Bridges
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Prague 4, day 93: Pankrácké náměstí
Pankrácké náměstí (Pankrác Square) was built in 1931. I walked around – a lot – and couldn’t find a street sign, so here’s a picture of the square instead. Not Prague’s most beautiful. However, when it was first built, Pankrácké náměstí included a small stadium, Na Bělce, which belonged to a football club, SK Nusle. Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 256: Lannova
Originally published on X on 14 June 2024. Vojtěch Lanna was born in Čtyři Dvory, now part of České Budějovice, in 1805. He was the son of a shipmaster. When he was sixteen, he moved to Prague to study mechanical engineering at what is now ČVUT (the Czech Technical University). However, he was expelled for Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 254: Štefánikův most
Originally published on X on 12 June 2024. Milan Rastislav Štefánik was born in Košariská, a village nowadays in the Trenčín Region of Slovakia, in 1880. He was the son of an evangelical priest, Pavol Štefánik, who raised his children to be interested in Slovak history and culture. Leaving his village at nine, he went Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 222: Čechův most
Originally published on X on 8 May 2024. Svatopluk Čech was born in Ostředek, near Benešov, in 1846; his father, František, was a patriot who worked as a journalist in 1848/9, when the Austrian Empire’s first elected parliament operated from Kroměříž. After finishing the Piarist grammar school in Prague (see https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/22/prague-1-day-137-na-prikope/), Čech started to study Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 143: Na Můstku
Originally posted on X on 14 February 2024. A most is a bridge; a můstek is still a bridge, but a smaller one. In the 13th century, there was a bridge near here, leading from the Old Town fortifications across the moat that is now https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/22/prague-1-day-137-na-prikope/. Also in the 13th century, there was a town Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 90: Most Legií (Legion Bridge)
Originally published on X on 19 December 2023. Between 1839 and 1841, a chain bridge was built here – at the time, it was the second bridge across the Vltava (after Charles). Pretty incredible 1840 painting (by Karel Würbs) of its construction below. It was called the Emperor Francis I Bridge, after the man you Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 88: Šeříková
Originally published on X on 5 December 2023. A šeřík is a lilac tree. Lilac trees originated in south-east Europe and Asia Minor, but are often grown in the Czech Republic for ornamental purposes. The technical word for lilac – ‘Syringa’ – comes from the Greek for ‘pipe’; ‘lilac’ comes from the French ‘lila’, denoting Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 68: Karlův most (Charles Bridge)
Originally published on X on 13 and 14 November 2023 (there was quite a lot to get through, as you’ll see). No street sign, but I could hardly get away with not writing a post about this one. In 1172, Prague got its first stone bridge, built by King Vladislav II and named Juditin Most Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 62: Mostecká
Originally published on X on 7 November 2023. A ‘most’ is a bridge. And this street connects a very, very well-known one with Malostranské náměstí (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-38-malostranske-namesti/). This is the Malá Strana Bridge Tower at the end of the street, although your eye may be drawn more to the huge crowds. Mostecká connects Charles Bridge and 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 56: U Železné lávky
Originally published on X on 1 November 2023. Street name translates as ‘By the Iron Bridge’. Before 1868, Prague only had two bridges across the Vltava. Other than the very famous one which is still there, there was the Emperor Francis I Bridge, which isn’t. It was built in 1841, and replaced in 1898 (there’ll Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 10: Chotkova
Originally published on X on 1 September 2023. Carl Bernhard Graf Chotek von Chotkowa und Wognin was born in Vienna in 1783. His father, Johann Nepomuk Rudolph Graf Chotek von Chotkow und Wognin, after serving as finance minister in Vienna, became Supreme Burgave of Bohemia from 1802 to 1805; in this role, he was responsible Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 5: U Prašného mostu
Originally published on X on 5 August 2023. You may have heard of Jelení příkop (and if you haven’t, just wait a week). You may also think that a moat is something that could do with a bridge above it. Luckily, in 1535, Ferdinand I agreed with you. Originally known as the Dlouhý most (Long Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 155: Jiráskův most
Originally published on X on 14 April 2023. Jiráskův most (Jirásek Bridge) was opened in 1931. It’s another ‘no, you’re not getting a street sign’ fest, and apparently I couldn’t even be bothered to walk up to the bridge itself. We covered Alois Jirásek yesterday (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/01/prague-2-day-154-jiraskovo-namesti/), but this bridge, the seventh to be built over Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 146: Palackého most
Originally published on X on 5 April 2023. Palackého most (Palacký Bridge) was opened in 1878. Turns out Prague bridges don’t tend to get street signs, so here’s a couple of pics instead. We can keep this one fairly brief, as František Palacký was covered yesterday: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/31/prague-2-day-145-palackeho-namesti/ During the Nazi occupation, the bridge was called Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 86: Nuselský most
Originally published on X on 31 January 2023. Nuselský most – Nusle Bridge – was opened in 1973. The first discussions about building a bridge here occurred at the start of the 20th century, but it took over sixty years – and the appearance of the high rises of Pankrác – for its construction to Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 