Carmelites remained in the monastery (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-60-letenska/) until it was abolished by Joseph II (ironically) in 1782; their replacements, nuns from the Congregation of Jesus, used the building as an educational institution until 1919.
While part of the monastery was replaced by the Ministry of Finance building, the church survives in its entirety.
Fancy attending a mass in French? Well, pop into the church at 11:00 on a Sunday and you’ll be in luck.
Josefská is also home to the Malostranské gymnázium.
As well as Oettingen Palace, home to the Czech Chamber of Architects.
While this is also a school, named after Karel Herbert (1871-1940), a professor of professor of childhood psychopathology.
What's in a Prague street name 
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