What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on X on 12 April 2024.

For the name of the street, see https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/10/16/prague-1-day-198-krizovnicke-namesti/.

And, for evidence of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star – including the Red Star itself – see this close-up of the monastery building.

The monastery takes up a large part of one side of the street; the other side is largely taken up by the Klementinum (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/10/15/prague-1-day-197-seminarska/).

The part of the street to the north of these was once called Granátová – we don’t know exactly why, but it may be related to people (students?) using grenades to defend the Old Town, or to other grenadiers.

In the 19th century, it was known as Malá (Small) Křižovnická before becoming part of Křižovnická Proper in 1870.

The northern part is quite grand too – this is the Dance Conservatory of the Capital City of Prague (TKHMP).

While Dům Na Kocandě, the birthplace of academician Jaroslav Heyrovský (in 1890), also includes remnants of the Old Town fortifications in its basement, as discovered during works in 2016-7.

And I may have to book myself a night at the Four Seasons one summer, just so I can stop talking about taking pictures of Charles Bridge at 05:00 and actually go and do it.

Finally, here’s a gift for fans of Ye Olde Street Signs.