1900
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Prague 4, day 110: Kischova
Kischova was built in 1900. It was originally named Třebízského, after the historical novelist Václav Beneš Třebízský, who still has a street named after him in Vinohrady: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/01/27/prague-2-day-17-trebizskeho/. Egon Erwin Kisch was born into a Jewish family in 1885, and grew up on Melantrichova in Prague’s Old Town, where his father, a cloth merchant, ran Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 97: Marie Cibulkové
Marie Cibulkové was built in 1900. Until 1940, and again from 1945 to 1947, the street was called Libušina, as nearby https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/23/prague-2-day-93-libusina/ still is. Marie Cibulková was born as Marie Grasserová in 1888. In 1920, she became a leader of the Pankrác Sokol (see https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/26/prague-2-day-114-sokolska/), as well as a representative of the Sokols at the Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 84: Na Pankráci
Na Pankráci was built in 1900. Even as an ex-Londoner who used to travel to Brussels an awful lot, it somehow took me until 2024 to put two and two together and work out that Pankrác is St Pancras. Pancras of Rome converted to Christianity, and was beheaded for this around 303, aged just fourteen. Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 81: Hvězdova
Hvězdova was built in 1900. Jan Hvězda, nicknamed Bzdinka, was born in Vícemilice (near Čáslav, and nowadays known as Licoměřice), but we know nothing else about his early years. In the summer of 1421, Hussite priest Jan Želivský (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/19/prague-3-day-23-jana-zelivskeho/) launched a coup; in October, he suggested that Hvězda be appointed Chief Hetman of Prague. In Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 8: Ctiradova
Ctiradova was built in 1900. It was called U nádraží until 1928, due to its location near the train station – we’ll get onto that soon-ish. We’re back in mythology territory today, and it’ll help if you take a look at the story of Libuše: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/23/prague-2-day-93-libusina/. If you’re pressed for time: Libuše ruled over her Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 6: Otakarova
Otakarova was built in 1900. Přemysl Otakar II was born in or around 1233, the son of Václav I, who had been King of Bohemia since 1230, and his wife, Kunigunde of Hohenstaufen. His older brother, Vladislav, became Margrave of Moravia and Duke of Austria in 1246, but died suddenly in 1247, probably of natural Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 95: V Pevnosti
Originally published on X on 9 February 2023. V Pevnosti was named in 1900 but presumably built some time before then. Its name translates as ‘In the fortress’. Czech monarchs lived at Vyšehrad until 1140, when their residence moved back to Prague Castle. It wasn’t until 1348, and the rule of Charles IV, that Vyšehrad Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 84: Ostrčilovo náměstí
Originally published on X on 29 January 2023. Ostrčilovo náměstí was built in 1900. Until 1947, this was Přemyslovo náměstí, after Přemysl Oráč, AKA Where It All Began (see recent posts for brief details). From 1947 to 1952, it was Hašlerovo náměstí, after Karel Hašler (1879-1941), a songwriter and actor (and supporter of Czech fascism…), Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 70: Šmilovského
Originally published on Twitter on 15 January 2023. Šmilovského was built in 1900. Alois Schmillauer was born in Mladá Boleslav in 1837. I don’t know when he went from Schmillauer to Šmilovský, but I assume the Czech national cause was involved. After studying philosophy at Charles University, he became a substitute professor at the gymnasium Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 29: Slovenská
Originally published on Twitter on 5 December 2022. Slovenská was built around 1900. As with Moravia, I don’t want to do a ‘this is the history of […] in 15-20 tweets’ thing. So this seems like a good opportunity to remember that the Velvet Revolution happened in Slovakia too. The Slovaks prefer to call it Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 28: Lužická
Originally published on Twitter on 4 December 2022. Lužická was built around 1900. From 1940 to 1945, this was Rankova, after Leopold von Ranke (1795-1886), a historian and proponent of modern, source-based history. But Lužice / Lusatia / Lausitz / Łużyce is a historical territory, nowadays split between Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. Slavic Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 14: Polská
Originally published on Twitter on 20 November 2022. Polská was built in 1900. Until 1940, it was Nerudova, after Jan Neruda, journalist, writer, poet, art critic and figurehead of Czech Realism. More on him when I get to Prague 1. Then, from 1940-5, it was Stifterova, after Adalbert Stifter (1805-68), an Austrian writer known for Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 