What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on X on 17 January 2024.

In the very early days of Prague’s New Town, this was known as Jáma, V jámě or Nad jámou (see yesterday’s https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/15/prague-1-day-115-v-jame/).

As there was a Jewish cemetery nearby (see https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/14/prague-1-day-107-charvatova/), the local Jewish population moved here, and the street was renamed Židovská. However, they were pushed out following riots in 1483.

In the 1500s, various names were used – Velká Řeznická, Masná and Řeznická, because of the number of butchers round here (a butcher is a řezník). The last of these names, Řeznická, was used until 1869 (and is still the name of a neighbouring street).

You might think that the name ‘Školská’ is because of a specific school in the street. Actually, the whole street is quite educational (though, as you’ll see, one of the schools appeared after the street was renamed).

The former New Town General School has now got an incredibly catchy name: Vyšší odborná škola ekonomických studií, Gymnázium, Střední průmyslová škola potravinářských technologií a Střední odborná škola přírodovědná a veterinární, Praha 2, Podskalská: https://podskalska.cz.

AKA the VOŠ, G, SPŠ a SOŠ Podskalská; if you’re more into English, it’s the Podskalská Higher Vocational School of Economic Studies, Gymnasium, Secondary Vocational School of Food Technologies and Secondary Vocational School of Natural Sciences and Veterinary Science.

The State Language School (founded 1920) also has quite the full name – Jazyková škola s právem státní jazykové zkoušky hlavního města Prahy (Language School with the Right to State Language Examination of the Capital City of Prague) – but looks like my idea of school heaven.

Whereas the Higher Girls’ School operated as such from 1867 to 1945, and was opened at the request of František Václav Pštross (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/13/prague-1-day-97-pstrossova/). It looks as incredible as it did when I posted a pic of it two days ago.

Cross this street (which will take no time at all, it’s very narrow), and you’ve got the family home – and birthplace – of Jaroslav Hašek.

As well as one of Prague 1’s two branches of the city library, and the Leica Gallery, which has a range of interesting events on in any given year: https://lgp.cz