Composers
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Prague 4, day 173: Bohuslava Martinů
Bohuslava Martinů was built in 1966. Bohuslav Martinů was born in a church in Polička (near Pardubice) in 1890. From 1906 to 1910, he attended the Prague Conservatory, studying the violin, the organ and composition, but didn’t complete his studies, partly because he was much more interested in exploring Prague (Bohuslav, I hear you). However, 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 221: Dvořákovo nábřeží
Originally published on X on 7 May 2024. Antonín Leopold Dvořák was born in Nelahozeves, in Mělník District, in 1841, as the eldest of nine children. He started learning the violin at the age of six, also studying music theory, piano and organ during his schooldays. In 1857, he went to Prague to study at Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 206: Kaprova
Originally published on X on 22 April 2024. This is one of the oldest streets in Prague, originally connecting Old Town Square – the city’s main marketplace – with a ford across the Vltava, where the Rudolfinum is now. The street was originally called Svatovalentinská, which there’ll be more about in two threads’ time. Number 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 108: Votočkova
Originally published on X on 26 February 2023. Like yesterday’s Hlavova, the area was built up gradually and the street got a name in 1963. Emil Votoček was born in Hostinné in 1872. He studied technical engineering at what is now ČVUT, and subsequently studied in both Mulhouse and in Göttingen (where he studied sugar 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 18: Chopinova
Originally published on Twitter on 24 November 2022. Chopinova, built in 1910, was called ‘U Riegrových sadů’ (which it is) until 1965. In 1965, the Polish Fryderyk Chopin Society asked for a street to be named after their idol; in exchange, the Warsaw district of Mokotów got itself an ‘ulica Bedrzycha Smetany’. Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 188: Laubova
Originally published on Twitter on 28 October 2022. Laubova was built in 1896. Nikki Lauba (1949-2019) was a Formula One driver from the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. No, sorry, wait. Until 1952, the street was called Vilímovská, possibly after a vineyard. There’s a street with the same name in Dejvice. Ferdinand Laub was born in 1832 Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 147: Blodkova
Originally published on Twitter on 17 September 2022. Blodkova was built in 1905. Vilém Blodek was born into a poor family in Prague in 1834. He graduated from the Prague Conservatory at the age of 19, subsequently becoming a piano teacher in Lubycza Królewska (then Galicia, now in south-eastern Poland on the Ukrainian border). He Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 146: Zvonařova
Originally published on Twitter on 16 September 2022. Zvonařova was built in 1904. Josef Leopold Zvonař was born near in Kublov near Beroun in 1824. At the age of 18, he moved to Prague to train to study pedagogy, but, as he was already proficient in several instruments, music was a greater attraction. Therefore, he Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 144: Pospíšilova
Originally published on Twitter on 14 September 2022. Pospíšilova was built in 1904. It was called Dvořákova until 1930. Explanation probably not needed. Karel Pospíšil was born near Chotěboř in 1867, and was taught music by both his grandfather, Josef Pospíšil, and his uncle, the famous pianist Karel Slavkovský. He became a teacher in a Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 143: Fibichova
Originally published on Twitter on 13 September 2022. Fibichova was built in 1904. From 1940 to 1945, this was Ševčíkova. Fibichova is to the right of Ševčíkova (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2023/01/14/prague-3-day-142-sevcikova/). Except Current Ševčíkova wasn’t called Ševčíkova until 1947. Blimey. Zdeněk Fibich was born in Všebořice near Benešov in 1850. Encouraged by his music-loving (and Austrian) mother, he Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 141: Křížkovského
Originally published on Twitter on 11 September 2022. Křížkovského was built in 1910. Karel Křížkovský was born to a single mother in Holasovice (not a typo) in 1820, and was brought up by his uncles in Neplachovice near Opava. In his youth, he became a chorister at the Church of St. Ducha in Opava, later Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 136: Ježkova
Originally published on Twitter on 6 September 2022. Ježkova was built in 1896. Until 1940, and again from 1945 to 1947, this was Nerudova, after Jan Neruda (1834-91), journalist, author, poet, and main figure of the Májovci, a group of Czech novelists and poets inspired by the works of Mácha, Havlíček and Erben. From 1940 Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 135: Čajkovského
Originally published on Twitter on 5 September 2022. Čajkovského was built in 1885. Known as Tomkova until 1952, after Václav Vladivoj Tomek (1818-1905), a historian, conservative politician and archivist, best known for his twelve-volume Dějepis města Prahy (History of the City of Prague). Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-93), meanwhile, as composer of Swan Lake, the Nutcracker Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 131: Vita Nejedlého
Originally published on Twitter on 1 September 2022. Vita Nejedlého was built in 1885. This one’s been through its fair share of other names. Until 1940, and again from 1945 to 1947, it was Veleslavínova, after Daniel Adam z Veleslavína (1546-99), lexicographer, publisher, translator and secret member of the Unitas Fratrum (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/26/prague-3-day-83-ceskobratrska/). From 1940 to Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 