What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on X on 29 February 2024.

Jakub Jan Václav Dobřenský was born in Prague in 1623. He studied medicine and philosophy at Charles University (and also in Italy), and began teaching at the university in 1664.

In the meantime, he bought several properties in Prague and set up laboratories in them. One of his properties was at number 5 on this street.

Dobřenský had two spells as rector of Charles University, and was also the dean of the Medical Faculty from 1683 to 1684.

Dobřenský died in 1697. Considered a pioneer in the field of pathological anatomy, his name is one of the 72 that you can find on the façade of the National Museum (now there’s an idea for a mini-series when the Prague 1 series is done).

U Dobřenských includes (one side of) the Náprstek Museum, which is devoted to Asian, African and Native American art. The museum was founded in 1874, and the road was formed after that. It’s had its current name since 1901.

There’s also a brewery – with the same name as the street – at number 3, known for brewing beers flavoured with medicinal plants.