What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on X on 7 July 2024.

This is the closest you’re getting, and if you were there, you’d understand.

Back in the 15th century, there was a royal spa here. It was owned by a Jakub Holba, who I can’t find any more information about.

Between then and its current status as what feels like a 110-metre motorway, Holbova has had a few past incarnations (and it may help if I mention that we’re in an area of government buildings: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/11/10/prague-1-day-257-nabrezi-ludvika-svobody/).

At the start of the 20th century, the Vltava still flowed here before its banks were regularised.

In the 1920s, the area was greenery (and, say what you want about that first picture, but it’s definitely green); in the 1930s, a sports ground for university students appeared.

Then, in 1955-6, a summer cafe was established where the street is now. It was called Pavilonek, and belonged to the Central Committee of the Communist Party – who had their premises in today’s Ministry of Transport.

A bunker had been built under said building in the 1930s; in 1962, it was extended, and the new parts were under Pavilonek, which was also ‘lucky’ enough to have a statue of Klement Gottwald next to it.

The bunker would later be known as Husák’s Bunker, despite Husák not being First Secretary of the Communist Party until 1969, or President of Czechoslovakia until 1975.

The cafe was knocked down in 1977 due to construction of a nearby tunnel (coming up in a few days); the last remaining building on the street survived until 1981.

There’s been talk of converting it into a museum, although things have gone rather silent on that count since about 2015.

Great pics on here: https://zpravy.aktualne.cz/budova-uv-ksc-po-petadvaceti-letech/r~7cda108e6fe611e4bdad0025900fea04/.

Helping to explain the substandard picture, Holbova features minimal pavements (I’m sure I saw a glimpse of one, but it only lasts a few metres), nowhere to park your car, and no buildings.