Artists
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Prague 4, day 199: Park Adolfa Borna
Park Adolfa Borna was opened in 2020. Adolf Born was born in České Velenice in 1930 – which was formerly one town along with Gmünd, which is now not only a separate town but is across the border in Austria. In his late teens, he started studying art education at the Faculty of Education at Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 176: Sitteho
Sitteho was built in 1955. This is one of those cases where I’d like my (brief) research to tie in with itself a little bit better. The Pražský uličník – AKA my usual first port of all – says that Jindřich Sitte was the progressive headmaster of a school in Braník. It doesn’t say which Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 43: Maroldova
Maroldova was built in 1910. Luděk Marold was born in Malá Strana in 1865; he was illegitimate and took his mother’s family name. He lost both parents by the age of seven, and was then raised by his aunt, Josefa Maroldová. At the age of sixteen, he was accepted into Prague’s Academy of Fine Arts, Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 16: Božetěchova
Božetěchova was built in 1892. To start this one off, we have to take a look at the Sázava Monastery, located about 30 km south of Prague (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/02/18/prague-2-day-31-sazavska/). It was founded in 1032 by Duke Břetislav I. Božetěch may have been educated there, and became its abbot – the fourth – in 1091. He was Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 265: Soukenická
Originally published on X on 23 June 2024. ’Sukno’ is the Czech word for ‘broadcloth’ – i.e. plain, dense woven cloth, typically made of wool. These days, it’s mainly used for costumes. In the past, it was used for trousers, skirts, jackets and military uniforms (the Czech for ‘skirt’ is ‘sukně’). Somebody who weaves this Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 210: Alšovo nábřeží (Aleš Embankment)
Originally published on X on 26 April 2024. Mikoláš Aleš was born in Mirotice, in Southern Bohemia, in 1852. He started drawing at the age of four, later taking up painting. In 1869, he enrolled in Prague’s Academy of Fine Arts. He was later expelled (in 1876) after taking part in a demonstration against a Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 117: Navrátilova
Originally published on X on 18 January 2024. And the prize for ‘most numerous and least helpful Google results for a Prague street name’ goes to… Josef Matěj Navrátil was born in Slaný in 1798, but lived in Prague from 1801. As a child, his father taught him how to paint rooms. So logically, after Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 57: Mánesův most
Originally published on X on 2 November 2023. I’m going to be mildly lazy now and point you towards Vinohrady: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/01/18/prague-2-day-11-manesova/ The bridge was meant to replace Rudolf’s Footbridge (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-56-u-zelezne-lavky/), and was meant to be named after him too. However, when it opened in March 1914, it was called the Archduke Franz Ferdinand Bridge, for Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 54: Kosárkovo nábřeží
Originally published on X on 30 October 2023. Adolf Kosárek was born in Herálec, near (Havlíčkův) Brod, in 1830, and went to school in Kutná Hora before working as a clerk. He did drawing and painting in his spare time, eventually attracting the attention of Friedrich Prince zu Schwarzenberg, who had become Archbishop of Prague Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 20: Nový Svět (New World)
Originally published on X on 18 September 2023. Nový Svět was originally a village, developing outside Hradčany in the early 1300s, and, in 1360, being attached to it as ordered by Charles IV. Not surprisingly, many of its residents worked at the Castle. And its attachment to Hradčany is why it became known as a Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 65: Čermákova
Originally published on Twitter on 10 January 2023. Čermákova was built in 1896. Jaroslav Čermák was born in Prague’s Old Town in 1830. Born into a family of doctors, he suffered a major hip injury in his youth, and was confined to bed at times because of this – which may be why he developed Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 11: Mánesova
Originally published on Twitter on 17 November 2022. Mánesova was built in 1889. From 1934 to 1940, and again from 1945-7, the road was Barthouva, after Louis Barthou, who had served as PM of France in 1913, and became Minister of Foreign Affairs in February 1934, only to be shot and killed while meeting Alexander Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 163: Hollarovo náměstí
Originally published on Twitter on 3 October 2022. Hollarovo náměstí was built around 1925, remaining nameless until 1955. Václav Hollar was born to a wealthy family in Prague in 1607. An artist from a young age, he was introduced to the practice of engraving when he was 18. In 1627, he left Bohemia and moved Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 