Historians
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Prague 1, day 113: Palackého
Originally published on X on 14 January 2024. Again, I get to direct you to one I wrote earlier: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/31/prague-2-day-145-palackeho-namesti/. Palacký spent his final years – and, in 1876, died – at number 7. The street was first mentioned in 1383, under the name of Tandléřská – a tandléř, derived from southern German, being a Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 79: Pelclova
Originally published on X on 26 November 2023. František Martin Pelcl was born in Rychnov nad Kněžnou, in Hradec Králové Region, in 1734. In 1755, he started studying theology in Prague, soon switching to law. After escaping to Vienna for a few months in 1757, he returned, but his father died and studying was no Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 154: Jiráskovo náměstí
Originally published on X on 13 April 2023. Jiráskovo náměstí was built in 1905 as a result of modifications to the riverbank. Until 1940, and again from 1945 to 1947, this was Riegrovo náměstí, after František Ladislav Rieger (1818-1903), politician, publicist, and early leader of the Czech nationalist movement. Under the Nazi occupation, it was Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 145: Palackého náměstí
Originally published on X on 4 April 2023. Palackého náměstí was created in 1896 as a result of renovation of the nearby embankment. From 1942 to 1945, this was Rudolfovo náměstí, after Rudolph II (1552-1612), the Habsburg who certainly made Prague a more fascinating cultural centre than ever, but whose actions also indirectly led to Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 61: Šafaříkova
Originally published on Twitter on 6 January 2023. Šafaříkova was built around 1880. Pavol Jozef Šafárik was born in Kobeliarovo, near Košice, in 1795. The dramatic landscapes and Slovak folk culture here would impact him significantly. By the age of eight, he had allegedly read the entire Bible twice. He then went to school in Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 12: Balbínova
Originally published on Twitter on 18 November 2022. Balbínova was built in 1880. It was formerly two streets; they were united in 1947. The southern half has been called Balbínova since its inception. Until 1940, and again from 1945 to 1947, the northern part was called Sladkovského. Old Karel still has a square not so far Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 114: Dalimilova
Originally published on Twitter on 15 August 2022. Dalimilova was built before 1875. Dalimil’s Chronicle is the oldest existing verse chronicle in the Czech language. It is based on five older chronicles which were written in Latin: the Boleslav, Prague, Břevnov, Opatovice and Vyšehrad Chronicles. In its 106 chapters, it goes from the construction of Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 15: Hájkova
Originally published on Twitter on 8 May 2022. Hájkova was built in 1908. Václav Hájek z Libočan – or, if you prefer, Wenceslaus Hájek of Libočany (died 1553) was a chronicler and author of the Czech Chronicle (Kronika česká, 1541). Originally a Protestant, he converted to Catholicism in 1521; from 1524, he worked as a Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 